Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Gallo
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always dreamed of having a swimsuit line but never in a million years thought I would be sewing them myself. The idea started back in 2021 but just as a wholesale or drop-shipping type of thing but I never looked too far into it.
Fast forward to summer 2023 – I started building the brand “Sol Vida Swim” without knowing how to use a sewing machine! I think my first google search was “what do I need to start my own swim line” & it literally spiraled from there. I am 100% self-taught & learned from YouTube & trial & error. I designed my own logo, website, packaging, etc with no one’s help. Just a girl with a vision 😇
I’ve cried, wasted tons of time & fabric messing up, stabbing myself with pins, needles breaking, stitches snapping, staying up til 3am to get tensions right on my serger, having 13 hour design days, you name it! This eventually lead to me feeling defeated & mentally drained as I tried to learn this & juggle working full time as a hairstylist. I was losing my creative spark, motivation & hope.. but the passion was still there deep down!
I packed up all my stuff & didn’t touch it for almost 6 months from Sept 2023 – February 2024. My sewing machine sat there collecting dust & just thinking about sewing & messing up made me anxious.
Then there was one day in February this year that I felt this huge rush of inspiration to get everything out & try again… I absolutely NAILED the bathing suit I was working on & remember telling myself I wasn’t gonna stop again.
Fast forward to August of this year: I got accepted into my first fashion show with @utgagency & it just made everything so much more real & just more confirmation that there was a reason I didn’t give up.
Even though this is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life – it’s been the most rewarding! Everyone who has purchased or supported me this year in some way – you are the reason I keep going! 🩷👙
Sol Vida is for those fearless, bold women who aren’t scared to rock flashy, fun prints & sexy styles! We are just getting started & can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As I stated in the previous answer, being self taught hasn’t been easy & has taken a lot of willpower & passion to keep going.
Not knowing the slightest thing about sewing & picking bathing suit material to start out with in itself was hard. Learning the machines & everything in the beginning was extremely difficult & took a lot of repetition, practice, trial & error.
Another challenge is being a one man show doing all of the marketing, social media, content making, product pictures but also being the designer & creator for every piece.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My bikinis are 100% cut & sewn by me
I specialize in fun prints & bold designs
I think what sets me apart from others is my authenticity on social platforms & sharing my creative process with others & the journey etc.
Another thing that sets me apart is my swimwear is 100% customizable & reversible which means you can pretty much build your own from scratch! You can choose from different top & bottom styles that best fit your body shape along with choosing your own prints + color combos that are unique to your own style
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Not particularly but quarantine did spark the idea for a bikini line
Pricing:
- $50-$140
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/solvidaswim
- Instagram: @sol.vida.swim
