She Made Me - Australia

 
 

I've been wanting a crochet bikini for years! Unfortunately I found She Made Me too late and stocked up on bikinis on a recent trip to Brazil, but if I hadn't I would order one of Chloe's pieces for sure. Besides them being crochet, the shapes are really cool - just the right amount of 70s retro without looking dated. And she offers all kinds of coverage - from supersmall to high-wasted, from triangle bra to bralettes and halters. And I love her aesthetic - take a look at her lookbook shoot below, and also the short fashion film. Makes me want to be at the beach. And of course makes me want to get her things even more!

 
 
 
 
  • Name: She Made Me
  • Founder: Chloe Dunlop
  • Country: Australia
  • Website: shemademe.com.au
  • Price point: $$100-200
  • My favorite: I love the shape of the white bikini top, first image of the article
  • Notes: All pieces are hand crochet in limited quantities by artisans in Bali. The skirt below takes about six days to make.
 

The skirt in this color is on sale right now, down from $260 Australian dollars to $130

 
 
 
 

Antik Batik - France

 
 

If boho isn't totally out of the question for you, you need to take a look at Gabriella Cortese's label Antik Batik. The attention to detail is beautiful - the little tassles at the straps, the embroidery, the insets of lace. Gabriella is Italian by birth, but lives in Paris. She developed her unique style while traveling Bali and Tibet, and mixes her craft with an influence ranging from Art Nouveau to Russian avant-guarde.

 

The Stats:

  • Name: Antik Batik
  • Founders: Gabrielle Cortesa
  • Country: France
  • Website: antikbatik.fr
  • Price point: $$200-500
  • My favorite: The slim flower dress up top
  • Notes: This label has been around since 1992. Gabriella learned embroidery from her Hungarian grandmother.
  • And: She also does shoes and bags.
 
 
 
 

Lika Mimika - Germany

 
 

I love comfortable shoes in the summer (my go-tos are either Toms or for the first time this summer Huaraches, which are classic Mexican shoes which I'll write about soon), but these espadrilles look absolutely perfect. Super simple, they're elevating this classic slip-on of my youth through different variations of leather (suede, goat, calf). Bright colors are usually not my go-to, but here I would go for it. And in fall/winter, they usually offer these espadrilles with fur on the inside - which are also perfect for travel. My favorites are their classic espadrilles with the thin soles.  I think founders Marijana Condic and Lisa Leipziger really got it right!

The stats:

  • Name: Lika Mimika
  • Founders: Marijana Condic and Lisa Leipziger
  • Country: Germany
  • Website: likamimika.com
  • Price point: Roughly 130-150 Euros, ship internationally
  • My favorite: Their orange espadrille with the thin sole
  • Notes: Lisa came back from a vacation in Spain and told Marijana that they have to create a more sturdy version of the $10 espadrilles you find there. The rest is history.
  • And: For animal lovers - they also have a vegan line. I can recommend subscribing to their newsletter, they have a lot of flash sales.