“I always teased my kids that one day when they’re older, I’ll be living abroad and I’ll be THAT grandma that their kids can visit, and I would take them skydiving”
Anastasia’s daring approach to life has given her the confidence to shake up the fashion industry, and redefine the meaning of beauty. As the owner of the sustainable swimwear company crescent bleu, she preaches for not focusing on other people’s opinions when it comes to wearing a swimsuit…you shouldn’t care what other people think about your flaws or your body type.
In this post you’ll:
- Discover how Anastasia’s business crescent bleu is paving the way for change in the fashion industry.
- Understand how dance has had a huge impact on Anastasia’s upbringing.
- Learn how Anastasia stays grounded in her career and personal life.
Merging her passions for self esteem and sustainability in the fashion industry
Anastasia White is the founder of crescent bleu, a swimsuit company that is committed to creating modern, high quality swimwear that advocates for sustainability and social justice on a global scale. Based on her unique experiences with travel, she strives on creating a brand that is mindful of the environment and global communities, while appealing to women of all body types and promoting self love.
Anastasia’s brand empowers women to accept their bodies as they are, and to feel grateful for what their bodies are capable of. Her experience in the fashion industry has inspired her to stake her claim in the industry, where there is a lack of high quality swimsuits marketed towards women of all body types.
And now featuring… Anastasia White
Why did you start your business and how does your passion still drive you today?
I started after being in the fashion industry as a designer and creative director, for over 20 years. Started seeing a lot of waste that wasn’t sustainable, globally and just from my own lifestyle.
The unfortunate, but blessing in disguise, was that there was a downsizing in my company. A lot of people got laid off, and so was I, which allowed me to fuel the passion that I already had growing inside, which was to design my own brand. It just happened to be swimwear because one of my self care languages was travel. I traveled a lot throughout my career, either solo or with my kids. I fell in love with swimwear design along the way.
I loved to travel. I felt that swimwear was lacking. Grounded the swimwear brand in something bigger than myself helps me to continue going after it. Making sustainable choices not just in swimwear but everywhere. Why not do it across the board? There’s no reason NOT to do it!
Sustainability is a selling point and by now, we should just be doing it because there’s really no reason not to. Marketing to women, consciously thinking about your body – I started thinking more about celebrating ourselves wholly, and not focusing on things that we wish we could change. I identify with that as an entrepreneur, woman, and mother. I wanted to create a safe space where I spoke to women and just say that “We’re okay”. How we look and how we present ourselves is the least interesting thing about us. I think we can start thanking our bodies for what they can do and what it has done. For so long, we didn’t see ourselves marketed back to us.
Take me through a day in your life…what does an average Monday look like for you, both professionally and personally?
At this point, a lot of learning and growing. Everyday I feel like I’m in school and I love it. I love how much I’ve been able to learn in the past year. Entrepreneurship has allowed me to grow so much. I’ve become more confident in my abilities to do things. I’ve been able to expand so much in what I believe I’ve been able to do.
Outside of that, that means my week is filled with meetings, business incubators, SEO, marketing. On a daily basis, I get my son out of the door – he just went back to school in April. Walk our dog Russ, who’s my coworker for the day. Before or after that, I do a little bit of yoga on my bed – It’s actually a thing! It’s really effective in moving my body in bed before I get up. I would do a prayer or meditation around that time, and after that I start planning my posts, answering emails, and trying to do the headstrong things that need a lot of focus at the beginning of the day.
If a kid walked up to you, asking for your advice, and you only had a few minutes to give them your best tip, what would it be?
Every moment that you have, leads up to the ultimate purpose. Everything leads you to where you are.
I tell my son everyday that if you can focus on something positive everyday, that you can continue to grow. It will allow you to have clarity to focus on what needs to be done. I felt that way from middle school, high school, adulthood, to seasoned entrepreneur. I always try to find something to be grateful for everyday.
What place does music/dance have in your life?
Music helps support whatever mood I’m looking for. Like when I’m cooking, I need something that hypes me up (girl groups, 90’s, hit after hit). I have Sade on repeat when I’m cooking or reading, to have something chill in the background.
I dance a lot at home. I dance like nobody’s watching. My daughter dances as well, so I kinda mess with her with it. I always loved dancing. I danced in ballet as a little girl. Recently I asked my mom why she took me out of dance classes as a little girl. She said that my dad couldn’t afford it anymore. Picked it up when I was in college.
My self care is travel but also movement. I don’t love the gym, or aerobics – I like things that challenge my body to move in a way that feels natural, or feels like dance.
In college, I took my electives in the theater department. That’s how I was reintroduced to why I loved dance. Modern dance – Catherine Dunham technique, becoming aware of Alvin Ailey, opened my mind up to travel as well. Everything that I’ve learned with those electives has fueled my desire to see the places these people studied from. Took my first capoeira class at Alvin Ailey. It’s music, dance, martial arts, and community. It satisfied so many things wrapped into one, and as soon as I enter the studio, everything disappears. It teaches you to be in tune with the person you in the “hoira” with. It’s really beautiful, and I’ve been doing that for about 13 years.
“How we look and how we present ourselves is the least interesting thing about us. I think we can start thanking our bodies for what they can do and what it has done.”
-Anastasia White
At what point did you realize that you started living the life you wanted?
I think I’m still on a journey to that. I feel like it’s not a destination, but a journey. Being a parent it’s constantly changing because of that.
What are 3 tools or resources you wouldn’t mind sharing, that helps run your life? Examples: Books, podcasts, social media pages you follow, online tools, anything that helps you professionally or personally
My friends and family – they are very grounding. I might not talk to them everyday but definitely when I feel like there’s something I’m grappling with, I reach out to my parents. We have a couple of family chats – scriptures, songs, family news, etc, there’s something that keeps me going.
I have really good friends, we’re completely honest with each other and supportive – where I get most of my strength, perseverance from.
Do you have a favorite Spotify playlist or podcast you wouldn’t mind sharing?
Playlists: Dope Queens playlist, Lauren Hill, TLC, Fugees, En Vouge, Beyonce.
Anastasia’s business crescent bleu focuses on creating high quality sustainable swimwear that promotes global social change and self care for women. Check out what Anastasia’s company crescent bleu has to offer on her website.
