‘Hot Girl Summer’ has finally approached, and you know what that means: it’s time to hit the beach in our favourite bikinis. With endless swimwear trends and great summer deals, it’s hard to stay focused on shopping sustainably. Sustainable fashion includes responsible consumption just as much as ethical production. So, why not invest instead in versatile swimsuits that transform from day to night?

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Over the past month, we got the chance to speak with Sandra Vukovic, Founder and Designer of VUK Swim, to learn about their versatile swimsuits inspired by the city girl. As a local and sustainable business, all swimwear is handmade with love by Sandra and her team to complement all body types.

With VUK Swim’s sustainability efforts, we believe they are a local leader among small businesses. Their mission to sustainability isn’t only about fabric but versatility in one’s closet by enforcing the motto, “less is more.” By creating quality fashion staples,  individuals no longer have to spend hours choosing the perfect swimsuit, which in turn, reduces the amount of waste created from throwing out old, low-quality bikinis purchased from large fashion giants.

IBU: Sandra, it’s a pleasure having you as our second feature on IBU Links! We’re so excited to showcase your sustainable dual-purpose swimwear business, VUK Swim. We love that your brand is all about sustainable swim and versatile fashion. How did you come up with this product idea?

Sandra: When the pandemic hit and I was left without a job, my sister and I had a conversation about the lack of swimwear brands in Toronto, and how in the past we’ve resorted to buying swimwear from fast fashion giants or international brands. With my lifestyle change towards sustainable choices, I started to look for local sustainable swimwear brands. After finding that it was very limited, I knew that this is the market I wanted to break into.

With the negative implications of fast fashion consumption in mind, and Sandra’s experience working with stretch fabrics from her first job, Sandra embarked on creating classic and sustainable fashion staples through VUK Swim.

IBU: Can you tell us more about how you incorporate sustainable and versatile fashion into VUK Swim?

Sandra: While choosing a sustainable fabric is important, it doesn't end there. Our goal is to minimize our products' overall carbon footprint by looking at the big picture. In addition to having a sustainable supply chain, we also want to emphasize sustainable design. We want to analyze the cost per wear when thinking about developing our swimwear. Cost per wear gives us an idea of the lifetime value of the purchase by dividing the price paid by the number of times it will be worn. Good fit, durability, and timeless style will extend the lifecycle of a swimsuit.

At VUK, we use high-quality swimwear fabrics that withstand chlorine, saltwater, and sun. We also create timeless and flattering fits in a neutral palette that will keep you reaching for the same bikini for years to come. We design versatile swimwear that can double as a top, giving customers more opportunities to wear it and encouraging them to invest in fewer pieces. Dual-purpose pieces are also great for traveling as it gives you the ability to pack lighter.

‍Sandra recognizes the amount of waste created when individuals buy tens of swimsuits that end up thrown away within a few months due to poor quality or outdated style. VUK Swim has adopted various sustainability initiatives: fabric made from 78% ECONYL® fibres, 100% regenerated nylon fibres from fishnets and other nylon waste, and using locally sourced and manufactured materials to reduce carbon emissions in the transport process. In addition, Sandra prevents unnecessary waste as all orders are made to order, shipped in compostable mailers, and fabric scraps are repurposed into new products or packaging.

IBU: With all the detail put into your products, it probably wasn’t simple for you to narrow down the final designs for your swimwear. What’s it like to develop new designs and bring them to life through your creative process?

Sandra: The first thing I do is create a Pinterest mood board with photos that I am currently inspired by. These photos are quite literally of anything and often aren’t fashion-related. Once the board is created, I take out any photos that look out of place until my Pinterest board seems to have a cohesive theme. From there, I start to design.

My design inspiration comes from brands and tops that I can envision as swimwear. After I sketch out variations of each look, I look at them all together and pick my favourites. I like to use my family and friends as a sounding board to give me a great outside perspective.

IBU: How do you pick the perfect type of fabric to use for your swimwear?

Sandra: I compare samples from many suppliers to ensure that my swimwear is made with the most suitable fabric for my collection. Once I receive the fabric, I start to sample the swimsuits. Often, this is where the direction of the design will start to evolve. I always get new ideas on how to better the styles once I physically start to work on them and try them on. I make all the samples in my size and try everything on myself. This helps me understand how everything moves and feels on the body and what fit adjustments I need to make.

‍By creating a swimsuit that can be worn in different ways and hugs one’s curves in all the right places, Sandra aims to inspire individuals to invest in timeless pieces and choose quality over quantity.

IBU: What’s an obstacle you’ve encountered through your mission to create versatile fashion?

Sandra: One of the biggest design struggles would have to be developing our Sunnyside medium coverage bottoms. It was so difficult to create a cut that was flattering on different body shapes and didn’t immediately slide into your butt as you walked. I struggled to design the perfect family-friendly bottoms that weren't too revealing, but at the same time, didn't look like a diaper. I must have made dozens of samples and convinced everyone I know to try them to compare the fit. It came to a point where I almost took them out of the collection but ultimately felt it was necessary to have medium coverage bottoms as an option. I kept tweaking and readjusting the pattern until we created our Sunnyside bottoms, which I can finally say fit great!

‍Sandra understands the common fashion struggle of trying to find a bikini that’s flattering and appropriate enough for family gatherings. As a result, she created the Sunnyside Top and Bottoms, which are the perfect medium-coverage swimsuit top and bottoms that are comfortable and also suitable for every occasion.

IBU: We’ve also seen great growth in local entrepreneurship during the pandemic, but the level of resilience, perseverance, and hard work dedicated to starting a business is often unseen to the general public. What was an unexpected challenge VUK Swim faced as a small business?  

‍Sandra: Upon starting VUK in July 2020, our launch date was set for November 2020. Winter vacation season for Canadians is the highest quarter for swimwear brands as there are no seasonal options available from big brands. At this point, COVID-19 cases were very low and it looked promising that we would be able to launch in the winter months. As we approached autumn, the second wave of the pandemic was in full swing and as a result, we were forced into another lockdown. With further travel restrictions in place, I knew that our launch for November was no longer feasible as no one was able to travel outside of Canada. It was devastating, but I knew that we had to adapt. We decided to move our swimwear launch to Spring 2021, and in the meantime developed and launched our starter packs which included masks, scrunchies, and totes from our swimwear fabric. This allowed us to introduce our fabrics to customers while building our social media presence until our Spring 2021 launch. In the end, I believe it was a blessing in disguise. The starter pack was a great way to introduce VUK and with more time leading up to the swimwear launch, I ended up redesigning a better collection.

Among many businesses, the pandemic impacted many business plans in the past year; however, Sandra was able to make light of the situation and create other high-demand products to allow individuals to sample their materials. Sandra has demonstrated her commitment to ensuring that her customers feel satisfied with her products and with quality customer experience.

IBU: Sandra, it was a pleasure speaking with you today. We truly enjoyed hearing about your passion for VUK Swim and cannot wait to see what you have in store for the future. Finally, what do you hope to gain from being a member of the IBU community as a small business owner?

Sandra: I hope to connect with like-minded people and businesses and join a community that is interested in supporting one another. As a small business owner, a platform such as IBU will streamline this process and give me the sense of community that I have been searching for!

Sandra’s brand has inspired us through her proactive drive to make something great out of quarantine blues. Her goals to bring sustainable swimwear options to the Toronto market and to merge city fashion with transitional swimwear are unique and essential to all our hot summer beach days.

“If you can style a fashion piece in different ways, you continue to give it a new life.” -Sandra Vukovic, Founder of VUK Swim