Aqua Intima Stuns at Miami Swim Week with Oceana Collection
- adriana
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
Miami Swim Week is the ultimate stage for swimwear fashion, and this year, Aqua Intima made an undeniable splash. Participating in this prestigious event, the brand is cementing its place in the industry. The highly anticipated show was a powerful showcase of the brand’s commitment to personal passion, empowerment, and a vision born from a lifelong dream.
The show, which took place as a highlight of Miami Swim Week, was a testament to the brand's ethos. Founder Paola, wearing the stunning reflective baby-blue AquaMarine maxi dress that opened the show, set a tone of elegance and creative authenticity. Her presence was a powerful reminder that the brand is a blend of personal passion and professional excellence, rooted in a journey that is as inspiring as the collections themselves.
Founder Paola
For Paola, the ocean has always been more than a view; it was her entire world. Growing up in Puerto Rico, she was completely enchanted by the magic of the sea, a feeling she often nurtured by watching films like Aquamarine and shows like H2O: Just Add Water. "I spent countless hours wishing I could be one of them," she recalls, imagining a world where she could live freely and gracefully in the water. This deep-rooted fantasy is now the very soul of her brand’s latest collection, Oceana.
But the path to becoming a fashion designer was not a straight line. Paola's artistic passion surfaced early, with her spending hours as a child sketching garments and designing her dream boutique. Yet, after becoming a model in high school, her design aspirations were set aside. She later went on to attend the University of Miami, where she was pre-med before entering the corporate world. "I honestly thought that was going to be my life forever," she admits. A sudden layoff, however, served as an unexpected catalyst. Instead of being defeated, she saw it as a massive opportunity to finally chase the dream she'd had for so long.
Aqua Intima began as a one-person show, with Paola teaching herself how to sew and handling every aspect of the business. "It was incredibly challenging," she says, laughing. "It took me several weeks to finally perfect a single bikini top, but once I got it, I was just so happy." This hands-on, meticulous approach is a core part of the brand’s identity. Paola still personally sews the samples for every collection, ensuring every stitch and seam meets her vision for unmatched quality. This dedication to fit and function is what makes her swimwear truly feel like "intimates for the water," a concept so central to her vision that it inspired the brand's elegant name.
The Oceana collection itself, which was the star of the show, is a testament to this creative philosophy. To bring her mermaid fantasy to life, Paola focused on textures, reflective fabrics, and unique accessories. Key pieces included the aforementioned AquaMarine maxi dress and the Sirene bikini, adorned with shimmering stones. The best-selling Pearl Grotto bikini, a pearlescent off-white stunner with delicate pearl details, perfectly encapsulates the collection's ability to be both elegant and sexy. This creative dive into fantasy stands in beautiful contrast to her previous collection, Night Vision, which was inspired by the fierce, sleek aesthetic of Trinity from The Matrix. This range and ability to translate personal admirations into wearable art is a hallmark of the brand.
Looking ahead, while Aqua Intima continues to make waves with its unique swimwear, Paola’s vision extends beyond the beach. She aims to expand into a full line of resort wear, a goal that’s already hinted at in versatile pieces like the AquaMarine maxi dress. For Paola, Aqua Intima is more than a brand; it’s a piece of her story, a tribute to the ocean she loves, and a promise of comfort, confidence, and limitless dreams.
Follow Aqua Intima on:
Social Media: @AQUAINTIMA
Website: aquaintima.com
Paola’s IG: @paola1diaz (Founder)