Monique Deptula is a Los Angeles based swimsuit designer inspired by beautiful California beaches and palm trees. Monique has a great passion for fashion, beauty, and the arts.
Latina Model Magazine is proud to interview a long time friend & associate in the swimwear fashion industry. She is a beautiful Latina who is extremely motivated to share her designs across the world.
From Sunny Los Angeles to the beaches of South Beach Miami she is always in full throttle business mode. Enjoy reading this post. You will be inspired by this incredible Latina swimsuit fashion designer, her family, and her swimsuit brand.
How Monique Deptula Started her Fashion Design Career
She started taking classes and getting involved in the fashion industry as a young woman. As time went on she was fortunate enough to be mentored by several successful designers who helped her navigate through the fashion industry.
As a result, she decided to start her swimsuit brand in 2015. At this point, she was all in as a full-time designer! She consumed herself in the whole design process, creating swimsuit pieces from paper sketches to the end product including branding & marketing. Her swimsuit brand is called VICHI Swim!
Mrs. Monique’s designs focus mainly on young adults and some children’s & men’s swimwear. Fashion industry insiders are keeping a close eye on her as she debuts her signature line of children’s swimwear, the first to appear in Miami Swim Week 2020!
Monique Deptula is Making a Big Splash!
VICHI Swim has quickly become a new favourite swimsuit brand creating waves in the swimsuit fashion world with both her existing designs and new original designs. All bikinis are handmade in the USA using the highest-quality materials hand-picked from sources from around the world.
VICHI Swim is widely known for its transformable and reversible swimsuits. Moreover, these Hot, Sexy cuts accentuate all body types. It’s what it’s all about when wearing VICHI Swim!
Our interview with L.A. Swimsuit Designer Monique Deptula
What city are you from?
I am from one of the biggest cities in the world, Mexico City.
Are you married with children?
Yes, I am married to my husband Ryan, and we have two amazing daughters Isabella & Alessandra. Plus the best mom ever who is now in heaven.
Why did you choose a career in Fashion?
I am a very creative person. I love to create, especially with patterns that have bright colours and unique shapes. Furthermore, the design aspect of fashion design is gratifying. Being able to play with colours and shapes is the essence of fashion design.
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What are your greatest strengths, and how will they help you as a Fashion Designer?
I never give up on my goals, this mindset not only helps me achieve my goals as a fashion designer, but it helps me with everything I do in life.
When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career as a designer?
Since I was a kid, I love playing with colours, especially arts & crafts, and letting my imagination fly.
When did you land your first internship, and what was the most valuable thing you learned from this experience?
I got to work with the incredible designer Fernando Alberto, a very talented artist. I learned all his tips and have put them into practice.
What was your first job out of college, and how did you land that position?
It was with Latino designer, Fernando Alberto. I think he saw my passion for following my dreams and the fire in me that feeds my soul. Don’t give up!
If you could go back and tell yourself one thing before beginning your career, what would it be?
It will be. Work hard and surround yourself with successful people; they will be your mentors, and in instances, they will be the ones who could give you incredible opportunities.
What was the biggest rookie mistake you made when you started?
I was trying to do it all by myself. Now I know to hire experts in certain areas.
How is working in fashion different today than from when you started?
It is changing fast, and online sales are becoming the norm in today’s digital world. In my opinion, it will soon lead the market if it has not already.
What was your biggest fear when starting your swimsuit fashion line?
My biggest fear is to get stuck with a large fashion show production where the people you depend on fail you.
What made you want to expand your business from just designing swimsuits to men’s and children’s fashion pieces?
Because family is my priority in life and why not design for the whole family 🙂
What is your favourite part about being a designer?
Having the ability to set trends and express my thoughts. And having the ability to have my creations worn by amazing people.
How do you want women to feel when wearing your swimsuit pieces?
Happy, powerful, comfortable, pretty, and unique.
What advice would you give to young designers just starting and hoping to make it in the industry?
My advice will be to let your creativity flow but always have a clear vision of what you want, set up a theme, and go from there so your collection makes sense.
Please describe your brand or line of products.
Vichi Swim is a fun brand that sets trends and makes people feel happy, comfortable, and unique.
Please describe your style.
I like sensual shapes with unique prints and a touch of sparkles.
At Miami Swim Week 2019 Latina Model Magazine was privileged to shoot beautiful Latina Model Luly Basso from Argentina with the awesome suits provided by Vichi Swim designed by no other than Monique Deptula.
How long have you been a professional designer? And what is your earliest design memory?
I have been a professional swimsuit designer for nearly six years. My earliest design memory? The moment I had to walk from store to store in the L.A. garment district.
I remember squeezing between lots of leftover fabrics with my baby in her stroller and my other baby held in my arms. Just to try to find something that I could use in a design piece.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve heard? And do you follow it?
It was to don’t be afraid to get loans to grow your business, and I am working on letting that happen, which isn’t easy as I don’t have credit cards or any debt.
What is your favourite place to shop, anywhere in the world, and why?
I love to buy in the USA; you can find everything you want in any colour or shape from head to toe. Moreover, I also like to see all the cute new things coming out from countries like China.
What music, movie, book, or magazine gets you ready to sketch or brainstorm?
I love to watch Victoria Secret videos. Or seek out some Agua Bendita designs to inspire me to get started.
“Good design is obvious when your heart & soul are in it!”
As far as Latina Model Magazine is concerned this Latina designer is the most determined swimsuit designer we know.
Her determination combined with her talent increases her odds for long-term success in a very difficult industry in our opinion.
Latina Model Magazine can’t wait to see her new 2021 line debut at Miami Swim Week.
You can also frequently see Monique on Telemundo discussing fashion trends and a host of other trending topics.
