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July 25, 2013
MADE IN PORTLAND
5
POPINA SWIMWEAR
By KYLIE WRAY
The Tribune
W
hen getting ready for a vacation
to Mexico, Pamela Levenson
came across a very common
problem: swimsuit shopping.
Levenson, who got her start in the gar-
ment industry, has always had a love for
1940s and ‘50s retro swimwear. She created
her first swimsuit when she couldn’t find a
swimsuit available for purchase that she
loved. She decided to make one that would
be her own, and ended up creating three or
four that she loved, that were, according to
her, “fun, flattering and fashionable.”
Levenson, who had a lot of friends who
would by vintage swimsuits
and run into problems, de-
cided that what retro swim-
wear needed was a modern
take.
In 2006, Portland’s Popina
Swimwear has set forth with
the mission of working to
make shopping for swim-
wear fun. Popina works to
make all of its swimwear
flattering for every body
type. Popina swimwear uses
rouching, color blocking and
modest cuts to make each
suit suitable for anyone.
Popina sells retro one-
piece, two-piece, and tankini bathing suits
as well as cover-ups and accessories. Popina
produces colorful, flowered retro swim caps.
“Reaching back to those eras for inspira-
tion, I seek to create swim styles with the in-
fluence of days gone by with the conve-
nience of today’s fabric innovations and
modern bathing suit construction methods,”
says Levenson.
Since starting in a 250 square foot store,
Popina has grown to own two locations in
Portland, one in the Pearl on Northwest
11th Avenue and another in the Hollywood
district on Northeast 42nd Avenue. Be-
cause they are available by wholesale, one
of the reasons Levenson started the com-
pany, Popina suits are sold all over the
United States and even sometimes interna-
tionally.
To Levenson, Popina is a very important
business because buying a swimsuit can be
so hard. For the most part, customers don’t
come in excited about the process. “Most
people dread this,” she said. So Popina as-
serts itself as a swimwear shop that elimi-
nates that dread with a comfortable atmo-
sphere and great suits. “We try to make it
feel like you’re on vacation from the minute
you step into the store,” said Levenson. “We
try to take the pain out of the process and
make it a fun thing.”
Levenson’s business really is a reflection
of herself and her commitment to her cus-
tomers. Because of her sensitive skin, Lev-
enson had the idea to offer
chemical free sunscreens as
well as body-conscious, stylish
swimwear. The brands Popina
offers on its website and in
store have been personally test-
ed by Levenson.
Right now, Levenson’s favor-
ite suits are the one-piece
Grace and Jocelyne, because of
the bright colors. “I’m a color
gal,” she said.
Rose City swimsuit maker adds a retro touch to vacation-wear
COURTESY OF POPINA SWIMWEAR INC.
Popina’s Sarah Tankini, top, ($55) and the one-piece Trisha,
above, ($84) are examples of the retro-style swimwear created
by the Portland fashion company. Popina sells its designs
through two boutiques in the Pearl District and the Hollywood
neighborhood.
“We try to
make it feel
like you’re
on vacation
from the
minute you
step into
the store.”
— Pamela
Levenson
Portland Swimwear
2030 N.E. 42nd Ave.
Portland 97213
PHONE:
503-282-5159
popinaswimwear.com