Kayla Bell - Founder, Arrow + Phoenix Swimwear

Kayla Bell

Kayla Bell is the founder of Arrow + Phoenix Swimwear. You can usually find her somewhere in a corner wearing her favorite Nike slides and a Laina Rauma bodysuit with her eyes glued to a computer researching content, working on swimwear, or seeking inspiration while on her many travels. 

At just seven years old, Kayla Bell had a love for design and a keen eye for detail that has since taken her places she could have never imagined. While in middle and high school, she found that as a petite young woman with a 38DDD bra cup size , locating a comfortable swimsuit top that wasn't made with someone else's grandmother in mind was nearly impossible, so she began creating her own. Somewhere between sporty and spirited, Arrow + Phoenix is created with fun colors, '90's influenced styles and comfortable silhouettes. Kayla decided Arrow + Phoenix would be her outlet to not only showcase her designs, but also the works of others via her blog, The Wayve.

Born in New Orleans, she has a strong sense of culture and let's her travels inspire her and her collections. Her mission through Arrow + Phoenix is simple: To empower women, give back to the community, and provide creative, affordable, and comfortable swimwear that celebrates diversity, sustainability, + positivity.Created by a  self proclaimed beach bum, Arrow + Phoenix Swimwear was designed for the girl who can always be found near the water. She lives life without fear and travels as much as she can. We take pride in offering pieces that are comfortable, sexy, and are supportive. Functionality is always our goal at A+P and above all else, we want you to feel like the gorgeous goddess you are whether you're laying on the beaches of St. Tropez, at a friend's pool party, or just looking to emphasize your tan lines! 

I’m so excited for you to connect with Kayla, check out work, and follow along as she continues to combine design with sustainability, to empower and encourage others to live a lifestyle that enriches and promotes body positivity.

I'd love it if you'd introduce yourself, what you do, and what you're working on.

My name is Kayla Bell and I am a stylist and sustainable swimwear designer currently launching my brand’s spring and summer collections. I help my clients build their personal brands while empowering women through the core values of my swimwear brand as both truly bring me so much joy.

How did you get started?

I actually began both careers at the age of sixteen. I had always known I wanted my own fashion and lifestyle brand but when it became an annual challenge to find swimwear each season to fit my frame, I knew swimwear would be my niche. I started researching how to build a brand, sewing different silhouettes and learning how to put a brand together logistically and legally. As I was building Arrow + Phoenix, a friend of mine needed my help with clothing options for a music video and what started out as just me picking her clothes led me to be hired to style the lead rapper in the same video and my styling career began there.

What inspired the work that you're doing?

There’s so many elements of my career that inspire me endlessly but the first that comes to mind is getting to empower women. Whether I’m designing pieces for a forthcoming collection, putting together looks for a television show or movie I’m working on or pulling pieces for a client, my biggest inspiration is getting to empower women to feel their best, to feel invincible.

What is your biggest passion? Do you feel like you're living your passion and purpose?

My biggest passion is to create. I love creating in the fashion realm but I also love to paint and can definitely see me designing home goods and a few other things down the line for sure. But, as time has gone on, it’s become clear to me that my reason for being is to create with purpose. To create with intention so everything I create is intended to reach someone. To motivate them, to help them,  to make them smile and to truly make them feel as though they’re capable of doing anything they indeed desire because they can. I know that’s why I’m here and living in that truly makes my life so much sweeter.

What is your joy blueprint? What lights you up, brings you joy, and makes you feel the most alive?

My joy blueprint honestly involves a lot of checking in with myself. I’ve learned that listening to my own intuition will never steer my wrong so when it comes to new product ideas and marketing strategies, I’ve learned to not overthink and just go with my gut. I listen for the resounding yes and just go with it because I know that’s my joy speaking. When I think about what brings me the most joy, it’s living in my purpose and truly loving what I do. I get to create and empower for a living and for me, it gets no better than that.

How do you live intentionally? Are there tools/resources/practices that you rely on to help you stay mindful and grounded?

Early on in my career, I struggled with this. Honestly, up until last year or so, I really struggled with living intentionally because though I knew what I wanted to do and how I wanted to live, I didn’t always know how that’d pan out. Working in the entertainment industry is uncertain and unpredictable and our swimwear seasons can be the same way. About two years ago, right before our biggest season thus far, my seamstress was killed by a drunk driver. At the time, A+P was just the two of us and no one could have ever expected anything like that to happen. So it was a moment where you have all these goals and at any given moment, things can change. So I’ve learned over time to relinquish control and to not be so hard on myself. Meditation has been a life changing tool for me and I meditate everyday to remain grounded. It’s changed my approach to the way I conduct business and has allowed me the peace needed to do everything with clear intention. At the same time, manifestation and my faith play a huge role in keeping me grounded and focused on the bigger picture.

What would your younger self think about what you're doing now?

My younger self would be SO proud! Haha, I think my younger self would feel like “I always knew it’d happen like this.” It’s wild because I read old journals and see things I had written over ten years ago that have come true. I hear things from one of my best friends, Joelle, who’s been there since day one and she recently said “I don’t know why you worry. You’re doing everything we used to talk about in your car in high school.” When it’s all said and done, I’m really just a girl from New Orleans who dared to dream so I think about what my younger self would think often.

Do you have a go-to mantra or affirmation?

Ah, I have so many! My current go to is “As is above, so is below; what you reap will be what you sow, with intention.” It came to me in a dream and I’ve been saying it ever since.

What is your biggest dream?

My biggest dream is to continue to give back but to do it on a larger scale. I love having the sustainable component to our brand and actually refused to create A+P without it. I want to create community gardens in lower income neighborhoods across the country starting in New Orleans where locals can get organic produce free of charge. I want to start a nonprofit that benefits children with cancer and their families. I also plan to do more to bridge the gap between sustainability and helping those in need. We had an incredible event planned this summer with A+P and Hashtag Lunchbag that we are so thrilled for but COVID has had other plans though we will still move forward once it is safe to do so. My biggest dream is to just keep being able to help those through creating. 

To learn more about Kayla and Arrow + Phoenix visit their website https://www.arrowandphoenix.com and on Instagram @arrowandphoenixswim @iamkaylambell_ and use the code THANKYOU at checkout for a special discount. 

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