6 Shore Road: Around the World in Swimwear
California holds a dominant influence on swimwear styles, but Pooja Kharbanda hopes to represent a bit of Panama and New York beach culture with her 6 Shore Road label.
Kharbanda grew up in Panama and spent much of her adult life in New York. In 2010, she debuted 6 Shore Road. The name was inspired by Sunset Beach on New York’s Shelter Island, a popular getaway for Manhattanites.
Targeting women ages 18 to 35, the debut collection focuses on coverups and dresses. (Kharbanda also confessed that she is not a swimmer. “I’m a beach-to-the-bar person,” she said.) For the debut Resort ’12 collection, the designer includes plenty of Panamanian accents.
Some of the label’s styles feature the stripe designs of the indigenous Kuna people of Panama. The lookbook for 6 Shore Road’s Resort ’12 collection was shot in the pristine town of Bocas del Toro, located on the Caribbean side of Panama.
But the label travels north for its silhouettes. They are American-cut and offer more coverage than skimpy Brazilian-cut bikinis, which have proven popular in the past decade.
Fashion also is a top concern for the line. “I wanted to introduce more than just a standard triangle bikini,” Kharbanda said.
Some of 6 Shore Road’s signature swim looks include the “Vista” swimsuit, a one-shoulder maillot with ruched shoulder strap and waist detail. There’s the “Punta,” which is a two-piece with revealing net paneling on the hips. The “Isla Grande” is a one-piece suit with crochet paneling in the midriff.
Wholesale price points for the label’s separates are $32 and less. Wholesale prices for one-pieces are $50 and less. The ready-to-wear’s wholesale prices are $105 and less. For more information, contact Salon-9 Showroom at(212) 354-9220.—Andrew Asch
