Heating Up with VITAMIN A
Temperatures are rising as swimwear’s feminine fashion maven — Amahlia Stevens — talks summer romance, life in the water and the future of sustainability with label VITAMIN A.
VITAMIN A Playa Shirt Dress, $120
What began as a consulting firm developing brand concepts and apparel stories for top brands in the surf and outdoor industries like Hollister Co., Patagonia, and Levi Strauss and Co., is now a leading pillar in the movement for sustainability. With the motto that “sustainability is sexy”, we sat down with need-to-know founder and designer of Vitamin A — Amahlia Stevens — to dive into the waters of this EcoLux label. Founded in 2000, Vitamin A is a combination of feminine design, made by women for women, with sustainable innovation. “Everything about Vitamin A is quintessentially Californian. Everything from our laid back attitude to our very sexy minimalist and pure design aesthetic to our commitment to sustainability,” shared Stevens. “We’re all about effortless, natural sexiness and that laid-back West Coast vibe that is in our DNA.”
Inspired by 70s beach glam and the modern muses who collect her sustainable designs, Amahlia combines her passion for the ocean with revamped design and sustainable innovation to pioneer the perfect bikini: simple, clean, sophisticated and sexy. “The 70s California style,” she mused, “I have this special place in my heart for. I feel like I grew up always looking to that era. It is really free and natural and also sporty. The coloration and the palettes, the mix of brick tones and rusty earthy brights was always really attractive to me and still is. I am also drawn to that jet-set culture of southern Europe in the 70s. Photos of Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, and Kate Moss.”
Growing up on the beaches of Southern California — Laguna Beach, Santa Monica and Malibu — “I just remember living in a bikini,” laughed the swimwear savant, “My favorite past time is just being outdoors anywhere, but mostly swimming in the ocean.” Swimwear was a natural fit for this beachside beauty, but the journey was a slow start as her years consulting resulted in a resume reflecting mostly sportswear and outerwear experience. “I decided to start designing suits for myself due to my own experience of a void for women, like myself, who wanted her swimwear to reflect her general wardrobe aesthetic of ‘understated sexy’,” exposed the designer. Creating the coveted ‘California cut’, an elevated alternative to the commonly available ‘full coverage conservative’ cuts or the minimal coverage ‘Brazilian thong’, Stevens also pioneered the industry of sustainable swim, introducing a new “hybrid” construction to the industry which is now a standard: “The front panels are clean-finished and the back panels utilize a cover stitch to hold things in place while driving through the California shore breaks.”
The first to elevate swimwear with neutral color palettes and chic day-to-night pieces, Amahlia just gets it, understanding a woman’s body making fit the most important element in her designs. A testament to her pure know-how, she is the originator of the ultra-flattering Little Black Bikini. Foreseeing the future of fashion is sustainability, “It just feels right and natural to be a part of the solution and not the problem;” but it was not always smooth sailing in the journey to sustainability. “At first the challenges lied in just innovating this idea at all,” exposed Stevens. Three years and multiple mills later, Vitamin A finally perfected its sustainable EcoLux fabric. “The challenge then became coming up with something that was truly sustainable, but that also met the aesthetic requirements of my standards. Now that the industry is transforming in this area my latest challenge is to find beautiful cotton fabrics that are made from organic cotton.” Firm believers that style and substance can coexist, the leading vitamin in swimwear gives back a portion of proceeds directly to environmental organizations who help to protect our oceans.
Now let’s dive a little deeper! One summer got steamy as young Amahlia spent her sun-kissed days with a young Brad Pitt. Swoon! “I used to drive him to his auditions because he didn’t have a car yet,” laughed Stevens. Now the mother of twin girls to husband Julian, we were dying to uncover her go-to beachside basics: “Sustainability of course! Clean graphic silhouettes, high waist bottoms, and sexy one-pieces,” exposed Stevens. You will never catch this bikini boss in overly busy prints or suits embellished in bling. Spending summers in Norway and away from her home in South Laguna Beach, “I try to squeeze in a getaway on the gorgeous islands and coastal towns of Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Mexico is also a favorite as it’s so easy to get to and feels like a complete escape.”
Her tip to styling the perfect swimsuit? “Wear what you love and what makes you feel comfortable. Give yourself a break. Don’t judge your flaws - celebrate your curves and if none of that works then get a spray tan to boost confidence while trying on suits!”
