In 1998, Sonia De Mello came to America to learn English. She landed in Santa Barbara, the so-called “American Riviera,” one of the most beautiful cities in the US.  While attending Santa Barbara City College, she worked as a nanny to pay expenses. But there was much more on her mind. Sonia De Mello had big dreams, which began with her many after-school trips to the beach.

Every time she went to the beach, someone would ask, ‘Where did you buy your swimsuit?’  She did some research and it revealed a huge void, for stylish suits, in the California swimwear market. Then and there, she decided to import Brazilian swim brands into the US. Within weeks, she was working with one of the largest swimwear manufacturers in Sao Paulo. After four years selling the designs of others, she created her own brand: So De Mel (a play off her name) in 2006.

So De Mel is an elegant and classic collection crafted withdetails and produced with forgiving fabrics that mold to the skin. Her plan is to continue working with the softest fabrics and master the fit of her line so as to best fit women of all ages. The female shape is always kept in mind when creating new styles.

Sonia draws inspiration from her culture, world travel and, well, basically anything that catches her eye.

She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband Emi Caramel and their dog Rio De Janeiro CaraMello.