Grad Brianna Ondrejik Launches B Skylar Swim
After receiving a degree in Merchandising & Marketing from FIDM, Brianna Ondrejik went on to pursue a bachelor's degree in Business Management, which prepared her to start her own business, B Skylar Swim.
Since graduating from FIDM in 2015, Brianna worked in ecommerce for a menswear brand. There, she worked with the head of creative content to conceptualize direction and styling of e-commerce and editorial shoots. "I always envisioned working for myself, so I quit my job and began developing B Skylar over the course of two years," she explains. "Fortunately, my past employer allowed me to freelance for them during this transition, but I think it came down to trusting myself, and taking a risk."
Brianna launched B Skylar Swim after being unhappy with existing swimwear silhouettes and styles. "There were too many bright colors, prints, and intricate cut-outs," she says, "so I began to reimagine swimwear as transitional and timeless. My goal was to design flexible pieces that can be carried into your everyday wardrobe. For example, all of our tops are double lined and seamless, so they can be worn as undergarments."
Raised in Huntington Beach, California, Brianna has been around the beach and swimwear for her whole life. "My choice of relaxed, transitional pieces were inspired by Orange County's casual, laid-back lifestyle, however, the imagery for the brand is heavily inspired by my travels throughout Europe, with a touch of Slim Aarons' poolside aesthetic in the mid-1970s."
The current collection, Elysium S/S 2018, is made with a solid matte nylon spandex tricot that was sourced in Los Angeles (they are in the process of transitioning to a sustainable techno-fabric, made of a ECONYL® regenerated Nylon). Inspired by the southern regions of France, B Skylar Swim styles come in a range of neutral colors and simple silhouettes.
Brianna says FIDM’s Business Management Program helped her develop a broad knowledge of business operations, finance, and business strategies. "They were invaluable in starting my own company," she says.
Visit bskylarswim.com to learn more.
Categories: Business Management
