THE COLLECTION

Novados Swim is a luxury swimwear collection that creates handmade and sustainable pieces with minimal impact on the environment and oceans.

Our luxury knit swim and resortwear collection is made using materials sourced in the USA and is handmade in Miami, FL. Our innovative designs in vibrant hues are made almost exclusively from cotton. Additionally, our made-to-order nylon suits are created from expertly sourced materials and produced in small quantities to reduce our carbon footprint.

THE PROBLEM

In today's fashion climate, fast fashion has severe impacts on global pollution. The global fashion industry emits over 1.2 billion tons of CO2 per year and was identified in 2021 as the planet's third-largest polluter. The fashion industry accounts for 5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Mass production companies use synthetic materials like polyester that heavily pollute the air, ground, and water. Human rights abuses also run rampant in this sector, and accusations including unlivable wages and dangerous sweat-shop conditions have been levied against many of today's popular online fast-fashion retailers.

The bulk of fast fashion apparel is created from inexpensive synthetic fibers, composing 65% of all clothing globally. Most polyesters are non-biodegradable, and will not decompose for 20 - 200 years! Additionally, polyesters are partially derived from petroleum, with the oil industry being the world's largest pollutant. An estimated 342 million barrels of oil are used each year in the production of synthetic fibers.

Due to being inexpensive and the low-quality construction, these items become increasingly disposable to consumers. Over 57% of all discarded clothing eventually ends up in landfills or our oceans.

THE SOLUTION

Novados is on a mission to slow the pace of the fashion cycle and return to high-quality, slow fashion production. 

Through the usage of natural and biodegradable fibers like cotton, and working with a made-to-order model for the knit items, Novados’ crochet collection is proud to be zero-waste. Cotton itself is biodegradable and in the right compost, the material should be gone in a week to five months.

Our nylon suits are also made-to-order, and while this material is not biodegradable, we have

 a heavy emphasis on sourcing recycled nylons to reduce oceanic waste. We work closely with US-based fabric manufacturers who can provide Novados with recycled fabric options, and globally source man-made fabrics made from natural materials including bamboo and hemp.

We are committed to changing the life cycle of swimwear and creating a better world for future generations. What good are swimsuits if there are no oceans to swim in? Novados will not be a part of the global climate crisis!

CUSTOMER TRACTION

While working as a fashion and beauty publicist in 2012, founder Ashanté Nicole began conceptualizing the brand. That inspiration drove her to relocate to South Florida in 2016.

Her education at the Fashion Institute of Technology and background in public relations, photo shoot production, and digital marketing led to her work quickly catching the attention of friends, colleagues, and fashion luminaries in New York and Miami.

In the years since, Novados has been featured in Instyle, and Harper's Bazaar. Novados has also shown collections during Miami Swim Week in 2022 and 2023. We continue to work with top fashion stylists, photographers, and social media influencers who utilize the pieces in shoots, as well as private clients who work closely with us to create custom pieces, made specifically to their measurements.

WHY CROWDFUNDING?

Novados has encountered financial challenges over the past year that have hindered our continued growth. The raised funds will be used to reinstate our e-commerce platform and support a mid-summer trunk show and shopping event.

We will use the funds to buy the necessary equipment for the growth of our in-house studio, including industrial sewing and knitting machines.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS

We aim to raise a total of $10,000 to assist with the relaunch costs for 1 year of business and to introduce the brand to Miami fashion connoisseurs through a curated trunk show and shopping event in mid-July.

This is how we will utilize the capital we raise:

$400 - One year on the Shopify ecommerce platform.

$400 - One year of G-Suite services.

$350 - Comprehnsive list of 500+ retail and boutique swimwear buyers for wholesale orders.

$2,000 - Cost of equipment including knitting machine, and industrial sewing machines for an in-house design studio.

$2,500 - Cost of campaign production including social media still and motion content assets for daily posts, and digital advertisements. 

$3,000 - Location fee for a trunk show/shopping event. 

$1,350 - Working capital for fabric and yarns.

A MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER

"This is my passion project and I am determined to make Novados successful. I have put everything in my personal life on hold, including moving away from my family and friends in New York until I can bring my complete vision to life.

With your help, you will be aiding me in achieving my biggest goal, as well as creating an impactful legacy that I can pass down to my family. 

Again, your support would truly mean the world to me, and I'd be forever grateful that you were able to fulfill my decade long dream!"

To learn more about Novados, check out our instagram novadosswim.