SUN. SAND & SELF-LOVE

Dive headfirst into the world of style with four homegrown swimwear brands led by incredibly inspiring women. Join HELLO! as we catch up with the founders to discuss the ever-evolving industry, their unique journeys and a glimpse into what they have in store for us this summer!

- ANANYA SHANKAR

As we jump into the deep end of what’s predicted to be one of the hottest summers in recent years, we long for days spent swimming in the ocean, fabulous parties by the pool and — for the more athletic amongst us — catching waves along the coastline. But what’s summer without the perfect swimsuit? Not the tired, run off-the-mill suits, rather, the chic swimwear that fit and feel just as good as they look. And in this sea of style, HELLO! chats with the dynamic women that are making waves with their bold visions, and even bolder designs.

ANJALI PATEL MEHTA 
Founder, Verandah

Awelle njali an Economics major at Wellesley College in the US, who worked on Wall Street for 10 years decided to and pursued an MBA from the Indian School of Business embark on a new path, culminating in her acclaimed, sustainable collections showcased on prestigious platforms like Lakme Fashion Week and Miami Swim Week.

Being an avid swimmer herself, she's been perpetually on the lookout for chic bathing suits, with a range of designers in her wardrobe. But while she can find functional ones, she wonders where the fun, luxury ones are? Not to mention, the style limitations that come with bigger sizes! "I have been a size 0 and a size 10. So when I say inclusive, I mean to say that we run a full size set 16-18 UK 6 to UK internationally but I don't design with coverage in mind," says Anjali. She explains, "I don't think that a UK 18 size product must be more 'covered up'. In fact, I named all the different styles of swimwear in my first collection after my friends, who are all different shapes and sizes!"