{"id":5816,"date":"2025-02-28T17:48:40","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T16:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cocou.eu\/?p=5816"},"modified":"2025-02-28T17:50:52","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T16:50:52","slug":"founder-sophie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cocou.eu\/es\/founder-sophie\/","title":{"rendered":"Sophie - Fundadora de COCOU"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Creating COCOU: A One-Woman Journey in Ethical Fashion<\/h2><\/span>
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As a female founder of a sustainable swimwear brand, building this from scratch has been a challenge\u2014but doing it while traveling full-time in a van, working part-time to fund it, and handling every aspect alone? That\u2019s the reality behind COCOU Conscious Couture. I didn\u2019t just want to create a bikini brand. I wanted to solve a dilemma I had struggled with for years: how to love bikinis without harming the planet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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A Love for Bikinis, A Love for the Planet<\/h2><\/span>
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Bikinis have always been part of my daily life. I wear them at the beach, for yoga, surfing, swimming and diving, as underwear, and anywhere else they fit into my routine. But I also deeply care about the planet, and I couldn\u2019t ignore the waste and pollution caused by fast fashion. <\/span><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t want to choose between something I loved and something I believed in\u2014so I decided to create a brand that could be all, super comfortable, as sustainable as possible and empowering women to express themselves. COCOU was born from the idea that ethical swimwear should be a standard, not an exception.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Running a Business from the Road<\/h2><\/span>
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For the past five years, I\u2019ve lived full-time in my van, and for the last 1.5 years, I\u2019ve worked on COCOU every single day (and some nights), from wherever I was on the road. I\u2019ve traveled to meet manufacturers in Italy, conduct photoshoots in Portugal, and work on all aspects of the business from remote beaches and mountain hideaways. To support myself while COCOU grows, I also work as a programming teacher for children, balancing my time between funding my dream and building it into reality.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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From Science to Tech to Sustainable Fashion<\/h2><\/span>
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Before diving into fashion, I studied Wildlife Management (BSc) and Ecology & Evolution (MSc), driven by a deep passion for conservation and sustainability. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding remote jobs in biology became nearly impossible, so I pivoted to learning programming. This shift allowed me to save up, develop technical skills that became essential for running COCOU, from managing online sales to optimizing digital marketing.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Many Hats I Wear<\/h2><\/span>
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Launching COCOU alone, as a female founder of a sustainable swimwear, alone means wearing every hat in the business.<\/p>\n

I need to stand up for myself and the brand, research sustainable fabrics and ethical manufacturers, handle financial planning and brand strategy, and oversee marketing, photography, artist collaborations, and conservation projects.<\/p>\n

I personally design every bikini pattern, ensuring they flatter and adjust to different body types. To optimize each pattern, I sewed every style at least 10 times myself, a skill passed down from my two grandmothers, who are with me in spirit every time I work on new patterns.<\/p>\n

For the manufacturing however, I chose to partner with a small, female-owned atelier in Italy\u2014a country known for its historical swimwear expertise\u2014to ensure the highest standards of quality and durability.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Women, Empowerment & Breaking Barriers<\/h2><\/span>
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Being a female founder in sustainable swimwear, fashion and business means constantly proving yourself in an industry that often overlooks women-led businesses. There\u2019s the shaming of women for wearing smaller bikinis, the dismissal of women\u2019s capability and ideas in business, and the patriarchal structures that limit self-expression. But COCOU is here to challenge that.<\/p>\n

Your value is not defined by how much skin you show or what you choose to wear. Women are capable of running businesses, making decisions, and changing industries. In fact, we\u2019re often more capable\u2014we juggle multiple tasks, think ahead, and build with care. COCOU isn\u2019t just about bikinis; it\u2019s about reclaiming confidence and breaking outdated rules.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Behind the Scenes: Van Life & My Dogs<\/h2><\/span>
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COCOU isn\u2019t just a business; it\u2019s a way of life. Every day, I wake up in my van, work from different locations, and build this brand alongside my two dogs, who have been with me every step of the journey. They sit next to me as I research sustainable fabrics, plan new launches, or sew test samples. They are part of the heart of COCOU, a reminder that this brand is about freedom, nature, and making conscious choices.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The Future: A Conservation Dream<\/h2><\/span>
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COCOU is just the first step in a much bigger plan.<\/p>\n

Once the brand is financially stable, my goal is to start a conservation project that receives nearly 50% of COCOU\u2019s annual profits.<\/p>\n

The vision? <\/span><\/p>\n

To buy land, reforest it, and give part of it back to the community while preserving the rest for wildlife. This project would be based on permaculture principles, focusing on ecological restoration. The exact blueprint is still forming, and I\u2019m searching for like-minded people who want to brainstorm and bring this dream to life.<\/p>\n

But one thing is certain\u2014this is one of my biggest dreams, and I won\u2019t stop until I can save pieces of land and rewild them for nature and animals.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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COCOU Is Just the Beginning<\/h2><\/span>
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As a female founder of sustainable swimwear, I want COCOU to be more than a brand\u2014it\u2019s a movement\u2014a statement about the future we want to create. It\u2019s about women owning their power, about fashion being responsible, and about businesses giving back to the earth. It\u2019s proof that you don\u2019t have to choose between loving what you wear and caring for the planet.<\/p>\n

My journey\u2014from living in a van, teaching programming, managing finances, designing every detail, and pushing for women\u2019s empowerment\u2014is just one example of how we can create change from anywhere, with anything we have.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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And if you\u2019re reading this, I want you to know: you can too.<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Moving Towards Change<\/h2><\/span>
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At COCOU, we embrace agility and continuous improvement. We understand that the fashion industry is ever-evolving, and we’re open to exploring alternative solutions that align with our commitment to sustainability. Constructive feedback is not just welcome but encouraged:<\/p>\n<\/div>

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