Sourcing, Manufacturing and Identity

So each hurdle we clear, we get a little closer to what we're trying to achieve. Its exciting - and like everything else that's exciting, its nerve wracking.

We've tried to be so thoughtful about every aspect, especially when it comes to sourcing materials outside of our country. We really can't find a lot of manufacturing in this country and the decisions we agonize over become choosing the lesser of two evils.

An example.

The liner is a very important part of our product - it solves a very specific problem in the market place , it will be the first Anti Chafe swimwear! Its what sets us apart from the others. As a result,  lots of thought have gone into its creation. We found a fabric for the liner we love love love.  Its a really green factory - environmentally approved by everybody we've aligned ourselves with - people are starting to call us Bluesign groupies. But its from the other side of the world. That's not so green and doesn't employ a lot of people here.

Round and round. Which then leads me to think about what we're doing and why we're doing it.

I realized that my cultural identity has been at risk for some time. The concerns I hear about in the news are completely unaligned with my daily concerns. Since the Trade Center fell, since the mortgage crisis devalued everybody's homes, since we exported not only our manufacturing jobs, but a lot of technology jobs to the other side of the world - What is it to be an American today?

I designed the wave patch on the bathing suit , the logo and even the liner to have the same pantone color as the blue in our flag. All the thoughts about keeping jobs here. Why am I reaching so hard back to this country that I don't feel entirely in step with?

After much internal debate, I really think its because I believe as a country, we have good core , the best of intentions and some genius creativity. The struggle , when we're really against the wall, is what defines us . Its how we redefine ourselves in the face of all adversity.

OK, we're looking at more liner fabrics, we're going with another sewing contractor, in the Garment District, NYC - we're keeping it here, and we're sucking it up to do the best we can with the resources we have.
That's who we are as Americans.