Have you ever wondered who made your swimsuit?
At Kitty and Vibe, every single product we’ve ever sold, from our very first drop in 2018 to today, has been made in the same woman-owned factory in Bogotá, Colombia.
Up until now, my manufacturing lead has always overseen our production trips. But this year, I finally had the chance to visit the factory in person. I met the women (and two men!) who cut, sew, and pack your Kitty products with care. It was an experience I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
Meet Ana, the Woman In Charge
Our factory is led by Ana. A rare and remarkable woman running a manufacturing business in South America, an industry typically dominated by men. Ana is hilarious and warm, driven and loyal, resourceful and incredibly smart.
She’s built a workplace rooted in respect, community, and opportunity, prioritizing the hiring of single mothers and women over 50, two groups often most at risk of poverty. Many of these women have been sewing Kitty swimsuits since the very beginning. Others joined as we’ve grown, thanks to your support.
A Process Built on Care
The moment I walked through the factory doors, I was moved to tears. Music poured through the speakers, and 28 tailors were deep in their craft sewing Kitty suits right in front of my eyes.
This business I’ve been building for 7+ years crystallized before me, and I saw our brand through an entirely new lens. As Ana called out, “¡Kitty está aquí!” (“Kitty is here!”), I was greeted with smiles, hugs, and so much warmth.
Ana proudly introduced me to every team member. I watched the full production process: from digital patterns on the screen to large-scale printers to fabric being cut precisely by hand. Each step was done with such focus, pride, and care.
She explained that making a swimsuit is 25% machine and 75% by hand. As I toured each station, I got to witness that craftsmanship firsthand: threading elastic through straps, heat-pressing size labels, trimming loose threads, and sewing each seam.
At lunch, I gave a short speech (with help from Google Translate!) to share my heartfelt gratitude. I thanked them for the incredible skill they bring to every Kitty product and for their commitment to making inclusivity a reality through fit.
Fit for Every Body
Unlike most brands, who design on a size XS and grade everything else from there, we do things differently. We fit-test all Kitty styles on four different size ranges:
XS–L, XL–1X, 2X–3X, 4X–6X.
This allows us to fine-tune each grouping and make sure your suit fits the way it’s meant to. We often go through up to 10 rounds of sample fittings until we get it right.
Meet the Hands Behind Kitty
With their permission, I took portrait photos of every team member so our community could celebrate The Hands Behind Kitty and Vibe.
People always say there’s something magical about Kitty — that it feels like a brand infused with kindness. After spending time with the people who make your swimsuits, the ones who cut every piece, sew every seam, and pack every order, I believe that kindness starts with them.
Why This Matters
There’s a lot happening in small business right now that’s out of consumers’ control, from rising tariffs to supply chain challenges to sky-high marketing costs. But one thing we can control is how and where we spend our dollars.
When you choose Kitty, you’re supporting real people. People like Ana, Sandra, Yady, and the many others behind every suit.
So thank you, thank you, thank you. Your support makes all of this possible and after this visit, I’m more inspired than ever to keep building Kitty with care.
We’re already designing our 2026 collection and I truly believe it’ll be our best yet.
Stay tuned,
Cameron