If you’ve followed, stalked or even just stumbled upon my Instagram profile by accident, you’ve probably noticed that I’m wearing a bikini like 60-80% of the time, that is, whenever and wherever acceptable.
When I look back at my online career, it almost feels like swimwear is entangled in my dna in a sense. Rewinding back before 1.6 million Instagram followers, back to high school when my online presence wasn’t much beyond my personal Tumblr blog, I can vividly remember saving up to purchase my first designer bikini. I was so completely unaware of the role that moment would play in leading me to where I am right now, writing this blog post about my own swimwear collection.
The story is that I got the size wrong on that first bikini. Anyone remember Triangl Swimwear? Triangl, btw, is still a super successful swimwear brand, but I’m talking about Triangl back in their early days, when their entire bikini collection consisted of only a few bright, neoprene, triangle shaped bikinis outlined in black. Well due to the thick neoprene material, if you ordered one size too big you’d get what us industry professionals like to refer to as a “diaper butt.” I ordered a S instead of an XS, and thus, had a case of the diaper butt. But instead of exchanging the suit, which sounded like a very daunting adult task to my high school self, I decided to sell it on Poshmark, the app I was using (and still use) to resell my clothing on. My mom took photos of me in the suit in our backyard to list the bikini for sale, and I ended up repurposing one of those images for my very amateur Instagram feed.
Triangl reposted the photo to their Instagram account (!!!), and as if that wasn’t already a huge enough deal, they then directly contacted me, asking if I wanted to collaborate, adding that my image had performed better than any other image they’d posted to their feed. I’d never been asked to “collaborate” with a brand before, let alone a designer bikini brand that I was a massive fan of. And that’s where it all began.
Fast forward. I went on to study design in college, and from there pursued this path I’m still on as a digital entrepreneur. As my personal brand evolved over the years, swimwear remained. It only feels natural to fuse my love of design with my love for swimwear and… DRUMROLL PLEASE… I’m so proud and excited to announce that I co-created a swimwear collection with PQ Swimwear!
When PQ Swimwear (formerly PilyQ) and I sat down together last year to discuss a design collaboration, they were already a brand I’d been wearing for years and one that had always stood out to me. Their suits have been so consistent in terms of both quality and style. You can probably imagine it can be quite limiting to design something unique with such a small piece of fabric, but PQ suits felt like they had that “it” factor to me.
So when asked if I wanted to create a collection of my own with them? It was a yes from me. We came together to reimagine an array of iconic PQ styles that resonate with me and my style. The partnership fuses PQ’s expertise in crafting gorgeous swimwear with my expertise in living in a bikini (honorable mention to my experience in social media marketing and content creation).
Speaking of content creation, I was granted free-reign and full creative control to take the collection anywhere to capture the digital assets for it, so naturally Zack and I jumped on a plane to Hawaii and brought the vision to life, just the two of us.
Just to bring this blog post up to speed here, all this all took place at the end of 2019. We launched the collection on 11/11. We sold out of half the collection on PQ’s site in the first week. In the weeks following launch, my collection was featured in: WWD, Forbes, The Zoe Report, AOL, HOLR Magazine, Popsugar, People, Marie Claire, Yahoo, The Fashion Network… Oh yeah, and I went on live local news, KTLA, to talk about the collection. Watch that here.
So yeah, it’s been a series of pinch-me moments and it’s safe to say my high school self is both screaming and proud. The collection is available here on PQ’s site, and also here and below on Revolve!!! The collection is selling fast, and sadly we won’t be restocking! If you miss this one, you’ll just have to wait for my next design venture… ;)
Shop select styles from my swimwear collection on Revolve here:
Without further ado, may I present “Helen Owen x PQ Swim” through the lens of Zack Kalter shot in Oahu, Hawaii, September 2019. Click on any image for the link to that suit! (On PQ’s site, the link for the top will open, just scroll down to shop the bottom too)
KELLY
30 January
Wow what a stunning collection! I love the ruffled bikinis 💕 I would LOVE to win
Channafer Inthavongsa
30 January
So in love with your bathing suit! 💕
Haley McRae
30 January
I need one of these suits 😍
Miranda Popen
30 January
I love love LOVE this collection but even more then that- I love how much you shine while collaborating with your boyfriend. The ones that love you most can truly capture you in your best form. Zack definitely did that in this shoot! It would be so awesome to do the same thing for my trip to Jamaica in your suit with my boyfriend and fam 😘
Tori
30 January
Such an inspiration hope there are a lot more designs from you in the future! Bikinis & workout wear!!
_marina_t
30 January
Wow! Love this photoshoot and collection
Congrats Helen!
Fung-Chat Païline
30 January
I am in love with your collection😍
Ninette
30 January
Love it, Helen! I’ve been following you since accidentally stumbling across your Poshmark 💙💙
Amanda
30 January
This is such a cool story! The first time I saw you was in a triangl post – and I bought the same style!! (The neon coral ish one with black outlines!) congratulations on your collection and how far you’ve ALREADY come ! Keep on climbing!!!
Marilyn
30 January
Amazing! I’m already obsessed with all these suits 😍 also plz share youre workout secrets, your body is amazinggggg
Jeannie-Mai Dumas
30 January
So beautiful 😍
Marisa
30 January
so cool! I used to love triangl in HS!
Nora Jaumann
30 January
Wow you are absolutely gorgeous 😍😍🙏🏽 And so are your bikinis! Would love to win one 🥰👙
Bianca
30 January
Love this journey
Instagram: bey0nka
Julie
30 January
You look gorgeous!💛
Ashley
30 January
Ah obsessed with all of this! Great job Helen!!
Sotia
30 January
Love it!😍 you’re such an inspiration❤️
thesimplykay
30 January
Absolutely beautiful! You inspire me everyday 💕
Fernanda
30 January
I loved your collection
Ig:fer_sg_24
Holland Stuart
30 January
I love these swimsuits, and this story! Super cute and organic 😍 you really do work hard for everything you’ve accomplished. Love following you!
Ashley
30 January
I forgot to mention my insta name in my previous comment!
IG: ashleyhuthmacher
Noémi
30 January
Love your collection!! 😍 I want every single one of them 🙈🌴
Ashley
30 January
So incredible how one little picture meant for Poshmark shaped your future! I’m a firm believer in the fact that everything happens for a reason, no matter how big/small/weird, so I loved ready your story! I’ve always loved seeing your travel posts on Insta and I think your bikini collection is absolutely stunning. Keep living your dream, you are killing it!
Liz
30 January
Love these suits!! Congrats xx
Liz Hill
30 January
So obsessed with your collection! The colors are amazing!
Julianna Tyndall
30 January
Obsessed with this!!
Kaela
30 January
Everything looks amazing! 🤞🏼💕
Julie
30 January
Congratulations!!! 👙❤️🔥 🏝 Been a big fan of yours for years!!! Xoxo My insta: juleigh2000
Taylor
30 January
So cute! I’m loving this line!
Kyleigh
30 January
Ahh love all of your swimwear!!!
Jojo
30 January
Oh my gosh 👙😍 the Green one is just adorable ☺️ Would Love to win it 💦💦💦💦
jonnaaschmidt
30 January
Love the collection and your smile <3
Pipin
30 January
All your hard work 👏👏
Kylie
30 January
Congrats on your collection. LOVE the bikinis. So stylish and each give off it’s own unique style. I can’t wait to order some!
Brianna
30 January
I adore all of these swimsuits! So beautiful
monica delehanty
30 January
i love stories like these! I’m a professional dancer and my high school teachers told me i would never make it so i appreciate the hustle!
lexi
30 January
role model😍 gorgeous
Jillian Trach
30 January
These are truly beautiful! & your story is so cool! Great job all around 😊😊
Sofia
30 January
I want to win this giveaway!! and by the way I loved the story of how your influencer career started! It would be incredible if with your collection of bikinis you posted a picture of the winner and maybe you make someone else start an influencer carrer like yours! It would be amazing! Just an idea
Sofia
30 January
My Instagram is: @soficastglez
Brittney
30 January
I’ve been following you for a while now, and can I just say, this collection SCREAMS Helen! It’s so perfect, I’ve been drooling over it since it dropped! I love following you and your positive vibes and mindset. I hope one day I have the confidence in a swim suit that you do 😩❤️ it’s amazing
Alice Nobrega
30 January
Love the new collection, literally super stunning all the colors and designs💕 my insta: @alicd.em
Roxana Vandenenden
30 January
If I would win one of your bikini’s it would have to be the over the shoulder blue bikini! 😍💓
Roxana Vandenenden
30 January
If I would win one of your bikinis, I would LOVE to win the over the shoulder blue bikini ! 😍💓
Stephanie
30 January
I love all of these! I’m a mom of 2 young boys, and currently working on eating healthier and exercising so that hopefully I can feel comfortable wearing a bikini again by summer🙏🏻
Una
30 January
Collection is amazing, fresh, I think wearable at any size. It just matches the silhouette perfectly. Congrats, very nice work. Hope to try some of them…
Bri
30 January
Strapless tri color is my fav. Good for tan lines 🥳😅
Chloe Newton
30 January
These are gorgeous, Helen! A beautiful story to read over too – isn’t it neat how blessings sometimes fall into our laps? Then it’s all a matter of a passion-fueled dream to guide us in the right direction. Love to see you succeeding!😘
Malynn
30 January
Your photos are always stunning, I remember finding your instagram a couple years ago and thinking wow she’s gorgeous!! But you’re much more than that, I’ve come to find out just how kind you are. ❤️ This collection is beautiful.
Bianca
30 January
love these bikinis🤩
Campennell
30 January
Helen, you’ve been an icon of mine forever. PLEASE let me have an item of your collection it would be a real dream come true. Continue to make me smile every time you make a post. Xx
Fatma
30 January
Love your work nd congratulations for the collection.. I really hope to win this giveaway.. My Instagram : fatma_zrribi