Excited to share that we have a fun collaboration with C2A, a sustainable, slow fashion swimwear company based in Boston.
Jill Palese, founder of C2A, has reinterpreted our pattern ‘Clarendon’ as gorgeous bathing suits for men and women. Check out their Instagram to view their new Summer Collection, and shop for our collaboration here!
Please tell us your background and how you started your brand, C2A.
My background has always circulated around clothing design.
Working in a creative field for 25+ years means thinking deeply about color, pattern, proportion, textile innovation, etc. As a professional clothing designer, helping women to feel comfortable in their clothing is particularly challenging, especially when the area of
expertise is swimwear. I have always loved art and design, clothing, textile, landscape, interior, jewelry, and architecture. Falling into a creative career required no soul- searching or major shifts; it was an obvious pathway for me.
Call To Action® began as an idea but quickly evolved into a reality. After many years in the fashion industry, I felt compelled to create innovations on behalf of the environment and to work toward making a difference in the apparel market. Early in the process, I met Dan Rakauskas, who spent his career in software, and together we decided to partner on the launch of Call To Action, with sustainability and innovation at the brand’s
core.
Tell us about the innovation/ patent that you have created.
Bits Blocker® is the patent-pending technology that permanently welds a thin modesty
panel to the inside of the bra. It eliminates the need for polyurethane foam cups that
change a woman’s natural shape and eventually wind up in landfill.
How did the collaboration with Seema Krish evolve?
I first met Seema while sharing studio space with several makers in Boston. Seema was beginning her company’s launch, and I worked as a swimwear designer for a brand based in Tel Aviv. I was impressed by Seema’s work ethic, design aesthetic, and commitment to slow fashion, along with her prints and exquisite textile designs.
Years later, during Covid, Seema sent me some of her prints for face masks. I could easily see how well her patterns would work for women’s swimwear based on the size, shape, and color of her block prints. We were thrilled when she agreed to the collaboration!
What is your personal design aesthetic, and what patterns do you gravitate towards?
My design aesthetic is modern and contemporary, gravitating toward clean lines and minimal silhouettes. I am not interested in “trendy fashion,” but prefer style that delivers a story attached. Style should have a long, timeless lifespan rather than quick, frantic, and “tragically hip.”
What is your favorite Seema Krish Pattern?
Clarendon, of course!
