Bambina Swim: Sustainable Swim and Resort Wear
As a small business owner myself, I always look to support other small businesses, and today I’m starting a new series where I share my favorite finds from small businesses that are doing great things. These are not paid ads or affiliate links; just me sharing talented people with amazing products, and I especially love it when I find kindred spirits, like I did with Bambina Swim!
Bambina Swim was founded by mother-daughter team Diana and Janet, and they make beautiful, eco-friendly, sustainable swim and resort wear, inspired by their favorite destinations.
Diana and Janet: “What makes Bambina Swim special is our genuine connection to the places that inspire us. We don’t just design beautiful prints; we honor their origins by giving back a part of our proceeds to help protect those very destinations. Each piece is made from carefully chosen sustainable fabrics, because we believe true luxury should always be kind, both to you, and to the planet.”
One my favorites is their Cardamom Robe, which is made from a biodegradable fabric called Cupro. It feels like silk, but is created from cotton linter, a by-product of cotton production, and using it reduces textile waste. Janet says: “The Cardamom Robe print was inspired by the natural beauty of Shinta Mani Wild Resort in Cambodia and their dedication to the preservation and protection of the Cardamom Rainforest and all its inhabitants. The print is an homage to the endangered animals and flora of this special area. We donate a percentage of all proceeds of the Cardamom collection to the Wildlife Alliance to help protect both the forest and its beautiful animals.”
I had never heard of Shinta Mani Wild before, but it’s on my travel wish list now!
What inspired you to start Bambina Swim?
Janet: It all began around 1992 when Diana was 4 years old and made a one-piece swimsuit for her doll out of construction paper, and I was so impressed at how realistic it was! It’s a moment we both still remember, and we like to think that maybe it set our subconscious wheels in motion to one day start a swimwear company!
Diana: I love all things summer, beach, and travel, and I’m also passionate about sustainability and being kind to our planet. I attended The School of Fashion Design in Boston and in 2010 moved to NYC to continue my education in fashion. In 2015, I took a leap of faith and started a swimwear line – Bambina! My mom was my biggest fan and sounding board and would often travel to New York to help me with anything business related. We eventually made it official and now we are legal partners.
How did you come up with your business name?
Diana: I’m a true water baby at heart. Growing up, I spent summers swimming at my Grandmother’s lake house, and in the winter in the pool and ocean in Florida. Every spring when the weather started to get warmer I’d wake up and put a swimsuit on underneath my clothes. I think it made me feel like I was always on vacation.
When I was 3, my Dad wanted me to learn how to swim, and I had no choice but to sink or swim from then on! His nicknames for me was Beach Bambs and Little Bambino, and that’s where the name of our company comes from.
You’re a sustainable swim wear company – what made you choose to work exclusively with eco-friendly fabric?
Janet: I love animals and have always been inspired by the natural world. I studied Environmental Science in college and was recycling way before it was popular, sometimes to the annoyance of my family and friends. I’m guided by my sense of responsibility to respect the one planet we all share.
One of the sustainable fabrics we’re proud to use in our Cardamom Collection is Cupro. It’s an amazing, eco-friendly material with a silk-like feel. It’s created from cotton linter, a by-product of cotton production. Being biodegradable and compostable maximizes the value of cotton plants while reducing textile waste.
Your swimwear and cover ups are also made from sustainable fabric?
Yes, our Endless Summer and Soleil swim wear collections are made with ECONYL®, a regenerated nylon made by recycling abandoned fishing nets, fabric scraps, and other types of nylon waste and turning it into quality nylon yarn. And our cover ups are made from organic cotton.
And everything is made in the US?
That’s right, sewing and assembly takes place in a women-owned factory in New York City’s garment district. Producing our garments in the US allows us to support the local economy, and it also reduces the amount of carbon emissions that comes with production overseas.
And finally, a random fun fact: Janet and I (Cattie) just realized that went to the same photography school in Boston (but not at the same time). Small world! 😃
This week (February 2-8, 2026), save 15% on all Bambina collections with the code ESCAPE15.