Finding swimwear you feel strong, confident and happy in can be an absolute punish of a job sometimes – are the boobs supported? Tummy in check? Bikini line working for you?
We asked Elisha Watson, founder of Nisa, a Wellington-based manufacturer and retailer of ethically and sustainably produced underwear, swimwear and activewear, for her tips and tricks to getting it right.
Elisha started Nisa with a mission to provide employment opportunities to people (especially women) from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Their work has helped them to learn English, develop a skill/career path, make friends and settle into life in Aotearoa. She also believes strongly in body positivity and that has been a big motivation behind their swimwear range – it’s are sustainably made, with the swimwear made from ECONYL, a sustainable regenerated nylon fibre (made from old fishing nets and other post-consumer waste – the exact stuff that tends to clog up our beaches.) PLUS it’s reversible, so you can change up your look to be more playful or sophisticated, depending on your mood. Vibes.
Hey Elisha! So,choosing the perfect togs can be STRESSFUL – what are your top tips for picking the perfect ones?
Invest in quality. Right now stores are packed to the brim with swimsuits that are meant to be worn for a season and thrown away. Lower quality means the fabric will lose elasticity and sag, or you could bust a strap and have a wardrobe malfunction at the beach. Invest in something that will make you feel great.
We also encourage people to shop their values. When you buy a Nisa swimsuit, you support our mission to provide employment opportunities for women from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Have you personally struggled to find good swimwear in the past?
Absolutely. I have quite a narrow frame, so often end up swamped by fabric in odd places. We take different body types and coverage preferences into account when designing our garments. For example, the Hannah one-piece has a lower cut across the bum than the Lauren, and we try to include adjustable straps where we can.
Tell me a little about Nisa – what is the swimwear made of?
This year’s swimwear collection is made out of ECONYL regenerated nylon, and dead stock fabric (fabric left over from another company’s collection). Both have great impacts on the environment – dead stock prevents waste, and ECONYL is made out of ocean waste, fishing nets and plastic bottles.
We also use a double layer of outer fabric, rather than one layer of outer with a lining fabric like other companies. This makes our swimsuit fabric thicker and more supportive.
You’ve made a lot of your togs reversible – can you tell me a little about the motivation behind that?
Versatility is super important to us. We want people to get the most wear possible out of our swimsuits so that they don’t end up with a drawer full of hardly-worn bikinis. The wearer can choose which colour they want to wear each day by flipping it inside out.
Why did you get into designing swimwear in the first place?
Making swimwear is a pretty natural progression from making underwear. We only use knitted stretch fabrics at the Nisa workshop, which requires special machinery that can be used to make both. It was a pretty big venture for us at the start, but now we have sewing swimwear down to a science.
What are your most popular styles?
Our Hayley rash top has sold out several times this season. Kiwis are really into being sun smart, and an extra layer over your arms and back can make a big difference!
