Woman Behind The Brand – Marjolein Billie Swim

Billie Swim: I think that's such a cozy name. Where does it come from?

Nice that you say that! Billie is actually a nickname of mine – especially my husband uses it. I also find it sound delightful and cozy. When I came up with the name for my brand, I thought: hearing Billie Swim makes me want to lie on the beach with a cocktail in my hand. I wanted to capture that feeling in my brand – light, sunny, relaxed. And that's how it became Billie Swim. I could hardly believe that the name wasn't registered yet. It really felt like it was meant to be.

The moment to start your own business is always a tricky one. When are you completely ready for it?

I always find the statement from Kristien van Dillen, the manager of Eva Jinek, so strong. “Just start, otherwise there will always be a reason to postpone it. You can always improve it along the way.” Is that recognizable?

Yes, that's incredibly recognizable. Billie Swim has really grown from doing rather than endless planning. If I had waited until everything was perfect or until I felt completely ‘ready’, it probably would never have happened. For me, entrepreneurship is a continuous process of trying, adjusting, and learning along the way – and that literally happens at the kitchen table, among coffee cups and scribbles in my notebook.

Emma Grede put it beautifully: “If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never start.” That is exactly the philosophy I believe in.

Why did you feel that the market needed Billie Swim?

The idea for Billie Swim actually arose from my own frustration.

I found it incredibly difficult to find a bikini or swimsuit that really fit well, didn't show through (not even the lighter colors), was of sturdy quality, and remained beautiful season after season – without immediately paying the highest price tag for it. Moreover, I missed the sustainable aspect. I thought: this can be better.

When I shared my idea for Billie Swim with people around me, I quickly realized that I wasn't the only one struggling with this. Many women faced exactly the same problems. That was the sign for me that there is really a need for Billie Swim – and the motivation to set up the brand.

From the beginning, my collection revolves around timeless designs that don't go out of fashion after one season, but last for years. Quality, sustainability, and style must go hand in hand – without compromise.

There is always something in a process that goes well or poorly. What was that in this case?

What went well – and what gives me a lot of energy – is the development of the product itself. Over the years, I have built very nice connections with producers, allowing me to truly bring my ideas to life. The best part is seeing how women feel confident and beautiful in Billie Swim. During one of my pop-ups, a customer even became emotional because the sturdy fabric and cut gave her such a good feeling. That moment was one of the highlights of this year for me and confirms why I started this brand.

What was disappointing in this process were the financial and administrative topics, a real learning experience for me as a first-time entrepreneur. Additionally, as a new brand, it takes a lot to build the right brand awareness and to introduce people to who Billie Swim is and what we stand for.

In what way do you want Billie Swim to stand out?

With Billie Swim, I want to stand out by showing that swimwear can be both stylish and sustainable. My collection revolves around timeless designs that don't go out of fashion after one season, but last for years. I consciously choose high-quality, recycled materials from Italy and I produce in a solar-powered factory. Also in details – from packaging to eliminating single-use plastic – I put sustainability at the center. Additionally, I want to celebrate all different body types with Billie Swim: the fits and fabrics are designed to make women feel confident and fabulous. For me, slow fashion is the norm: the world doesn't need more swimwear, but better swimwear. No fast trends or weekly drops, but investment pieces that can be worn season after season.

A bit about you. If someone had told you as a little girl that you would do this later, how would you have reacted?

As a little girl, I would probably have jumped for joy. It wouldn't have surprised me at all, because deep down I always knew I had to create something of my own. I was already endlessly busy with drawing, fashion, and everything related to creativity. The idea that I would later build a brand that makes women feel confident and contributes to a better world would have made me incredibly proud as a child. Billie Swim therefore feels not only like a business but also like the fulfillment of a dream that has always lived somewhere inside me.

What did you think you would become when you were younger?

When I was younger, I didn't know exactly what I would do, but I always felt that my future would be in fashion. Fashion was a way for me to express myself and to create something beautiful that can also convey a feeling. I didn't have the exact path clearly in mind yet, but what I did know was that I wanted to build something for myself one day. That feeling of creating something of my own and being able to express my passion and vision has been there since I was young. Ultimately, that has led me step by step to Billie Swim, where everything comes together: my love for fashion, my entrepreneurship, and my drive to bring sustainability into practice.

What did you study and how has your career progressed?

I studied Textile Science at Saxion in Enschede and during my studies, I followed a specialization in China. My career started at Karl Lagerfeld. I still remember that an old student from Saxion, who worked there, gave a presentation for our class. When I heard her story, I immediately knew: I am going to intern at Karl Lagerfeld. And that worked out. I started as an intern within the Ready-to-Wear team and even had the chance to meet Karl Lagerfeld personally and experience his creativity up close during various meetings – a memory that will always stay with me.

After my internship, I grew within Karl Lagerfeld , where I worked in the Product Development team for Ready-to-Wear and Accessories. Then I made a short stop at G-Star, before returning to Karl Lagerfeld. There, I set up and built the Sustainability team, and later became Sustainability Manager. It was an incredibly inspiring period in which I learned a lot and had the opportunity to work with icons like Amber Valletta and the team of, waar ik werkte bij het Product Development team Ready-to-Wear en Accessories. Daarna maakte ik een korte tussenstop bij G-Star, om vervolgens terug te keren naar Karl Lagerfeld. Daar heb ik het Sustainability-team opgezet en opgebouwd, en werd ik later Sustainability Manager. Het was een enorm inspirerende periode waarin ik veel heb geleerd en de kans kreeg om samen te werken met iconen zoals Amber Valletta en het team van Cara Delevingne on sustainable collections.

When the Sustainability team was firmly established, I felt it was time for a new challenge. What that would be exactly, I didn't know at that moment, so I consciously took the time to discover that. Ultimately, that path led to the founding of Billie Swim.

I often have the idea that in your life, everything contributes to something that was ‘meant to be’, but that you are not aware of during the journey you take. Even a major setback can later shape you exactly to handle something bigger. Do you recognize that?

Yes, I recognize that very much. Often you only see afterwards how everything falls into place. Even the moments that felt like setbacks at the time turn out to be the things that make you stronger or give direction later. With Billie Swim, I notice that too: choices I made earlier in my life or career seem to come together in this brand now. As if the puzzle pieces were already laid out, but I first had to gather them myself. Sometimes it really feels ‘meant to be’, but then you also realize that it was that journey – including the bumps – that prepared you for it.

Talking about money might not be entirely comme il faut, but hey, we are here to help each other as women and also to guide each other in life. So is it a bit of a stretch, starting your own business or does world domination come later and the euros then flow in?

Haha, world domination is still a bit of a wait 😉. Starting your own business mainly means investing – not just money, but also time, energy, and creativity. Everything that comes in now goes back into the company because I am really building for the long term. And believe me: to make that possible, I work three other jobs on the side. So it's hard work, but I see it as a growth path: building, testing, and improving step by step. The euros don't flow in (yet) automatically, but I believe that if you stay close to your brand feeling and values, success will eventually follow. For me, it's mainly about laying a solid foundation now – and then world domination can come.

What would you like to tell your younger self?

To my younger self, I would say: trust yourself. You don't have to know everything or do it perfectly to start. Mistakes and setbacks are not endpoints, but lessons that move you forward. And honestly – my younger self would probably be screaming with pride if she saw what I have achieved and what I am working on now. That feeling alone is the confirmation that you should always keep going, even when it's exciting.

And finally, where can we buy Billie Swim?

Billie Swim is available online via my own website: www.billieswim.com. And hopefully, you'll also find us next year at more retailers in stores, so even more women can discover Billie Swim. Additionally, I regularly organize pop-up shops – so definitely keep an eye on my Instagram for the next date. I also offer private shopping experiences, both one-on-one and for groups of friends, so you can explore the collection in peace.