I am a solo founder running an independent Made in Italy bikini project, and I’m here looking for fresh ideas and collaboration proposals from both amateur and expert photographers.

Since this is a fully self-funded, independent project, I don't have a massive budget everything comes straight out of my own pocket. However, I am putting myself on the line as the model, offering my brand, and what little I can afford, to completely surrender to your artistic vision.

The Brand & The Vision I know I can't compete with massive, generic brands that try to make a one-size-fits-all product, nor can I compete with overseas fast fashion that sells at a fraction of my costs. Because of this, I’ve realized my visual communication must be polarizing and exclusive. I need to speak directly to my specific niche, not the entire mainstream swimwear market.

I have to admit... I am currently failing at this. If you look at the content I’ve produced and already posted on my social you can clearly see that is average, I know it’s too basic, safe, and glossy. It doesn't have the edge my brand needs.

I am searching for photographers who have an incisive, different, and highly unique style, but who still know how to properly highlight the product and flatter the female physique.

If you want to take it further by doing something unconventional and striking, step forward! Pitch me your ideas, my DMs are open.

^(Hey girls. I am a 30-year-old accountant: I live on balance sheets, and I just let the day pass by until I get home. I have always had this creative and aesthetic energy, but I never knew exactly how to channel it. I love fitness, I’ve worked hard on my body, and I have always had the itch to create something of my own.)

^(So, I decided to create my own independent Made in Italy bikini brand.)

^(DO ME A FAVOR! Hold onto the very first comment or thought that came to your mind while reading up to this point, and later, tell me if you've changed your perspective.)

^(Today, I wanted to share my honest reflections gathered along the journey of building a project from scratch, all by myself, and as a woman bringing to light the sexist prejudices... and prejudices in general.)

The "Little Girl Playing at the Park" Syndrome

^(This is a dynamic that is rarely talked about, but which I believe affects almost all women who start a solo project. As soon as you say out loud, "I am creating my own swimwear line," the attitude around you instantly changes:)

• ^(Family and friends: They look at you with that indulgent tenderness reserved for a little girl building sandcastles. It's a mix between "good for her, she found a hobby" and "she's incredibly delusional to try and enter such a crowded and competitive market.")
• ^(Suppliers: I don't come from the fashion world. Showing up alone at an Italian factory that produces high-end goods was a massive lesson in humility. You receive those condescending looks from people who are clearly thinking: "Here’s another girl who woke up today and decided she wants to be a fashion designer.")

^(No one sees you as a CEO from day zero, that’s legit. You can't just show up with a sketch and expect immediate respect. You have to earn that respect by proving you understand the technical limits, that you know how to negotiate, and that you can absorb their physiological delays (and there were many it took months just for a prototype)

^(But I must say, the prejudices are numerous. You already have to fight to succeed in what you do, if you also have to break down barriers of cynicism and sexism, it becomes even harder!)

People Feel Envy and/or Want You to Fail

^(I haven't studied psychology or sociology, but this is glaringly obvious: acquaintances, feedback on social media, and even some of my friends()?) ^(have let slip that forced little smile where I can clearly tell you don't want me to succeed.)

^(But what is going on? What is this unhealthy mechanism? It changes absolutely nothing for anyone if I do what I love and maybe even make some money out of it! I'm not saying you have to jump for joy, but to actually display this envy is just sad.)

Why I MUST Call it a "Hobby" (And Why That's My Strength)

^(The objective truth is that I have to treat it as a hobby. There are no structural prerequisites to rely on it to pay my rent. Expecting a self-funded company built from scratch to become profitable and sustainable right out of the gate is like expecting to win the lottery.)

^(And you know what? Accepting this reality is my greatest salvation.)

^(If I had to monetize today just to survive, I would be dead from anxiety. I would have compromised on quality, and every single euro spent would have cost me sleep. Keeping my accounting job gives me the clarity and financial strength to fund my vision without any fear whatsoever.)

Conclusion

^(To all the women who are pushing forward with a project in the evenings, after work, while those around you watch with a condescending smile: keep building your sandcastle.)

^(Let them think it's a game. Treat it like a "hobby" to take the pressure and the rush off your neck, but work on it with the rigid discipline of a structured company. It takes time, and there are variables we cannot control, but the absolute only way to turn that sandcastle into concrete is to keep building it, one day at a time, entirely on your own terms.)
^(At least between us women, don't be judgy and edgy; pray that we succeed in our goals instead of drowning each other!)

[30F], Italy. I’ve always wondered what I wanted to be "when I grow up." I thought about capitalizing on my different passions because, as they say, choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life. I love fitness, health in general, I enjoy modeling for photoshoots, and I have a lot of creative energy. Amidst all this... I am an accountant!

1. Figuring out what to do

I assure you, for years I had all sorts of thoughts and initiatives. I weighed different possibilities. Open a gym? It’s not financially sustainable and absolutely not scalable. At best, I would be the owner of a gym franchise with all the risks and investments that follow. Not for me. OnlyFans? Well, I’m sure if I had opened an OF today I’d have more money than problems, but it just wasn't for me. And honestly, I admit it takes massive balls (or a lot of naivety) to start an OF.

2. Choosing the project

On paper, creating a bikini brand had everything I was looking for: scalability, the chance to design and wear bikinis that are perfect for me, a way to leverage the physique I’ve sweated so much for, and having endless photoshoots all to myself!

3. Core principles and boundaries

So, I started. I had the vision in my head; I just needed to set some milestones and non-negotiable boundaries for my brand. Here are the pillars the entire project is built upon:

• PROFIT DOESN'T MATTER (AT FIRST): Stay true to your taste and carry your ideas forward without being conditioned by outside noise.
• THE FIT IS EXCLUSIVE: The bikini you make is inherently exclusive. It won't fit everybody, so don't change the design just to make it fit everyone.
• HONEST STORYTELLING: Keep it real. No glossy, pre-packaged corporate BS. I am doing this alone, and I must admit that trying to juggle a thousand things made me sometimes neglect these rules (especially the third one), but I promised myself to fix things as I go. It’s incredibly hard to keep everything in focus.

4. First contact with suppliers

I am not from the fashion industry. Step one was going to see with my own eyes how a bikini is produced, what it entails, and the costs behind it. I visited an Italian factory famous for producing top-tier garments for high-end brands. I knew producing in Italy would cost a lot, so I had to make "Made in Italy" my badge of honor—I could never compete with Shein or big beachwear brands' prices. The owners were super kind; they showed me the various possibilities, the limits, the fabrics, the sizing. I went home with several points to unravel and develop. You can't just show up with a sketch and say, "make me X amount!"

5. Complementary suppliers

The factory would produce the bikini, but some necessary things fell outside their scope. I had to meet separately with packaging suppliers and the companies that would print and apply the logo.

6. Making it happen

Developing ideas, technical limits, materials, shapes, feasibility, prototypes, and adjustments. This part took way longer than expected. Every supplier compounded the delays of the previous one. The prototype was corrected multiple times, and so was the fabric choice. It took about three months, but I finally had a prototype in my hands to shoot the first photos.

7. Social platforms and sales

I am not a tech whiz, but I had to dive into the world of SEO, funnels, and social advertising. It's still the part I digest the least, especially because it seems the rules for success in this algorithmic world are written in stone: a hook in the first 2-3 seconds, chase virality, exploit the power law instead of normal distribution for video reach... Yes, but I realize these "hacks" distort my product and distance me from my vision of how I want the brand to be perceived. So, I am still fighting this battle.

8. Let's talk numbers

Currently, this business is a hobby. I can't expect it to be highly sustainable right away, and in fact, I’m already planning next year’s model even though the first drop just happened. The bikini retails at €135 (shipping excluded). The price is medium-high, but it’s for premium quality and a highly niche designer model. If you look at the costs, I don't think I'm being greedy:

• 22% VAT: €25 (Leaves €110 net)
• Production & Packaging (Low MOQ): €45 (Leaves €65)
• Estimated Ad Spend/CAC: €20 (Leaves €45)
• Operational costs & labor: €X (Currently unaccounted for, I work for free).

I am pouring my soul into this project, but I have to admit to myself that expecting this to become a sustainable business right out of the gate is a bit like winning the lottery. For now, it will remain my little side-hustle, driven more by personal satisfaction than the goal of dominating the market!

I sat down at the drawing board and designed this bikini. I was aware that it wouldn't be a bikini for everyone, but I figured I didn't have the resources to reach and please the entire female audience of the world anyway. So, I focused on designing what I personally liked: body enhancement, a touch of spice, original aesthetics, and bold colors.

I had to solve several problems along the way, such as the transparency of the white fabric, getting the rectangular top to maintain its 90° angle, perfecting the shape of the low-rise, high-cut bottoms exactly how I wanted them, and adding the back straps for adjustable comfort.....

but here I am, showing off my creation with all my pride!
you can follow me on socials for some support IG: deriva_italia

*Note: i'm italian and i used Gemini to translate:

30F, it's been quite a journey (more than an year).
The idea started from wanting to create a bikini myself,one that I completely loved, that suited me perfectly, and that flattered my figure. Yeah, great idea, but I never could have imagined the immense amount of work it would entail.

I dedicated all my afternoons, and many weekends and evenings, to developing this project, which slowly took shape step by step.

And here I am! One step away from launch!
to be honest with the possibility that I might not even break even on my investments, with the absolute certainty that the time I spent will never be fully compensated! but at least I have so much satisfaction knowing I brought this adventure through to the end.
I learned so much specific knowledge I never imagined I'd know.

Well... wish me luck! and a word of support maybe!