Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Magazine | Anna Kosturova

Growing up in the land-locked country of Czechoslovakia, designer Anna Kosturova always pined for the sea. When she moved to Vancouver at the age of 24 it was like coming home. "I always dreamed of living near the ocean. For me it was the draw of the mountains and the water." Here she found the freedom to head in a new direction. Born from her early passion for fashion and an enduring love of the sea, her unique line of crochet bikinis has taken the resort wear market by storm.

As a child Kosturova spent 2 months every summer visiting her grandmother on the farm. There she found a closet filled with amazing clothes sent from relatives in America - gowns, beautiful dresses and fancy jackets that were out-of place in the rural setting. Hours were spent dressing up in front of the mirror. As she grew childhood interests were set aside and she went on to earn a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering of Textiles. It didn't take long to realize this was not her dream job. Relocating to Vancouver opened the door to trying a new direction. "I remember the first time somebody said to me, 'Do what you want!' and I thought, "No way!' What a luxury to do a job you like". The idea grew on her slowly. She started by designing a few pieces that sold through local stores such as Dream and Block and spent a year honing her business skills in an entrepreneurial course.

The idea for crochet bikinis came from a scuba diving trip to the Great Coral Reef in Australia. She was wearing a bikini that she designed for the trip and had manufactured by one of her contacts in the Philippines. The suit was a hit. People kept asking her where she bought it and one store owner ran out to ask her where it could be ordered. "You know you have something when a complete stranger talks to you. And if these people like it, the chances are that other people will like it." All she needed to do was create her collection and she chose to design what she personally would like to wear. Working with crochet allows her to control every aspect of the final look from texture to colour to design. "Everything is handmade and takes forever to develop. People appreciate the workmanship and it doesn't expire."

The Anna Kosturova brand includes 4 collections. First is a line of crochet swim wear and cover-ups that change seasonally. The choices are many and include nautical themes, exotica (such as zebra, tiger or African), Frillouettes (frilly and girly) and embellished. Next is Essentials that contains the traditional string bikini in several colours as well as best sellers that are requested each season. The palette varies each year but always includes the basics of white, cream, taupe and black. Suits are made from 100 percent mercerized cotton and amazingly can be worn in the water. To complement her swim wear there is also Anna Kosturova Resort - a line of silk and cotton resort wear - dresses, tunics, skirts and pants in tie dye and original print designs. Finally there is her colourful children's wear line that features age appropriate versions of some of the most popular styles.

Anna Kosturova has come full circle back to her childhood dreams and found success. Her advice for others is clear, "I believe your passion is already set up as a child. Whatever you are doing as a kid, that's what you're meant to be." For more information visit her website at www.annakosturova.com and www.annakosturovagirl.com.