New swimwear company focuses on women’s human dignity
New swimwear company focuses on women’s human dignity
Season after season, Catherine Huss faced difficulties in discovering the perfect swimsuit. Then, she made the choice to design her own — and launched a new type of swimwear brand.
“I’ve always had a passion for fashion and aesthetics, but my mother brought me up with a strong emphasis on modesty,” Huss, the creator and designer behind Siena and Co., told Our Sunday Visitor. “I couldn’t find the designs I was looking for, so I concluded that I must create them myself!”
“We should not need to settle for less when it comes to style, level of modesty, or the manner in which our garments are produced,” she remarked. “Siena and Co. was created to offer apparel without such compromises.”
The 31-year-old based in San Diego launched her business in 2020. Now, women have the ability to explore and buy her swimsuits on the internet, at siena-co.com. The site showcases models of various sizes donning one and two-piece swimwear that offers both coverage and flair.
A Catholic, Huss shared how her beliefs shape her professional life — even during Eucharistic adoration — and how her business emphasizes the worth of the human individual.
“I consistently strive to ensure this remains at the core of all my efforts with Siena and Co.: the respect for the women donning the creations, the respect for the models and photographers, in addition to the respect for those crafting the actual clothing,” she emphasized.
Huss found motivation in her education at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she pursued Catholic studies, and St. Catherine University, also located in St. Paul, where she studied fashion design.
All of her research, she remarked, “centered on and referred back to the dignity of the human individual, and the Church’s social teaching.”
Grasping the concept of modesty
She additionally discovered motivation in adoration while completing her college “senior project” to create and stitch a collection of apparel.
“One day I was in adoration and fresh ideas kept pouring into my mind, and I dismissed them by saying ‘No, no, I’m trying to pray!’” she remembered. “I recalled hearing a presentation where the speaker suggested that if you have recurring thoughts during prayer, you should write them down to clear your mind.”
“I’m glad I did,” she remarked, “and those remain among my favorite designs even now.”
Belief and learning also influenced the name of Huss’ business. She selected “Siena and Co.” following her trip to Siena during her studies in Italy.
“I had the opportunity to explore everything about St. Catherine of Siena and how she utilized her talents to create the kingdom,” she mentioned. “I also had the chance to meet and experience Italian women who embody style and possess innate confidence, so the majority of the designs draw inspiration from Italian women.”
Huss has previously written about modesty and how the subject can be manipulated to convey to girls that their bodies are shameful and must be concealed, resulting in an unhealthy perspective. She discussed how women in contemporary times can engage with modesty in a positive manner.
“I prefer to describe modesty as ‘showing the right amount in the right situation,’” she remarked. “You wouldn’t expose your whole body to anyone when you first meet them, just as you wouldn’t disclose all your profound challenges, aspirations, and desires right away.”
She remarked: “Our physiques and spirits are incredibly beautiful and valuable, yet not everyone is entitled to experience them completely in every situation.”
Although her initial swimwear line was financed through pre-orders on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding site, Huss mentioned that her business is currently exploring private investment options. Those who wish to learn more can email hello@siena-co.com.
