Actor, writer, and producer, Mindy Kaling, has joined forces with global swimwear brand Andie Swim to debut an exclusive swimwear collection made from eco-friendly materials.
The Mindy x Andie collection features 33 different items, ranging from $52 to $128, and marks Kaling’s first venture into swimwear design.
Made from eco-friendly nylon, the Mindy x Andie collection offers a variety of colors, fabrics, and silhouettes, with inclusivity a central theme; sizes range from XXS to XXXL. The collection includes original designs co-created with Kaling, including the Maya dress and Amor top, as well as some of her favorite existing Andie styles like the Malibu and the Amalfi in exclusive new colorways.
“I have been a fan of Andie Swim for years, drawn to their authenticity as a brand, their sense of humor, and of course, the fit of their suits,” Kaling said in a statement. “For that reason, I jumped at the chance to work with Andie on designing my first ever swim collection. I wanted the collection to be bold, fun, and empowering, full of pieces that make you look and feel amazing,” she said.
“I’ve had six different iterations of my body in the past five years [since giving birth to her daughter Katherine Swati, 5, and son Spencer Avu, 2], and Andie has always been incredibly flattering,” Kaling told People. “So when they wanted to work with me on this collection, I was thrilled.”
Kaling has long been a voice for body positivity and inclusivity.
“We’re beyond thrilled to partner with Mindy on this swimwear collection. Mindy’s unique perspective on style and color, coupled with her passion for empowering women, made this collaboration so much fun,” said Andie Swim’s founder and CEO, Melanie Travis. “She provided valuable input on silhouettes that she has both loved and disliked over the years, ultimately enabling us to craft a collection that we’re all obsessed with. It’s bold, fun, and full of vibrant colors, with silhouettes that are flattering for all body types. I can’t wait to see what people think — I am so excited to share the Mindy x Andie collection with the world.”
Andie says it takes a progressive approach to sustainability by acknowledging the fashion industry’s footprint, as well as valuing the oceans and other places we swim in. “The swimwear industry has a long way to go, but Andie is committed to improving our current methods and exploring more innovative solutions for a sustainable future,” the company says on its website.
All of Andie’s swimwear is currently transitioning to 100 percent recycled nylon. It uses eco nylon, which is 80 percent recycled nylon paired with 20 percent spandex; eco poly, which is 87 percent recycled polyester and 13 percent spandex; glossy eco nylon, which is 76 percent recycled nylon and 24 percent spandex, as well as flat and ribbed nylon materials.
Andie is also shipping in recycled polybags, among other sustainability efforts aimed at reducing its shipping footprint. The swimwear company also has a Code of Conduct that all vendors are required to sign. “We only work with the leading swimwear manufacturers in China and Sri Lanka, who are visited at random, yearly, by a third-party auditor to ensure workers have access to safe work environments, receive fair wages, and paid time off. We also require sustainability certifications from all our textile vendors to ensure our suits are made with recyclable materials.”
Kaling’s sustainability leanings
The Never Have I Ever creator has a history of supporting sustainable products and projects. She frequently shares upcycling tips on her social platforms. In 2021, she told Apartment Therapy that she upcycled old clothing into quilts. The star is also a vintage furniture lover, bringing her parents’ rosewood dining table that seats 12 into her restored 1920s home.
Kaling was an investor in California-based vegan meat brand Impossible Foods’ Series F fundraising round in 2020. She also invested in the healthy prebiotic soda brand Olipop in 2022, and most recently invested in the Jonas Brothers’ vegan popcorn company, Rob’s Backstage Popcorn.
The actor says eco-friendly products also help her to prioritize her skin, particularly one brand, the women-led16J Organics, which Kaling says is “just awesome, and their whole thing is real food for our skin,” she said.
“They use food-grade ingredients, which I didn’t even know about before,” Kaling told Vogue in 2021. “I’m not perfect, but trying to buy things that are sustainable and not bad for the environment from a company that reflects my values — specifically supporting women, or women of color — is really important to me.”
The Mindy x Andie collection is available now.
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