Meet the Designer: Carolina Dinardi, Maya Swimwear

"The main idea of my design is to combine glamour, style and femininity, without losing freedom. I want people to feel the confidence that comfort gives and have fun with it", says Carolina Dinardi, designer and founder of Maya Swimwear.

Maya is the brainchild of this third generation Argentine designer. Her life-long fascination with design began at the tender age of five when her grandfather, a humble but highly-skilled Italian shoe designer, demonstrated that he could transform the silhouette of any object Carolina chose into a sketch of a beautiful shoe. Carolina was thrilled, and in her young mind, her grandfather's creativity and skill were the most wonderful and magical things she had ever seen. From that moment on, Carolina carried a little sketch pad around and tried to show her grandfather that she too could tap into her mind's eye and transform the ordinary into something beautiful.

Carolina’s mother was also a fashion designer and most of Carolina’s summer vacations were spent in the design studio learning how to sew. By age 15, Carolina was sewing heart and bow shaped pillows out of scrap fabric found in her mother's workshop. It started out as a hobby, but friends and family were charmed by Carolina's creations and started asking her to make matching pillows for their sofas.

At age 18, Carolina stumbled upon a new passion while unsuccessfully shopping for swimsuits during an annual family vacation in Uruguay. She was so frustrated at not being able to find a bikini with the right fit and style that she decided to design one herself. Carolina's first swimsuit designs were covered with delicate lace flowers. Although she crafted her first collection for herself, friends found her original creations irresistible and soon overwhelmed her with orders. For the next three seasons, Carolina produced small collections that quickly sold out as word spread among the stylish young women of the glamorous beaches of Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Emboldened by her early success, Carolina was determined to pursue a career in fashion, and for the next eight years she honed her design skills under the direction of several of Argentina’s most celebrated fashion designers. However, Carolina never lost sight of her dream of launching her own swimwear line and introducing her design to other parts of the world.

In 1999, Carolina decided she was ready, and soon found herself sketching away obsessively, forever inspired by a random object of beauty. Determined to capture her vision and make it reality, Carolina began discussing her plans with influential friends and acquaintances in financial circles. In 2000, Lili Bivort, a long time friend and successful businesswoman, eagerly lent her support and helped Carolina raise the money needed to launch Maya Swimwear. Just one year later in 2001, Maya’s first collection was introduced in the United States.

Feel like shopping? Click here to view Maya’s beautiful line of swimwear!