We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah McDermott and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, how does your business help the community?
From the beginning, I wanted to ensure that Santos Swim was a purpose-driven brand that could have positive impacts on both global and local levels.

On a global scale, Santos Swim is a proud partner of Healthy Seas, an environmental initiative dedicated to clearing the oceans of abandoned fishing gear. The UN estimates that 640,000 tons of abandoned fishing gear enter the world’s oceans each year. This “ghost gear” destroys marine habitats and harms wildlife as it erodes over hundreds of years into smaller microplastics. Healthy Seas works with local governments, NGOs, fishermen, and other stakeholders to reduce the amount of gear entering the ocean each year.

Instead of destroying these abandoned nets, Healthy Seas works with Aquafil, a leading global producer of nylon, to transform this marine waste along with fabric scraps from mills, carpet flooring, and industrial plastic from landfills into ECONYL® regenerated nylon. This innovative fiber is then used to create new products such as our swimwear collection and encourages others to think about new solutions to environmental issues.

On a local level, I love partnering with other like-minded businesses to host community beach cleanups here in San Diego. While beach cleanups aren’t the answer to the global waste crisis, they’re a great way to bring people together take care of our community and evaluate our impacts on the planet.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Santos Swim is a globally-conscious swimwear brand born out of a love for the ocean and a need for versatile pieces while traveling. Whenever possible, the suits are designed with dual purposes in mind; whether they can be worn multiple ways, are reversible, or multi-functional as yoga tops or bodysuits. This extends the functionality and life of the suits beyond the beach – because why wait for a vacation to wear your favorite swimsuit?

In every aspect of the business, we strive to keep both people and planet in mind. Our suppliers and manufacturing partners are held to high ethical and sustainable standards, ensuring that everyone in the supply chain is accounted for and compensated fairly. For some customers, a Santos Swim suit is the first sustainable fashion item they’ve ever purchased. We hope that this inspires them to live consciously and continue on their sustainable living journey.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
After scooping them up from San Diego Airport, we’d drop off the suitcases and head to OB for sunset drinks on The Holding Company’s rooftop. The next day, we’d pick up some breakfast burritos from Cotjia’s in PB and spend the day hanging out on Mission Bay with beach games + paddleboards.

Another day would start with avocado toast and coffee from Grounds Bean Bar in PB before exploring Liberty Station. We’d also be sure to book a rooftop yoga class at Awarewolf and find some time to hike Torrey Pines.

A Cardiff beach day is always on the agenda and we’d stop by downtown Encinitas to browse the shops. We’d definitely have to visit the Zoo one day or the Safari Park if they’re feeling adventurous. We’ll try to squeeze in a picnic day at Balboa Park or Kate Sessions and a bonfire on the bay.

During their stay, we’d grab tacos from Oscars and The Taco Stand (ordering ahead!). On the weekend, we’d check out Kobey’s Swap Meet before popping over to Little Italy’s Farmers’ Market. To end the trip, we’d swing by Nova Kombucha to pick up some booch and head down to Sunset Cliffs for another beautiful San Diego sunset.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I didn’t have a fashion background or any formal training in the fashion industry before deciding to create my swim line. But I quickly learned that it isn’t easy to break into the apparel industry without some help. After a couple of years of trying to launch on my own, I found an online business school called Factory45, which is designed to support sustainable fashion entrepreneurs from idea to launch. It was exactly what I was looking for and the founder, Shannon Lohr, was an incredible mentor. I now actually have returned as an Alumni Mentor for the Factory45 program to help other entrepreneurs launch their sustainable fashion brands!

Website: www.santosswim.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/santos_swim

Facebook: www.facebook.com/santosswimofficial

Image Credits
Berlyn Komar, Robyn Orenstein, The Community Creatives, Brad Longworth

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.