High-Performance Swimsuits, for Women, by Women

Earlier this year, I took a job in Ecuador to shoot a new surf swimwear line by Caramel Clothing, a small Ecuadorian brand whose goal is to design functional, beautiful swimsuits for women surfers. I photographed Ecuadorian pro surfers Titi Vargas, Cristi Game, and Titi Game on an epic van-based road trip from Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands.

Photo: Cristi, 17, qualified to represent Ecuador in the ISA World Junior Championship in Portugal this year. Titi Vargas also qualified for the ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica, but neither of them can afford to compete. They later told me that pro surfer women in Ecuador don’t stand a chance making a living as a surfer, “We do it because we love to surf. Mimi Barona is the best woman surfer in Ecuador and even she can’t make a living as a surfer.”