How two young Cypriots created an international swimwear brand

Business fashionLondonTop News How two young Cypriots created an international swimwear brand Image00001 Relevant News Teenager dies in Spain after fountain collapses during World Cup celebrations 20 July 2026 How two young Cypriots created an international swimwear brand 20 July 2026 Ten wounded as Ukrainian drones strike Moscow region 20 July 2026 Sophia Neophitou 20 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber When Eftychia Constantinou and Anna Spyrou set off on a two-month journey across South East Asia in late 2024, they returned home with more than just photos—they had the vision for anef swim. Spotting a gap in the local market for an independent, female-led boutique brand while exploring independent shops in Bali, the Cypriot founders spent 2025 turning that inspiration into reality before officially launching their sustainable swimwear line in 2026. They managed the entire development process while balancing full-time careers—Constantinou training as a solicitor in London and Spyrou working in childcare in Cyprus. They explored five countries before returning home: Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia. While in Bali, Constantinou and Spyrou explored “beautiful independent boutiques,” where high-quality sustainable swimwear made with “incredibly soft fabrics” made them immediately feel that there was “gap for something similar in Cyprus,” they recounted. They explained to en.philenews that though Cyprus has large retail chains, they felt that there was room for a “boutique swimwear brand created by women, for women.” anef swim wants to capture the feeling of freedom, they noted, mentioning “swimming in the sea, diving, exploring new places, embracing adventure, and feeling confident in your own skin.” anef swim combines this feeling with “timeless design, luxury and functionality,” they stated. “Ultimately, we wanted to create something special for the girls, swimwear that feels beautiful, empowering, and thoughtfully designed.” Throughout their travels, they took countless photos, they said, due to their passion for photography; “slowing down to observe the details and fully immerse [themselves] in each moment” significantly inspired them. They added that the “vibrant cultures, everyday scenes, colours, and breathtaking landscapes” left a “lasting impression” on them, that inspired them to channel the experience into something “creative and meaningful.” The process Constantinou and Spyrou began working on anef swim at the beginning of 2025, officially launching this summer, in 2026, naming the brand a combination of the first two letters of their names. Throughout the year taken to create the brand, the founders said they completed multiple rounds of sampling, placed production orders, built a website with the help of Philippos Pilakouris, finalised designs and booked two “major photoshoots” in Cyprus with “professional videography.” Entering the fashion industry, they told en.philenews, was challenging due to the incredibly competitive atmosphere brought on by the domination of fast fashion. Their biggest challenge was perfecting the fit of the pieces, they noted, adding that they tested four rounds of samples while making refinements each time. Constantinou and Spyrou learnt everything “from scratch,” including sketching, creating technical design packs, managing the production process, and creating mood boards. Manufacturing partners who met recognised standards for recycled materials, traceability and ethical production was important, the founders said, as well as building a close relationship with them, adding that “they supported [them] throughout every stage of development.” They emphasised that their priority was to make the pieces both functional and stylish, and designed adjustable pieces, reversable bikinis, and silhouettes that could be styled a multitude of ways. They also focused on inclusivity, with extended sizing to multiple of their pieces, they said. “We didn’t want to create just another swimsuit, we wanted every detail to serve a purpose.” Constantinou and Spyrou stated that focusing solely on the product is easy, “but building a brand involves so much more,” including organising photoshoots, creating content and building a community. They stated that looking back, they would have told themselves to trust the process more. “that it was easy to become frustrated when things didn’t go exactly as planned,” they said, adding that sometimes progress takes longer than expected, “and that’s okay.” They told en.philenews that their biggest highlight was “seeing women wear and genuinely love the pieces,” emphasising how after “countless hours perfecting every detail,” it is incredibly rewarding to see customers feeling confident and comfortable while wearing their designs. The product The colour palette and names of anef swim’s products are a nod to the founder’s heritage, and were inspired heavily by Cyprus and the Mediterranean, they said, telling en.philenews they wanted each piece to feel connected to the island, but still appeal to international consumers. The designs feature signature gold elements “inspired by Mediterranean elegance and timeless Greek design,” they added. One of the designs they consider most meaningful is their reversible Cyprus-inspired swimsuit, which features their first custom print which was created in collaboration with local artist Evina Economou. The design includes defining Cypriot symbols, such as the evil eye, Lefkaritiko embroidery motifs and Commandaria wine, while the other side of the piece is a “chic Bordeaux shade.” Other colour options were inspired by Cyprus’s “earthy” landscape, “crystal-blue” waters, and “vibrant greens” of the Mediterranean landscape. The pieces are made with sustainability in mind, having been a “priority” from the start. Constantinou’s degree in “Prosperity, People and Planet” made her aware of the environmental impact of the fashion industry, they shared, adding that they are both “tired” of the disposable nature of fast fashion, and aimed to build a brand that was responsibly produced and focused on longevity and quality. The swimwear is made from recycled fibre, created from plastic bottles, consisting of 78% recycled nylon and 22% spandex, they said, continuing to state that the fabric has been tested and certified to have no harmful substances, being safe for consumers and the environment. The use of sustainable materials affected the cost of production, due to the cost of the fabric, they said, sharing that they invested their personal savings into anef to create a durable and functional product. “Sustainability means creating pieces designed to last season after season-not something worn a few times and discarded.” The response So far, they said they have received positive feedback as well as photos and videos from customers around the world, “enjoying their holidays in anef swim.” “Seeing someone wear the brand in real life never gets old.” They stated that the reception towards the brand has been “incredibly encouraging” and have been “overwhelmed” by the support from friends, family, customers, and other creatives in Cyprus “who generously gave their time and talent to help bring [their] vision to life.” After launching, they held a pop-up in London, where “complete strangers” who discovered the brand on social media showed up to see the collection, they said. Now, they added, they have shipped their product all over the world, to Germany, France, Greece, the United States, and beyond. They noted that they would “love” to continue to grow their brand across Europe. The business anef swim does not just ship internationally, but operates internationally, with Constantinou and Spyrou managing from both London and Cyprus respectively. The business atmospheres found in each country differ, they said, explaining that London feels “very international and diverse,” with more people searching for unique, independent brands, whereas Cyprus is still growing in that direction, with some consumers still being more inclined to shop at larger, more established brands. Managing apart does have its difficulties, they said, noting that coordinating meetings, making decisions remotely, and balancing their differing schedules come with their own challenges, adding that when they are both in the same country, they spend more time working than they do catching up as friends. Despite the challenges, Constantinou and Spyrou said they have learned to communicate effectively, delegate responsibilities and trust each other, adding that though it had been a “learning curve,” their friendship and business partnership have been strengthened. “We’ve learned to step in when the other person feels overwhelmed and to play to each other’s strengths.” Constantinou and Spyrou still work full-time while managing anef, training as a solicitor at a UK law firm, and working with children, respectively. They told en.philenews that balancing both responsibilities was not always easy, sometimes only having time to manage the brand on their commute or late at night. They stated that organisation, prioritisation, and realistic to-do lists help them keep on top of things, noting that their family and friends have been supportive and “are there if [they] ever need them.” “Sometimes even one focused hour can make a huge difference.” Despite the challenges, the founders enjoy both aspects of their lives, stating that anef swim provides them with a creative outlet, with their professional careers being just as fulfilling. They noted that working on anef full time would accelerate the growth of the brand, but is not something they are planning to do just yet. If the brand continues to grow, they added, they would “love to build a team” to help them with marketing and operations to help them build the business while remaining involved in the creative direction of the brand. Through creating anef swim, Constantinou and Spyrou said they learned to appreciate how much work goes into creating a small business, the importance of community, whether it means supporting other creatives, collaborating or encouraging other local talents and entrepreneurs, “success is rarely ever achieved alone.” “Behind every independent brand is an enormous amount of time, care, and dedication.” Most importantly, they noted, taking a break and knowing how to balance rest and ambition is crucial to avoiding burnout. The founders stated that any other aspiring entrepreneur should believe in their vision and not allow outside criticism and discouraging comments to distract them from their goals. They emphasised that celebrating the milestones already achieved is equally as important as focusing on the next goal, and advise to not be afraid to “move at your own pace” to focus and achieve something you truly believe in. “There will be setbacks, delays, and moments of self-doubt, but those challenges are part of the journey.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 & 𝗝𝗘𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗬 (@verisofficial) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Teenager dies in Spain after fountain collapses during World Cup celebrations Ten wounded as Ukrainian drones strike Moscow region After decades of chaos, UK’s ruling Labour party gambles on Andy Burnham On this day: Turkish forces invaded Cyprus in 1974 Long live the new idiocracy Slow justice is costing Cyprus, EU scoreboard shows Gunmen fire more than 10 shots at Germasogeia office building Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.