About Her Business & Career: As a former Wilhelmina model, Chantel Davis understands women’s bodies. She founded swimwear brand Castamira in 2017 after struggling to find high-quality options to accentuate her own curves. Influenced by the aesthetic of the 1970s and 1990s, Davis’ swimsuits are designed with the woman’s form in mind, enhancing the beauty and sensuality of the wearer. Catamira’s bathing suits are proudly made in America, and Davis says their elevated, yet playful ethos, immersed in luxury, is meant to empower and inspire women of all shapes and form.
Why She Made the Worthy 100: Castamira bills itself as “conscious luxury,” and Davis’ respect for the earth is inherent in the brand’s DNA. In partnership with regenerated nylon brand Econyl, Castamira uses the company’s eco-friendly fibers—including a yarn made from fishing nets and fabric scraps—in its swimwear production, which can be recycled, recreated and reused again and again. In addition, the swimwear brand utilizes sustainable green packaging, sourced from eco-friendly shipping supplies company EcoEnclose, to reduce its environmental impact. Castamira’s debut collection of one-piece swimsuits isn’t just sustainable; it’s also meant to be inclusive and respectful of the female form. That’s part of the reason Davis has focused on one-pieces instead of bikinis. “In truth, the woman’s body itself is a form of art, and draping the fabric of a full-body suit shows the full landscape of her curves and heightening the imagination of what’s underneath,” Davis told Miami-based outlet VoyageMIA in 2019.
Industry: Retail/Fashion
Year Founded: 2017
Headquarters: Miami, Fla.
