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Vanilla Girl Bikinis, founded by best friends Milla Marlis and Layza Venancio, blends timeless elegance with modern flair. Their swimwear celebrates simplicity and confidence, capturing the essence of the Vanilla Girl aesthetic — where style meets effortless radiance, from poolside lounging to beachside soirées. We sat down with Storm Model Management's Milla Marlis to learn more about her swimwear brand.
What was the inspiration behind starting Vanilla Bikinis, and how did you and your co-founder bring your vision to life?
As actresses who graduated from drama school in 2023, we encountered a dry spell due to the actor strike in the US. Creatively, we felt like something was missing in our lives. As best friends passionate about travelling and exploring new places, especially tropical climates, we decided to create our own swimwear line. We noticed a gap in the UK swimwear market for high-quality, cheeky styles with cute patterns at an affordable price. Most of our favorite swimwear brands sold sets for over £100, so we wanted to offer the same quality at a more accessible price point.
We've always loved the "clean girl" and "vanilla girl" aesthetics but hadn't seen these styles reflected in swimwear before. Without any prior experience, we just decided to go for it and give it our best shot. We started by creating mood boards, jotting down ideas, and sketching designs. From there, we travelled to the south of France and Lanzarote to shoot our collections. It has been an incredible journey so far, and we couldn’t have done it without each other.
What unique qualities or philosophies set Vanilla Bikinis apart from other brands?
At Vanilla Girl Bikinis, our goal is to make our customers feel feminine, sexy, cute, and confident. We wanted to blend two elements: sexy shapes and cuts with cute, feminine patterns, which perfectly represent us as a duo. Layza, who is half Brazilian, grew up wearing Brazilian-cut bikinis but struggled to find similar styles when she moved to the UK. Meanwhile, I've always had a love for floral patterns and cute accessories, which I incorporate into my fashion. We decided to merge these influences to create a swimwear brand that offers the best of both worlds.
What exciting plans or new collections do you have in the pipeline for Vanilla Bikinis?
We have some exciting collaborations on the horizon and are currently hard at work on our third collection, set to release in 2025. We've just wrapped up an incredible campaign shoot for our first two collections in the beautiful south of France and Lanzarote, and we can't wait to share the stunning imagery with you. Each collaboration and new collection allows us to push the boundaries of our creativity, blending fresh ideas with the signature style you've come to love. We're thrilled to continue this journey and look forward to unveiling what's next as we grow our brand and community. Stay tuned — there's so much more to come!
How do you stay ahead of trends in the swimwear industry, and what trends are you currently excited about?
Trends are constantly evolving, sometimes changing so quickly that it can feel challenging to keep up as a brand. However, we always strive to strike a balance between embracing the latest trends and staying true to our brand's core identity. We take pride in thoughtfully incorporating new trends into each collection, ensuring they align with the essence of what Vanilla Girl Bikinis represents.
For instance, we absolutely LOVE the bow trend and have seamlessly integrated it into both of our collections because it perfectly complements our brand's aesthetic. While staying on-trend is important, our top priority is to ensure that any trend we embrace genuinely reflects our brand's values and vision. By doing so, we create pieces that feel fresh and authentically "us," resonating with our customers on a deeper level.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own fashion or swimwear brand?
Just do it! A year ago, we never imagined we'd be where we are today. As humans, it's natural to have doubts, and often, we can be our own biggest obstacles, standing in the way of our success. But the truth is, you'll never know what’s possible unless you take that leap of faith and try. We started with no experience, and even now, we're learning something new every single day, making mistakes along the way.
But that’s all part of the journey. If you have a passion for something, trust your instincts and give it a go. We're incredibly grateful to be in this position — not just as business owners, but as best friends who get to share this incredible journey together. Our experience has taught us that the rewards of pursuing your dreams far outweigh the risks. So, take that first step and see where it leads — you might just surprise yourself!
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