This collaboration was never just about beautiful swimwear, it was about doing things differently.
Susu & Meli are a creative consultancy that connects fashion brands with Indigenous artisans of the Pacific, building ethical partnerships that honour story, process, and cultural integrity.
For An Ode to Her, they led the way. Together, we worked with the Salu family, a lineage of Samoan women whose artistry has been passed down through generations, to bring a story to life that’s as layered as the prints themselves.
We asked Susu & Meli about the why behind their work, the making of this collection, and what cultural collaboration should really look like moving forward.
What first drew you to collaborating with Nara Swim? What about this project felt aligned?
When Sarah first reached out about prints, Susu & Meli hadn’t even officially launched, it was still just an idea we were dreaming up. Her message came at the perfect time and gave us the nudge we needed to turn that idea into action. This project felt aligned from the start because it spoke directly to the things we care about, and frankly, the things we were tired of seeing done wrong in the industry.
Tell us a little about Susu & Meli. What do you stand for, and what makes your approach different in the fashion world?
At our core, we stand for brands and organisations that put community at the centre, proving that profit and people don’t have to live on opposite ends of the spectrum.
Our sweet spot though? Building real, meaningful relationships that open doors for Rural South Pacific communities to thrive.
What makes us a little different is how we work. This isn’t a one-off meeting or a cookie-cutter service. We roll up our sleeves and get to know your business from the inside out—so we can guide you towards collaborations with South Pacific artisans that are as impactful as they are intentional.
It all starts, and ends, with relationships.
This campaign is called An Ode to Her. Who is the “her” for each of you? Who do you honour through your work?
Fun fact: our logo is actually an illustration of her, Mesepa Ave Ti'atā Latū, our late grandma. She laid the foundation for many of our achievements, well before we were even born. That’s the thing about matriarchs, they think beyond the now. They think about their children, and their children’s children.
This campaign felt deeply personal to us for that very reason. When we heard Sarah share stories about her childhood and the bond she had with her grandma, it just clicked. We knew we had to be part of this.
You’ve worked with the Salu Family to bring these prints to life. Can you share what makes this family and their artistry so special?
The generational aspect of the Salu family is truly something special. In an industry that’s always shifting, there’s something really sacred about knowledge and artistry that has stood the test of time, something that doesn’t just disappear with the next trend.
What makes their legacy even more powerful is how they carry that knowledge forward. This collection isn’t just about preserving the past, it’s about how the Salu family continues to elevate their artistry, reimagining it in ways that still honour where it came from. It’s been our absolute honour learning from them.
What conversations do you hope this collection will spark, especially for women who are navigating their own mixed or diasporic identities?
There’s no one way to belong to a culture. As Samoan women, we’ve come to see just how multifaceted identity can be, and we’ve learned to stand confidently in that. The same goes for those navigating identity across cultures: your identity isn’t defined by how “ethnic” you appear or sound. Who you are, as you are, is enough, and that’s something to be proud of.
If you feel drawn to explore your roots, lean into that. Get around your local community, connect with people who speak the language, learn the customs. That process of reconnecting with your heritage can be one of the most beautiful, and healing, parts of being mixed or growing up in the diaspora.
What does it look like to collaborate with cultural integrity in 2025? And what do brands often get wrong when working with Indigenous or Pacific artists?
It starts with working with the people the story belongs to, not just borrowing a pattern or an aesthetic, but building real relationships. Cultural integrity means bringing Indigenous and Pacific artists in from the very beginning, as creative partners, not add-ons. Ask questions like, whose story is this, and who should be telling it?
Too often, brands treat cultural collabs like a one-off transaction, a quick payment for a “look.” But true collaboration runs deeper. It’s co-creating. It’s sharing profits. It’s investing in long-term opportunities that support not just the artist, but their whole community.
In 2025, people want to buy from brands that stand for something. But standing for something is action. If you're claiming cultural care without doing the work behind the scenes, the message falls flat. One of the biggest things brands forget? They actually have the power to create real change. Done right, collaboration isn’t just strategy, it’s impact.
The pieces in this collection feel both bold and tender, how did you approach translating the Salu Family’s handmade designs into swimwear?
The boldness and tenderness of this collection come directly from the way we approached translating the Salu Family’s handmade designs into swimwear. Samoa is a place where modesty is deeply valued, so we knew from the beginning this wasn’t just about putting a print on a bikini, it had to be thoughtful. We spent a lot of time listening to local artists and elders, and ultimately let the Salu Family lead the creative direction. They told us what should be created, and how.
Once their hand-drawn designs were finished, we carefully scanned and digitised them. Seeing a Siapo-inspired piece brought into a new format like this was exciting, but we’ve been very intentional in making it clear: this is not Siapo. It’s a contemporary print, created by the Salu Family as part of their evolving artistry.
What’s one thing you learned through this process that will stay with you long after launch day?
What stood out to us was Sarah’s humility and genuine eagerness to learn, not just about us, but about the depth of Samoan culture. It’s never about us versus them, but more about making space where we learn, unlearn, and maybe get it wrong before we get it right. Cancel culture is overrated.
If someone is wearing this collection, what do you hope they feel or carry with them?
Live with intention. Care about things that matter. And look, a golden glow is cute, but sun safety is cuter.
To learn more about their work and the artists they represent, head to susuandmeli.com.