Lori Coulter and Reshma Chamberlin are the duo behind Summersalt, the new direct-to-consumer swimwear brand that’s changing the game. Each piece is under $95, Summersalt offers designer swimwear without the designer price tag. Summersalt swimwear is made from fabric 5x stronger than traditional swim fabric. And the best part is, it’s all made with recycled materials. Lori has over 10 years of experience designing swimwear for major brands and an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis. Before launching Summersalt, Reshma ran a digital agency and worked with brands such as Rockets of Awesome and Paravel. Her strong business sense and creative bent paired with Lori’s detailed analytical and business focus make for a great team. Follow both Lori and Reshma along on Instagram @gosummersalt.
September 25, 2017
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R&S
Favorite Instagram account to follow:
Lori
Lori: I am loving Lee Litumbe’s Instagram account, @spiritedpursuits. Her photos and journey are so authentic and her documentary style photography really makes you feel like you are at the destination with her!
Reshma: Ha! I was going to say the exact same thing. I also really love following @majesticdisorder. I love a global perspective on fashion, lifestyle, and art.
R&S
What do you love most about your work:
Lori
Lori: As an entrepreneur and a designer, I love the thrill of creating something—a first sample, a new brand and a new community of women who share a love of adventure, travel, and fun.
Reshma: I love the constant problem solving and that there is never a dull moment. I can work on new styles and new colors, implement new policies, review customer service with the team, design a bicycle (yes we have our very own ice-cream tricycle!), interact with our influencers, plan photo shoots, work on new UX, talk with our dev teams and work on new technology integrations - all in one morning! ;)
View Lori's Essentials
R&S
Your most recent culinary discovery and obsession (restaurant, café, food brand/product):
Lori
Lori: My husband and I love Vero Pasta and Pizza meal kits. As working parents, we appreciate ease, speed and quality in the kitchen.
Reshma: I am obsessed with Vicia. A new-ish restaurant in St. Louis that was named among the best in the nation. Their tasting menu is to die for and Tara and Michael Galina came from Blue Hill. We are lucky to have them in St. Louis
R&S
Midnight snack of choice:
Lori
Lori: My go-to midnight snack—POPCORN—with real butter and salt of course!!!
Reshma: An avocado with black salt. This is usually accompanied by me playing defense because my pup always wants a bite and is very persistent.
R&S
On Sunday, we’ll find you wearing:
Lori
Lori: My favorite Sundays are spent at our family lake house with my husband and kiddos. I’m usually boating, water-skiing or jumping off a cliff just to keep up with my boys! My standard uniform for our active summer days is the Freestyle swimsuit in white (with a touch of pink and red) and shorts.
Reshma: Sundays are meant for lounging. In the summer we usually head to my in law’s house for an afternoon of swimming (in Summersalt of course - my favorite is our black and white Swan Dive) and in the winter it's usually leggings and boots and a cozy oversized sweater for running errands and Netflix.
R&S
The trend you hope never goes out of style:
Lori
Lori: One shoulder swimwear!
Reshma: I love the focus on individual style and being yourself. I think that fashion tends to be so focused on trends but I love seeing people embrace trends and still add their own individual style
R&S
Which of the seven deadly sins are you guilty of (choose one of: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony):
Lori
Lori: Really, which one am I not guilty of?
Reshma: Ha! If I have to pick just one - I would pick gluttony. I have very little self-control when it comes to certain foods like french fries, strawberry ice cream, nerds (yes, nerds) and Alphonso mangos (only grown in my home state in India).
R&S
If you weren’t ___, you’d be a ___:
Lori
Lori: If I weren’t launching a digitally native swimwear brand, I envision myself working for the CIA!
Reshma: I would be in real estate. My grandmother was a real-estate maven and bought many many properties in Mumbai, India and really enjoyed the process. I would buy, renovate and sell luxury homes!
R&S
What is the best gift you’ve ever received:
Lori
Lori: A handmade piece of pottery from my son is my favorite present ever.
Reshma: My husband and I are heading to Kenya and Tanzania for our 10th wedding anniversary! That’s the best present I’ve ever received.
R&S
What’s the most exciting thing in your life right now:
Lori
Lori: We launched Summersalt 10 short weeks ago – it’s been a thrilling ride so far, and I look forward to something new and exciting every day!
Reshma: We are in total agreement here! Summersalt has been all-consuming and I would not have it any other way. We really enjoy the process and working together as a team. The pace at startups is so fast and there is always so much to do and be focused on!
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