The Artist Series: Supporting Women, Celebrating Nature, and Driving Change

We wouldn’t be here today without the uplifting community of women, makers and creators who gave us the time, opportunities, and practical help that turned our passion for slow fashion into the Saturday Swimwear brand. From the very beginning it’s been our mission to use Saturday Swimwear not just as a way to promote conscious consumerism, but also as a way to support the dreams, passion, and craft of women everywhere, which is why we are excited to launch our limited edition Artist Series. The Artist Series aims to highlight the work and voices of female artists around the world and inspire consumers to build a deeper connection with the brands and creators they support through their purchases. There’s a lot of gold in that statement - let’s get into it.

Supporting Female Artists

As a brand with a female-identifying founder, supporting the work and ideas from other female artists helps us both expand, and give back to the incredible maker community that has had such a powerful impact on our own dreams. Not only does the Artist Series shine a spotlight on other talented, female creators to provide valuable exposure, but practically speaking, it also tries to tangibly help their business thrive by directing 20% of every sale back to the artist. Each one of these pieces designed and brought to life is a literal work of art that customers get to wear - how rad is that?! Our hope is that by choosing an Artist Series suit you feel inspired by the artist behind the print, connected to Emily behind the seams, and empowered by the entire community of bad-ass women pursuing their passions to make this world a better place.

Forging Deep Connections

We know from our own personal lives that we more deeply enjoy and take better care of the items we have a personal connection with, leading to longer-lasting, more meaningful belongings - one of the core tenants of slow fashion. Our Artist Series prints are designed to tell a story that forges those personal connections between the designer, the print, and the wearer. Each partner we collaborate with has their own unique voice and connection to nature that comes through in their prints, giving deeper meaning to the finished suit. When wearing an Artist Series suit, you become transported to the place that inspired the design and woven into the story it tells. The suit is no longer just a swimsuit - and a sustainably made one at that - it’s a thread that connects you to the space, story, and person behind each design.

Our vision is to bring the Artist Series back each spring with a new collaboration and a new print as a limited edition offering. We look to partner with other female-identifying artists who share our values across sustainability, slow fashion, and uplifting other female-makers, which is why Cara Naylor of Charlie November was a natural choice for our very first collaboration.

Cara’s natural creativity and eye for design have been a major source of inspiration for Emily whenever they crossed paths. From pottery to surface pattern design, Cara has a natural ability to visualize an idea and then go create it, all while being an amazing advocate for the local female-maker community. Cara curates a quarterly subscription box in Central Oregon called The Bend Makers Box. Each box highlights a handful of local female artists’ goods and brings joy to all who receive it. If you are in the Bend area, definitely check it out!

We began the design process with Cara in the Fall of 2021 having agreed upon our Fall 2021 colors, Salt and Spice, as the inspiration colors for the design. We know our customers love versatility, so starting with Salt and Spice as our base would give them the opportunity to mix and match colors. We also knew we wanted the design to celebrate Central Oregon, where both Emily and Cara call home. After seeing a few different options, we landed on the gorgeous Pacific Ferns print. Inspired by the colors of the high desert and the lush flora just over the mountains, we couldn’t think of a better print to transport you into the beauty of Central Oregon.⁠ When you wear this suit, we hope you feel the serenity and natural beauty of the forests - like a forest goddess or a mountain mermaid, as Cara likes to say! Whether you're a local Oregonian or a friend from afar, we love that this print represents not only the natural beauty of the world around us, but also the beauty that comes when women join together to support each other.

With every item we choose to purchase, we have the power to support brands that are making intentional decisions to protect the environment through their products. By collaborating with artists who care just as much about the importance of slow fashion as we do, we’re creating opportunities to drive positive change in the fashion industry. When you choose an Artist Series suit, you become a part of the incredible community impacting that change. We couldn’t be more stoked to have you join us, and we can’t wait to see where the next Artist Series collaboration will take us.

This article was written by Lauren Hokenson.