Versatile swimwear that can be worn as underwear
Swimwear label Delta, which launched online (www.delta-dimension.com) in 2015, is very much a family business.
It was started by identical twins Debra and Denise Teoh, 30; the postage and packing of purchases is done by their father, a retired marketing manager in the electronics industry; while their two younger brothers, aged 22 and 19, help spread the word to their girlfriends through word of mouth.
The sisters, who both hold day jobs at a bank and pumped in $30,000 of their savings to kickstart the business, say that theirs is a close-knit family and that their parents are supportive.
Their mother, who works in human resources at a multinational company, is a loyal fan and wears their one-piece swimsuits.
The twins decided to launch a swimwear label as they felt the women's apparel scene here was over-saturated and, as swimmers and beachgoers themselves, they had trouble finding swimwear that fit well or came with padding for more coverage.
Thus, the torso of their one-piece designs are cut shorter to fit Asian frames and each has a waistband to accentuate the waist. Shoulder straps that cross at the back ensure that the garment will not slip off easily and all styles come with removable padding.
The duo also wanted swimwear that was more understated and versatile. Says Denise, the younger twin by six minutes: "The swimwear here is generally very bright and attention-seeking and we wanted something simple and versatile enough to be worn as underwear or as a bodysuit."
That explains why their swimwear, made in China and named after water gods such as Neptune and Poseidon, come in lingerie-inspired bralette bikini styles. There is also a one-piece swimsuit that looks more like a bodysuit.
All styles are priced at $77 each and come in a plastic pouch for easy storage. "It's extra cost to us, but we want to give value to our customers," says Debra, who laughs after sharing that she used to store her wet swimwear in plastic bags from supermarkets.
The sisters, both single, decline to reveal sales figures, but say they have recouped their initial investment.
Moving forward, they plan to design swimwear for children and men as they "see a gap there".
Says Debra: "Our guy friends feel there's a lack of cool options. We're also keen to branch out to other items, such as swimwear accessories and casual clothes.
"We've also always dreamt of opening a cafe-retail store with a modern and minimalist concept. But the biggest consideration is cost."
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