OUR STORY
Tigrilo Swim was born from love but also from a place of struggle. I started working with Jovita Maynas, a Shipibo Artisan, native to the Amazon Rainforest, in 2018. We had been learning from each other and collaborating on multiple projects, but when covid-19 spread to every corner of the globe, I was unable to travel to Pucallpa. The financial situation of artisans around Peru was greatly affected by the lack of tourism. Not to mention the lack of access to healthcare and emergency services. Though the situation wasn't shocking, the severity of the situation encouraged us to think of immediate and long-term solutions to support her family.
My sister Emily, together with Jovita, and I wanted to find a balanced alternative that intertwined ancient craftsmanship and technology. I have been designing swimsuits since 2014 and noticed there weren’t swimwear brands in Peru that were environmentally conscious or celebrated our Peruvian heritage, at the time. After extensive market and supply-chain research, we decided that creating Tigrilo Swim would be a perfect opportunity for Jovita to showcase her talent in places far beyond the Amazon Rainforest, earn a steady income, and contribute to reducing plastic waste by turning PET bottles into fabric. Not to mention creating awareness and celebrating Peru's cultural diversity.
Our goal is to continue working with the Shipibo community as well as expanding our team to reach and include more artisans around Peru.
I hope you love our creations.
xo, Caroline
MENIN YABY COLLECTIVE
In 2024, we partnered with the Menin Yaby Collective, a group of seven skilled Shipibo artisans from the Amazon, now based in Cantagallo, Lima, to create the intricate embroidered finishes on our bikinis.
