Carolina Santo is the founder and creative director of Arloe. After studying hospitality with a marketing major at the renowned Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne in Switzerland, she followed her dream and launched her eco-conscious, luxury swimwear brand. Her natural desire to help restore the environment was the catalyst of creating Arloe and the brand's philosophy is clear; give back to the planet by taking less away.
Arloe swimsuits are 100% bio-based, made from a totally renewable fabric called EVO®️, proven to be earth-friendly and high performing. Their swimsuits are 25% lighter than other swimwear fabrics and dry 50% faster. The perfect blend of comfort, function and beauty.
At The Legacy Globe, we are collectively working alongside each other to leave lasting legacies which will empower future generations. How do you feel that your upbringing has shaped you?
I was brought up in a farmhouse in Switzerland, so ever since I was little I have had a love and respect for nature and animals. I believe that my upbringing helped to plant the seed of thought to become more sustainable and educate myself on the planet. We are never too young or too old to change and become less wasteful. It is promising to see through my niece who is 6 years old, that future generations are being taught about sustainability and looking after the planet that we live in.
Arloe is an eco-conscious, luxury swimwear brand with a natural desire to restore the environment. Tell us about the creative process and inspiration behind the brand?
As our fabric is long lasting, the idea is to create pieces that are stylish today as well as next year and the year after that. We wish for our customers to build a collection of our pieces season after season, so we will not recreate the bestselling styles of the previous seasons but always reimagine them into different styles. This way, once a swimsuit is sold out, that’s it.
We want to showcase that it can be luxurious and stylish to be sustainable in fashion.
Arloe's early reception has been excellent. Recently being carried at Club 55 in Saint Tropez, Monaco's Metropole shopping centre, boutiques in Luberon and more! Tell us about Arloe's fabric and what makes it stand out in a competitive market?
Most sustainable brands use recycled plastic fabrics. We wanted to stand out and find a fabric that had all the right properties for swimwear, and more, and stay sustainable. Our fabric is made using castor seed oil. This comes from a plant which does not require high amounts of water to grow, and it is not a food source for humans or animals. We are the first to use this fabric for swimwear. It has odour control and thermo isolation capacities, plus it is ultra lightweight, extra rapid drying and it is really soft and comfortable on the skin.
How important do you think it is to make a social impact?
It is so important, I hope to educate and impact others with Arloe and I also wish to be educated and impacted by others.
Do you have any advice for entrepreneurs to create more sustainable models?
I would say that research is the most important part of the process. This is when you will find a way to differentiate yourself from others.
Always follow your instinct and stay true to the brand that you are creating.
Sometimes it is difficult to find the most sustainable solution when you outsource certain aspects of the brand. Be patient in finding the most sustainable approach, it is worth it to create the right product and have your desired impact.
What does the word Legacy mean to you?
A legacy to me, is leaving a strong imprint on those around you. I want for myself as an individual and Arloe as a brand, to change the idea of those around me and our customers. We can all live sustainably and make a difference by changing small things, whether it is in your everyday household or as a brand. As we say at Arloe, leave footprints on the sand, not on the planet.
