Future Of Fashion
Her compostable suits are making waves.
The issue with this rapid growth is that most swimwear is made from synthetic materials like nylon and polyester.
These fabricsare made from fossil fuels and break downevery time your suit is worn.
The resulting microplastics end up polluting the very same water systems in which you wear your swimsuit.
It is a weed, after all, requiring farless water and pesticides than cotton.
Shoppable only on the Natasha Tonic website, the products unique styles could double as swim and ready-to-wear.
Youll also find aruched swim tank topthat fitsthe tomato girl aestheticwhen worn on dry land.
Swimwear has historically been difficult to make without synthetics.
Can you talk about how you came to hemp as the solution?
I was swimming and thinking about the suit I was wearing.
I started researching nylon and how fast it can melt.
I was like, Oh my god, Im wearing plastic on my body.
Thats when I decided I wanted to make a plant-based swimsuit.
I made the first pattern on my own and then I traveled to Croatia.
I was swimming in the salty water and the pool.
And I was freaking out, thinking it would fall apart in the water, but it didnt.
So I started making them independently and approached several sustainable people to test [the swimsuits].
And they loved it.
How do you source the hemp, and how is it made into your pieces?
You get industrial hemp in California and then shred each plant to get the fiber.
Not many people do it, because it was banned in certain places for a while.
Its also an intense process, which is part of why its so expensive.
I keep my prices mid-range because of how I make my product.
I also dont like to overproduce and I dont want to kill my creativity.
Why do you think many brands have turned to recycled poly instead of looking into alternative materials?
So a lot of people dont even know.
It takes a while to catch up.
Its changing, but for many brands, its just availability.
You have to research where to find it, and then the prices are [high].
I bought all their fabric, which was not even that much.
It was 50 yards.
Another thing is the culture of mass consumption.
Do you find it challenging to market your business as a sustainable brand without furtheringgreenwashing problems?
I feel like I under-market my products because I see so many people [greenwashing].
It just feels overwhelming!
I want to have a balance.
I want people to know that my products are good for them without pushing them.
People should buy it if they like it, not just because its made of hemp.
Often, a missing piece from sustainability conversations is worker safety and pay.
You said your factories are in Los Angeles does that help you stay on top of these issues?
What are your plans for continuing to grow and evolve sustainably?
Continuing to evolve, our fabric is going to be huge.
As a lover of biology, its important to me that everything remains connected.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
