This Summer may have turned out different than most, but dreams of colorful bikinis and sleek shaped one-pieces are a year-round reality for fashion designer and entrepreneur Valeria Del Rey. Digitally escaping to the vibrant island of Puerto Rico, we discuss her impeccable line — La Gotta Swimwear — and her passion for all things “under the sun”.

With a mission to “create pieces that have a life of their own,” growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the designer is a regular beach-goer and lover of the outdoors; so naturally her hometown island is serving as a source of inspiration for all things La Gotta. From studying in cities such as New York, Washington and Italy, the native returned to San Juan driven by determination to further grow her budding brand. “I decided to design swim,” begins Del Rey, “because I could never find swimwear pieces that would represent my style. With La Gotta, my purpose was to create unique swimsuits; statement pieces that would stand out and have a life of their own.” By changing the swimwear narrative, the island beauty creates one-of-a-kind sustainable pieces that embrace not only her own style, but women’s beauty in a chic and feminine way; all while further nurturing their relationship with the sun.

With all of La Gotta’s collections being inspired by elements from nature, nuances of flora, fauna, animals and all that is natural can be seen in each sun kissed set. “Nature is the number one source of inspiration for our brand,” revealed the designer, “that is why we focus on using sustainable materials and textiles that come from a derivative of natural fibers. This featured collection is called Creepy Crawlers,” and as we are sure you can guess, “the inspiration for its prints came from the different colors and textures of a variety of bugs.”

Having a keen eye for aesthetics even as a young child, fashion has always been a way of expression for Del Rey, period. “I’ve never been attracted to the fashion industry,” she further explained, “I simply see fashion as a medium to express who I am. Society portrays women’s swimwear in a specific way and it made me feel vulnerable. So, I decided to design my swimsuits that would enhance not only my confidence, but a sense of personal style. Generally swimsuits are all about exposing yourself for others. At La Gotta, a swimsuit is an extension of your style, not just what you typically wear to go to the beach.”

One of her favorite pieces being the ‘Zara’ high waisted bottom and top, you can strut a modelesque look with its high waisted cuts lending to those coveted never-ending legs. Creating exquisite pieces for the sophisticated and empowered women, the label thrives to exude confidence and strives to be 100% themselves. Offering no hidden secret, science, or theory for styling swimwear, the designer is rather all about attitude and confidence. “Don’t pay attention to trends and be true to yourself,” encourages Del Rey. “Be confident. When styling swimwear, less is more. The swimwear should be the main focus, so do not over accessorize. If you feel the need to accessorize then your swimwear is no good. Embrace your body and your swimsuit, and forget the rest.”

Since we are not able to explore the likes of Puerto Rico as much as we wish, we were eager to learn what women in the States could learn from the island heritage. “Women in the states can learn to embrace color, volume and everything that is ‘a little bit too much’,” smiled the designer. “At the end of the day you have to find what makes you fulfilled and dress your everyday and swimwear days unapologetically.” You got the figure ladies, so why not flaunt it. 

Although fashion is becoming more globalized, certain purchasing preferences are not surprising. “Our most classic and solid color styles with unique silhouettes are our best sellers in Europe while our printed styles tend to sell more in markets like Miami and Latin America. We also see our American  customers purchasing a lot more prints, even our most daring style Brassica,” reveals Del Rey. No surprise, the city of Milan is one of her favorite fashion spots to visit with its luxurious cutting-edge styling, fine savoir-faire Italian craftsmanship and renowned fashion heritage.

More than gracing the world’s Summer scene with that elegant flair, the La Gotta label is not interested in leaving their ecological “footprint”. “Our swimsuits are designed to enhance one’s beauty through our creatively crafted designs, while protecting our waters and skin.” Letting us in on her sustainability secret, knowledge is key. “Sustainability is not a marketing tool. If the brand understands the importance of sustainability, then it becomes embedded in the brand’s core,” states the designer. “You achieve that by understanding that sustainability is a fundamental element of your brand. The moment that you realize that is when your brand will change and your design and production process will adapt organically and sustainability will automatically become the center of your brand.” Noting her preference for investing in timeless pieces, “I have found ways to up-cycle old pieces and reinvent the ways I wear them,” says Del Rey, “which has honestly been a lot of fun for me the past few months. I have been working on La Gotta’s ready-to-wear, which will be launching in 2021 and I’m super excited for it! This process of up-cycling old clothing helped me find inspiration for durable, good quality materials that will become pieces women will have in their closets forever.”

Taking her journey one day at a time, the swimwear savant has come across many advisory opinions over her time in this industry, but there is one in particular that stood out. And that is from a former manager at a previous internship, a relationship she has maintained even today. “Never second guess yourself,” she reminisces, “and if you don’t go after what you want, someone else will do it.”

Unapologetic for “my attitude,” she laughs with a smirk, “as my husband would probably say; but no, I have to admit I always follow my gut and I am a decisive person.” Owning your own luxury line is a never-ending focus, but Del Rey still manages to carve out time to kick back at home, sip on her favorite Italian red wine (Bolgheri), and relax with her husband, her dog Corgi Bimba and her Mi Calico cat Lila. If this year has proven anything, it is how important it is to take time for yourself as needed, so the designer also makes time to swim every morning with her dad, indulge in a book or two, and even overthink on design ideas.

Before heading back to the call of the water, Del Rey leaves us with these encouraging parting words: “If you are interested in finding a career in fashion make sure to find companies that you align with their core values and if you want to create your own brand make sure you create something genuine to what you believe in and is unique.”