Birdie Jo Swimwear
Designer of the Month
Behind Birdie Jo Swimwear:
An insider’s exclusive!
Azura chats to Birdie Jo Swimwear designers Rebecca Fink and Kate Richter about what it takes to be one of the hottest up-and-coming designer swimwear labels around. Get inside and personal with Azura as we find out where the design duo get their inspiration from, and what makes them tick. From a background in furniture design to an eye-opening trip to Brazil, it’s one heck of a story…
Part I
(Answers by Rebecca Fink on behalf of Birdie Jo Swimwear and Kate Richter)
Describe Birdie Jo Swimwear for us in 3 words
Fashion, Fit, Function
Your original inspiration for Birdie Jo Swimwear came from Brazil. Is Brazil still a major source of inspiration when designing your swimwear collections?
I must clarify that the swimsuits are inspired by Brazil, but not specifically by Brazilian swimwear. The design concept originated in Brazil where I observed women of all age, shape and size wearing teeny, tiny bikinis on the beach, and to the cafes afterward. One morning on that trip, my best friend’s mother stood in the kitchen in her little two-piece swimsuit, making me espresso and toast. It was at this moment I realized how my own cultural background made this seem so foreign to me. I thought how wonderful it was to see women so comfortable and confident. I felt inspired and compelled to create something that contributed positively to women’s body image.
What other countries, cities, cultures appeal to you when it comes to swimwear design?
In terms of the Birdie Jo collection, I draw a lot of inspiration from 20th century, European and American art, design, and architecture. It may be noted that I am completely obsessed with the South of France, but that doesn’t rule out the rest of the world. Destinations such as Fiji; Antwerp, Belgium; Spain; Miami; India; and Mexico have had obvious influence on my personal sense of aesthetic, and inevitably, Birdie Jo.
Birdie Jo Swimwear has its headquarters in Hollywood, California. How does LaLa Land influence your designs? Would you describe Birdie Jo Swimwear as Angeleno in spirit?
I often draw upon design and architecture of the 20th century, which really flourished in Los Angeles, for example “Hollywood Regency.” Birdie Jo has a Mid-Century modern aesthetic to it. It’s fresh and sophisticated. Moreover, it’s a modern classic, being clean in design, detail, and finish. That said, it is undeniable Birdie Jo is “Angeleno” in spirit.
Prior to life as swimwear designers, both you and Kate traveled extensively. What were some of the most influential destinations you visited? How have your travels changed you as a person, and in turn, as a designer?
As I mentioned above, directly through my trip to Brazil, we were inspired to create a comfortable, sexy and fashion-forward line of swimwear in the States, which is how Birdie Jo began. However, more personally and overall, we feel travel opens a person’s mind by allowing them to experience foreign culture, art, and energy. What is learned upon travel is carried and applied in all aspects of a person’s daily life from that point on, including their work.
Both you and Kate have a background in furniture design, your family running their own manufacturing company. Is designing swimwear very different from designing furniture? What skills can be applied between the two?
After working in interior design and the furniture industry, we learned what it meant to be both customer and manufacturer. We understand the “in’s and out’s” of a factory and what manufacturing entails, from concept through creation, all the way to the shipping docks. We also know what it is like to be responsible for a client’s merchandise, that how precious and personal certain purchases become. Navigation through such a process is rigorous, however it gave us the skills and know-how to run Birdie Jo
Why swimwear and not furniture?
We left the family business to start something of our own. We knew that we were capable of doing whatever we put our minds to, as it was engrained in us, being that we were from a family of entrepreneurs. We set our minds to it and have simply never given up.
Swimwear vs. furniture… It’s all a matter of preference. We were set up to move forward in both interiors and furniture, but swimwear inspired us.
Tell me about you and Kate as kids – did you always get along?!
I was raised in Chicago, while Kate grew up in Los Angeles. Honestly, we became really close when I was 16 and Kate was 21. The “age gap” seemed to close and we made a lot of sense to each other… almost as if we had grown up together.
Kate always likes to tell the story of when I came for a visit at the age of 7. I was totally her dorky, Mid-West cousin… Perm and all. I was really tall and really skinny and super excited about my understudy role as Munchkin #2 in my school play, The Wizard of Oz. I spent the entire trip pining over a certain Barbie with a glow-in-the-dark skirt and singing show tunes from my upcoming debut. Kate, extremely reserved and well mannered even as a child, was practically horrified. We laugh constantly at this memory and I have come to take full responsibility for frightening her… Perm + Show tunes… Who could blame her?
How did you come to decide you wanted to go into business together?
There was never really any question about it. We always wanted to start something together. We are best friends and family; there isn’t anyone either of us trusts more than the other. We first talked about venturing into something together on a plane from San Francisco to Costa Rica in 2000. After finally moving to the same city and working together in furniture for several years, we made our break.
To view the beautiful Birdie Jo Swimwear collection, click here and start shopping now!
The next installment of Behind Birdie Jo: An Insider’s Exclusive will be here in just a few days, so make to stop by again for Part II…
