Fashion Designer — Amahlia Stevens

Vitamin A is the creation of designer Amahlia Stevens. Emerging from her personal style and philosophy, the collection combines her California roots, background in ine art and her global, jet-setting perspective. The results are fresh, modern and ultra-luxe—a line of swimwear that has deined the West Coast aesthetic and taken the international scene by storm.

Amahlia grew up on the beaches of Southern California. Always an artist, her love of painting and drawing took her to school in London, then Pasadena where she earned her degree in illustration from the Art Center College of Design. While still studying, Amahlia was already creating textile prints and illustrating for magazines and record labels.

When Beach Culture magazine ran a proile on her art, executives a major OC surf brand took notice and invited her to design graphics for their clothing. After a four year stint rising to Senior Sportswear Designer, Amahlia left to set up her own design irm—Vitamin A—serving up fresh vision of the authentic California vibe to clients including DC Shoes, Levi Strauss & Company, Paciic Sunwear of California, Patagonia and Stussy. When Abercrombie and Fitch decided to launch its youthful, So Cal brand Hollister Co., they hired Amahlia to co-create the concept and design their irst collections.

Traveling around the world for work and pleasure, Amahlia dreamed of the perfect bikini that could take her from L.A. to New York, Tokyo to Milan. Inspired by the challenge, she began designing her own. Inluenced by quality of European design, the sexy lair of Brazilian styles, and the fun, youthful edginess of her West Coast home, Amahlia designed a new it concept—modern, sexy and functional—which she coined the "California Cut."

For Amahlia, bikinis are a personal obsession. "I can’t have too many black bikinis," she says, "they’re sexy, elegant and still low-key."

Amahlia launched Vitamin A swim in 2000. The line was a hit—instantly picked up by Henri Bendel in New York, Fred Segal in Los Angeles, and the original Calypso boutique in St. Barth. With a devoted following of Hollywood celebrities, top NY fashion editors and international "it" girls, Vitamin A is the ultimate choice for those in the know.

Amahlia lives and works in Laguna Beach, trekking the globe for inspiration, visiting museums, galleries and art shows around the world. When at home she swims in secret coves or runs in the hills surrounding her mid-century beach bungalow.