About
Where It All Began
When I was young, my stepdad lived on the North Shore of Oahu. During the summers I spent there, I fell in love with a local swimsuit shop run by two sweet ladies. They would hand you a book of fabrics, let you choose your style, and later you’d come back to pick up your custom-made suit—it was magic to me.
Fast forward to 2020: for my 21st birthday I received my very first sewing machine. I didn’t know how to sew (though my mum had sewn all her life), but I knew I wanted to start a custom swimsuit business. Over the next few years, I taught myself to sew, graduated from ECU with a degree in Music Education, sold over 100 swimsuits, became a high school band director, married my best friend, and eventually moved from the Outer Banks to Greenville, NC.
By God’s grace, doors kept opening. Now I run AlySwim full-time, creating custom swimsuits alongside my mum, who also makes our accessories and clothing. My husband is one of my biggest supporters—he even styles our mannequin, Ethel, for markets!
Where You Can Find Us
Today, AlySwim is a full-time dream come true. Along with my mum, I design and sew custom swimsuits and clothing that you can find at markets across North Carolina and occasionally in neighboring states.
You can also find AlySwim creations beyond the markets and online:
- Surfin’ Spoon (Nags Head, NC): exclusive custom dog bandanas
- Outer Surf (Nags Head, NC): custom swimwear made just for their shop
- Collaborations: one-of-a-kind prints designed with local artists, so you can support small artists while wearing something truly unique
Our Materials & Mission
At AlySwim, I’m passionate about sourcing fabrics responsibly and supporting family-owned businesses. All of our swimsuit fabrics come from a small U.S.-based, family-owned company that uses non-toxic dyeing methods and handles all of our custom printing.
For clothing, sweatshirts, and lounge sets, we source 100% organic cotton fabrics from another family-owned U.S. mill that also uses non-toxic dyes. Choosing these partners allows us to keep our process sustainable while supporting small businesses and families—values at the heart of AlySwim.