Skip to content
Outside
  • Watch
  • Learn
  • Podcasts
  • Maps
  • Events
  • Shop
  • New NFTs
  • O+

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Join Outside+ Create Free Account
Already have an account? Sign In
Outside Watch
Premium Films and Live TV
Campfire
Outside Learn
Expand your Skills with Online Courses
Podcasts
The Outside Podcast
Maps
Get the Free Gaia GPS App
Get the Free Trailforks App
Events
Find Your Event
New NFTs
Discover NFT Market
Outside+
See Membership Programs
Shop
Discover Outdoor Products
Advocacy
Find Your Good

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Join Outside+ Create Free Account
Already have an account? Sign In

Brands

Outdoor
  • Backpacker
  • Climbing
  • Fly Fishing Film Tour
  • Gaia GPS
  • National Park Trips
  • Outside
  • Outside Watch
  • Ski
  • Warren Miller Entertainment
Healthy Living
  • Clean Eating
  • Oxygen
  • Vegetarian Times
  • Yoga Journal
Endurance
  • Beta
  • Peloton Magazine
  • Roll Massif
  • Trail Runner
  • Triathlete
  • VeloNews
  • Women's Running
Industry
  • athleteReg
  • Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
  • FinisherPix
  • Idea
  • NASTAR
  • Outside Business Journal
  • Outside Shop
  • VeloPress
  • VeloSwap
Outdoor
  • Backpacker
  • Climbing
  • Fly Fishing Film Tour
  • Gaia GPS
  • National Park Trips
  • Outside
  • Outside Watch
  • Ski
  • Warren Miller Entertainment
Healthy Living
  • Clean Eating
  • Oxygen
  • Vegetarian Times
  • Yoga Journal
Endurance
  • Beta
  • Peloton Magazine
  • Roll Massif
  • Trail Runner
  • Triathlete
  • VeloNews
  • Women's Running
Industry
  • athleteReg
  • Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
  • FinisherPix
  • Idea
  • NASTAR
  • Outside Business Journal
  • Outside Shop
  • VeloPress
  • VeloSwap

Get 25% Off Outside+

The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures

SAVE NOW

Outside Online
  • Search
  • Gear
  • Adventure
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Food
  • Long Reads
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Business Journal
  • Gear
  • Adventure
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Food
  • Long Reads
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Business Journal
Outside Online
  • Gear
    • Gear News
    • Cars & Trucks
    • Apparel
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Climbing
    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Snow Sports
    • Water Sports
    • Tools & Tech
    • Gear Picks
  • Adventure
    • Exploration & Survival
    • Environment
    • Everest
    • Biking
    • Climbing
    • Hiking
    • Snow Sports
    • Water Sports
  • Health
    • Nutrition
    • Training & Performance
    • Wellness
    • Running
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Travel Advice
    • Essays
    • News and Analysis
    • National Parks
  • Culture
    • Active Families
    • Books & Media
    • Essays
    • Love & Humor
    • Opinion
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Cooking Equipment
    • Food Culture
  • Long Reads
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Daily Rally
  • Business Journal
    • Advocacy
    • Brands
    • Issues
    • Opinion
    • Retailers
    • Trade Shows & Events
  • Outside Feed
  • Home
  • Member Exclusives
Gear Water Sports

High-Performance Swimsuits, for Women, by Women

Text by
Paolo Marchesi
Twitter Icon
Earlier this year, I took a job in Ecuador to shoot a new surf swimwear line by Caramel Clothing, a small Ecuadorian brand whose goal is to design functional, beautiful swimsuits for women surfers. I photographed Ecuadorian pro surfers Titi Vargas, Cristi Game, and Titi Game on an epic van-based road trip from Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands. 


Photo: Cristi, 17, qualified to represent Ecuador in the ISA World Junior Championship in Portugal this year. Titi Vargas also qualified for the ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica, but neither of them can afford to compete. They later told me that pro surfer women in Ecuador don’t stand a chance making a living as a surfer, “We do it because we love to surf. Mimi Barona is the best woman surfer in Ecuador and even she can’t make a living as a surfer.”

Earlier this year, I took a job in Ecuador to shoot a new surf swimwear line by Caramel Clothing, a small Ecuadorian brand whose goal is to design functional, beautiful swimsuits for women surfers. I photographed Ecuadorian pro surfers Titi Vargas, Cristi Game, and Titi Game on an epic van-based road trip from Ecuador to the Galapagos Islands.

Photo: Cristi, 17, qualified to represent Ecuador in the ISA World Junior Championship in Portugal this year. Titi Vargas also qualified for the ISA World Surfing Games in Costa Rica, but neither of them can afford to compete. They later told me that pro surfer women in Ecuador don’t stand a chance making a living as a surfer, “We do it because we love to surf. Mimi Barona is the best woman surfer in Ecuador and even she can’t make a living as a surfer.”

Driving dirt roads around Ayampe
(Paolo Marchesi)

Driving dirt roads around Ayampe

Titi Game surfing the point at Montañita
(Paolo Marchesi)

Titi Game surfing the point at Montañita

Co-founders of the swimsuit line Renata and Gabi at work in the shop.
(Paolo Marchesi)

Co-founders of the swimsuit line Renata and Gabi at work in the shop.

Titi and Cristi Game walking through jungle.
(Paolo Marchesi)

Titi and Cristi Game walking through jungle.

Titi and Cristi Game
(Paolo Marchesi)

Titi and Cristi Game

Waiting for the wave.
(Paolo Marchesi)

Waiting for the wave.

Maria Elena and Titi Vargas in front of her hut in Montañita.
(Paolo Marchesi)

Maria Elena and Titi Vargas in front of her hut in Montañita.

Kicker Rock in the Galapagos Islands.
(Paolo Marchesi)

Kicker Rock in the Galapagos Islands.

Filed to:
  • Clothing and Apparel
  • Photography
  • Surfing
  • Swimming

Read this next

A Brazilian Surfer Died While Riding Big Waves at Nazaré

By: Frederick Dreier

A Brazilian Surfer Died While Riding Big Waves at Nazaré

By: Frederick Dreier

A Longtime Surf Competition Went Virtual During the Pandemic. Organizers Kept It That Way.

By: Jen Murphy

A Longtime Surf Competition Went Virtual During the Pandemic. Organizers Kept It That Way.

By: Jen Murphy

Outside+

Outside Magazine January/February 2023 cover

Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more.

Learn More
Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Instagram Icon
Outside
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Licensing & Accolades
Healthy Living
  • Clean Eating
  • Oxygen
  • Vegetarian Times
  • Yoga Journal
Outdoor
  • Backpacker
  • Climbing
  • Fly Fishing Film Tour
  • Gaia GPS
  • National Park Trips
  • Outside
  • Outside TV
  • SKI
  • Warren Miller
Endurance
  • Beta MTB
  • CyclingTips
  • Fastest Known Time
  • Peloton
  • Pinkbike
  • Trailforks
  • Trail Runner
  • Triathlete
  • VeloNews
  • Women's Running
Industry
  • athleteReg
  • Bicycle Retailer & Industry News
  • FinisherPix
  • Inkwell
  • Nastar
  • Roam Media
  • Outside Books
  • Outside Events Cycling Series
  • Outside Shop
  • VeloSwap

© 2023 Outside Interactive, Inc