From Fashion Executive to Founder: Why POST SWIM Had to Exist
For 20 years, I worked in the fashion industry, most notably as the Chief Merchandising Officer at REVOLVE - building teams, leading strategy, and partnering with some of the most recognized brands in the world. I thrived in a fast-paced industry where creativity met commerce. But when I was diagnosed with breast cancer just three days before my 38th birthday, everything changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t about seasonal launches or trend forecasts, it was about finding mastectomy swimsuits, swimwear for breast cancer survivors, and post-surgery swimwear that honored what my body had been through without compromising on style, comfort, or confidence.
Fashion Was My Foundation—Then Cancer Reshaped Everything
As a woman still in her thirties, I never imagined I’d be navigating chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, early menopause, and body-altering surgeries while still trying to feel feminine and fully myself. The emotional and physical toll was immense. When I finally reached a place in my recovery where I wanted to reclaim parts of who I was, I realized that the fashion world I had once helped shape had nothing to offer me, or women like me.
I wasn’t alone.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. occur in women under 45. These women often face more aggressive cancers and longer-term side effects, and based on my fashion career, there were fewer product solutions catered to my age group and lifestyle. The market for mastectomy swimsuits and post-surgical fashion remained clinical, outdated, and underwhelming.
The Closet Meltdown That Sparked a Movement
Before a well deserved vacation to Maui, I stood in front of my closet trying to find a swimsuit that made me feel like me again. But every suit I tried on exposed the very things I wasn’t ready to share...my scars, my implant rippling, my vulnerability. I turned to my husband in frustration, and he said, “Maybe you’re supposed to create what doesn’t exist.”
That’s when everything clicked.
POST SWIM: Swimwear for Survivors, by a Survivor
I launched POST SWIM on my three-year cancer-versary as a way to turn my diagnosis date into something hopeful. POST SWIM is more than just a brand—it’s a statement. We create swimwear for breast cancer survivors and any woman whose body tells a story of strength. Our suits are designed with:
- Scar-conscious coverage that empowers rather than hides
- Flat-friendly silhouettes for those who opted out or could not have reconstruction
- Prosthesis-friendly pockets for optional usage
- Supportive fits for implant rippling and post-surgical sensitivity
Most importantly, POST SWIM is about reclaiming confidence. Because the right swimsuit can do more than fit your body, it can help you feel whole again.
As the Young Survival Coalition points out, young survivors are often overlooked in research and support. That’s exactly who we’re here for. POST SWIM was made for the women who want to show up on their own terms, in their own time, in swimwear that finally fits both their bodies and their lives.