Malia Mills: By Women, For Women

The next best thing to custom swimwear.

By Sofie Jetzer

If you are sick and tired of the XS to XL labels on most swimwear, Malia Mills has the answer. With the rallying cry of “love thy differences,” Malia Mills’s American-made, meticulously fitting beachwear has long had a local presence, and recently made the move from Montecito Country Mart to The Post. While living in New York in the 90s, Malia wrote the business plan for this women-run and women-centered brand in the basement of the restaurant where she worked, refusing to allow mainstream media of “Six Weeks to Swimsuit Body Ready” dictate how she felt about giving women the choice to have something that fit beautifully, and was tailored to the needs of each individual customer. She says, “It seems really messed up to me that you would go to a store and find the same size top and bottom clipped to the same hanger. Our bodies aren’t built that way.” Engineered around bra size, made with European fabrics, and created with retro-modern silhouettes in mind, Malia Mills is the dream combination of perfect fit and elegant shape. Malia explains, “We have to change the story. It should be about celebration, being with your friends, drinking a beer, and watching the sunset. We want it to be about joy and not having to change all the time.”

Constantly inspired by and adapting to better serve the women who come into their stores, Malia Mills is committed to impeccable tailoring and new, fun ways to think about lingerie or getting dressed. After fifteen years in the Montecito Country Mart, Malia says, “We love the community over there, and can’t wait for the new location at The Post.” The new space, located at 1805 E Cabrillo Blvd, is sunny, coastal, and the perfect place to explore what Malia describes as, “It’s soul fuel when you see yourself in something beautiful. It is so empowering.”

maliamills.com