Interview with Galia Peled, founder of Princess Modest Swimwear which launched in October of 2007
After having worked for twenty-two years as a midwife, Galia was looking for a creative way to have a lifestyle with regular hours and that included more family time. “Being a midwife really drove home the lesson that each and every woman has her own needs and style and ways of expression” she says. “The more sensitive I could be to her needs and the more space I could help her create to express herself, the happier she was with her birthing experience.”
She believes that as women we need that space in everything we do, not just in the monumental times like giving birth. Galia adds, “Many women today want an active life style that includes exercise and fun. Yet they are not willing to compromise their principles of sense of self-respect and dignity as they feel the bikini cultures require them to do.” So she started Princess Modest Swimwear based on a strong belief that women need options so as not to compromise their principals or give up on an active life style.
Q: Who were some customers you didn’t expect?
A: “I expected my modest swimsuits would cater to religious women from all religions. It has been thrilling for me as a Jewish Israeli woman to receive letters of support and orders for our bathing suits from Muslim women throughout the world. An unexpected customer is a non-religious feminist who believes in the premise of this product.”
Q: What exciting products or projects do you have coming up?
A: “At the present time, we offer modest, fashionable swimwear. Our suits look like a dress, but in the water they feel like bathing suits. We have three different styles and will be offering new colors this season. We will also be offering an extra small size for petite women and pre-teens, as well as 4XL and 5XL for larger-size ladies. This season we are planning on releasing matching head coverings for our suits. In the future we hope to expand our line to include modest activewear for all kinds of sports and activities aside from swimming.”
