How Rima and Eddy Vaidila Used 30 Combined Years in Fashion to Create the Brand of Their Dreams
For Florida natives and sisters Rima and Eddy Vaidila, swimwear season is every season—it's like a second skin. But when bikinis are in your bloodline, like Rima and Eddy's, you'll know it's no small feat to find one you love.
After years of searching for one that ticked all their boxes—aesthetic, longevity and fit—they continued to struggle. Thankfully, the two connoisseurs have 30 combined years of experience in fashion, including styling stars like Dove Cameron and Johnny Orlando, so, creating their fast-growing brand, Goldie Swimwear, was a no-brainer.
(via Goldie Swimwear)
Goldie Swimwear is heavily influenced by the tones and hues of the western coastal town of St. Pete Beach, Florida. It features fun patterns in technicolor, accented by chunky beads, ruffle hems and intentionally skimpy silhouettes. And the best part about it? These bikinis are as affordable as they are functional and fashion-forward.
We had a chance to sit down with the ladies of Goldie Swimwear to dive deeper into the trajectory of the entrepreneurs. Continue reading to learn everything they share about their work thus far as co-founders.
SH: How did your upbringing in St. Pete Beach shape the way you view swimwear? Are there any pieces of Florida you can see in your current designs?
Goldie Swimwear: Goldie is heavily inspired by us growing up in the small beach town of St. Pete Beach. Our prints, color choices and shoot concepts always circle back to our Floridian roots.
(via Goldie Swimwear)
SH: You started this venture together as sisters. What's the best part about having a loved one with you?
GS: Being sisters and business partners has simplified almost every aspect of running Goldie. We have an unspoken shorthand that lets us work faster and more efficiently. We're also each other's biggest supporters so having that unconditional support is very empowering.
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SH: What has been the most meaningful part of your journey together as Goldie Swimwear?
GS: Being able to collaborate and work with each other has been very rewarding and brought us closer together as sisters and friends.
SH: What does the name Goldie Swimwear mean to you?
GS: Goldie girls are risk takers and love to make a statement; they don't take themselves too seriously. Goldie Swimwear is all about being confident and wanting to show your personality through your bikini choice.
SH: You describe Goldie Swimwear as "big-bang." What about your designs sets it apart from other brands on the market?
GS: We intentionally design statement swimwear for risk-taking girls. We love being able to design unique prints, fabrics and color combinations you can't find anywhere else.
(via Goldie Swimwear)
SH: What's the most rewarding part of your work?
GS: Our favorite part of having Goldie is getting customer emails and DMs saying how much they love their Goldie suits. We understand shopping online, especially for swimwear, can be super daunting, so we get excited when we get a customer tag on social media and get to see our designs come to life. We seriously have the coolest customers in the world. The girls that get it, get it!
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SH: What has been the most memorable piece of advice you have received since starting Goldie Swimwear?
GS: Design for yourself and draw inspiration from what you already know or experienced.
(via Goldie Swimwear)
SH: What's your favorite piece from your brand?
Eddy Vaidila: My favorite pieces since conception are the Lou Top and Bea Bottom. It's just that perfect tanning set I always go back to no matter what.
Rima Vaidila: My favorite styles have to be the Cristina Top and Ines Bottom. It's the perfect amount of coverage while still being cheeky. And the contrast color outline adds that extra lil somethin'-somethin'. I'm also obsessed with the beads we use on all our suits.
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SH: What habits have helped you get to where you are today?
GS: Starting every week with a to-do list and creating the list in order of priority has helped us not feel overwhelmed. We also send voice notes, photos and random inspo as soon as we think of things. When we're both excited about an idea it's easy to hit the ground running. We also credit our individual experiences of working in the fashion industry for the past 10+ years for giving us unique industry insight that most other brand owners don't have.
(via Goldie Swimwear)
SH: Anything else you'd like to add?
GS: 2024 was the year Goldie really found its niche, so we can't wait to see where 2025 will take us!
Curious to discover even more entrepreneurs we love? Click HERE to meet April Xie and learn how she combined old with new to create her fashion brand, Simple Retro.