About

I started Mari Mela after three years of trying to find clothing and swimwear I felt confident in, having had my body change after pregnancy and a 60 lb weight flux. Few styles were sustainable, and nothing felt like it could fluidly fit my shifting form. Most pieces reminded me of a silhouette I no longer had - I hid in athleisure daily, wearing yoga shorts to go in the water. I was determined to bring back the joy into getting dressed.

But I didn't want to contribute to all the waste the industry traditionally produces, and I wanted the material to be eco-friendly. That's how I came to find our on-demand producer.

When I saw the possibilities behind knitted bio-based materials in swimwear, I knew this could be the start of something special. You won't find a fit like this or support like this with other materials. The apparel knits that complement the collection are a welcome reprieve to an era of polyester activewear. They feel luxurious and are of the highest quality - it feels great and looks great.

At Mari Mela, my goal is to design for fashion to feel and function different: you deserve better, and so does the planet.

Our purpose is to challenge industry norms, promoting inclusivity and sustainability by focusing on incredible fit and materials while producing with an on-demand model. We are flipping the traditional fashion model from design-make-sell to design-sell-make. This helps us not overproduce, minimizes waste, and allows us to focus more on designing the best products.

Made in America

We manufacturer with Tailored Industry in Brooklyn, New York, for all of our knitwear and swimwear. These are produced on-demand and ship in under two weeks, which minimizes our company's material waste. View a timelapse of our production at the facility and learn more here.

Site Visits

We are able to video conference with our partners monthly, and perform site visits at a minimum of once annually. This way we can verify the conditions are safe and that garments are being made ethically.

We support the FABRIC Act

The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act is is a proposed federal law aimed at revitalizing the US garment industry and promoting responsible apparel production. It aims to protect workers' rights, enhance transparency, and support domestic manufacturing. If passed, this legislation would introduce new measures to ensure fair wages, improve workplace conditions, and hold brands accountable for their supply chain practices. As a brand committed to ethical sourcing, we endorse the FABRIC Act, which aligns with our values of sustainability and social responsibility. Read more and sign the petition here.