Morada Blue was inspired by the beautiful blue skies and ocean in Islamorada, Florida. My sister Nancy was married in 2005 at her husband Sean's families' house in Islamorada. Our family started going there all the time to enjoy the warm weather, gorgeous setting and laid back lifestyle. I was constantly searching for the perfect bikini but could not find what I was looking for. I knew there was a need to create tops that could properly support a woman's curves. I set out to find stronger fabrics and elastics, perfectly molded bra cups and the right people to help create my ideas.

Each style is designed to slim all the right spots and hide any flaws to make a woman feel as good as possible when most exposed. With the help and support of Nancy and Sean Cotton, I have been able to create this line of swimwear that is different than anything else on the market today. Most bikini tops have a set back, but since every woman is a different size, I knew that this was a major flaw. Most of the Morada Blue bikini tops are bra-sized and the bottoms are sold separately to find your perfect size. I wanted to make sure that the swimwear would appeal to all women so I designed slimming full pieces as well. The line is fun and flirty with ruffles and bows throughout.

Each swimsuit is named after the most important women in my life, including my family members and my best friends from Lafayette College and my hometown, Ridgewood, NJ. Every single product that is used for the swimwear is purchased in the USA and our factory is in New Jersey. Even though it costs us more to do our production in the States, we think that it is very important to support local businesses during this time. Morada Blue also wants to help raise awareness of Florida Wildlife Charities to help preserve the habitats of many of our favorite animals, including sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, pelicans, and many more.

Morada Blue made it's premiere at the Swim Show in Miami, Florida the largest swim tradeshow in the world. It was an honor to be accepted to present this line among the best in the industry. It has been a long journey to get to this point but I am so grateful for all of the people that have come together to help make my dream become a reality.
       - Kathryn Johann

I grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey with my two sisters Jennifer and Nancy and incredibly loving parents. I always had a love for drawing but mainly focused on studying the violin and ballet early on. During my years at Lafayette College I had the opportunity to explore my love of photography and design, especially during a program abroad in Florence, Italy.

After graduation I moved to Manhattan and was accepted to Parsons School of Design. I always wanted to become a fashion designer but due to the excessive costs of living in Manhattan, I had to pass and take a job at an entertainment law firm. For five years I enjoyed all that NYC had to offer with all of my best friends from Ridgewood and Lafayette. During that time my sister Nancy married Sean Cotton at his parent's beach house in Islamorada and we started going to Florida very often.

Islamorada's true beauty is hard to describe in words and the way of life there was such an incredible change from Manhattan. I started buying bikinis from all over the world and found that most did not do much to enhance my curves or hide any flaws. I then started to think of what I would do differently. I took inspirations from the necklines of my favorite dresses and shirts and the shapes of my favorite lingerie. I presented the idea to Nancy and Sean who loved the designs and agreed to back me financially so that I could create swimwear that was different than what is already available. We discussed ideas for the company name one night in the hot tub at the house in Islamorada.

We were looking up at the stars and looking out to the crystal clear ocean when we all realized that Morada Blue incorporated the gorgeous blue skies and ocean into one. This opportunity has changed my life in so many ways and I now live in Grosse Pointe, MI where my family lives and I enjoy playing with my niece Molly and nephews Jack and Colin everyday. I am so happy that I been able to incorporate art, design and photography back into my life and look forward to traveling all over the world to help spread the word about Morada Blue.
- Kathryn Johann

Sean and Nancy met while attending the Seton Hall Law School and were married two years later on the Cotton's beach in Islamorada, which they travel to at least four times a year and is their favorite place on earth. Their wedding inspired many of their friends and family to make Islamorada one of their top travel destinations and it of course inspired this beautiful line of swimwear which they are so happy to support and work on everyday. After graduation, Sean practiced corporate law in Manhattan at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Nancy was a real estate lawyer in New Jersey.

After living in the New York City area for 12 years (and Nancy 's entire life) Sean and Nancy moved to Grosse Pointe where Sean is currently an owner and General Counsel of Health Plan of Michigan, Inc., one of the top ranked health care corporations in Michigan. Nancy and Sean live in GP with their newborn son, Colin Beach Cotton and their two British shorthairs, Penny and Watson as well as both of their families. They are also always trying to get friends to visit Michigan and so far many have come and it has been so much fun. When not in GP enjoying the lake, taking walks with Colin or hanging with friends and family, they love to travel. They spent three weeks in Italy and Greece last summer and loved every minute of it. Nancy and Sean are thrilled to be a part of Morada Blue and are sure it is destined to be a great success.

Favorite Vacation Destinations: I love vacations wherever they are, a new destination every time is the best!

How I Know Kat: I responded to her ad for a swimwear designer and the moment we started talking we clicked. She is a great person to work and have fun with and we have become life long friends.

Biography: Milena was born in Bulgaria & spent her childhood studying painting, pottery, and still life drawing. Milena's father was an artist and she spent her early years learning from him and quickly knew that she always wanted to have art in her life. She decided to incorporate her love of art in designing clothes so her father taught her how to sew at a young age. She began turning everything in her house into new pieces of clothing and her mom nicknamed her "Milena with scissors." During her high school years, Milena convinced her mom to open a boutique store with a small sample room next to it.

Milena was so happy to have a space to make all of her ideas come to life and sell her one of a kind designs for the first time. The store had its ups and downs but Milena realized that she should attend design school to get formal training and develop her skills further. Milena moved to California where she had ideas of her own swimwear line, then moved to Manhattan to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. She quickly fell in love with her new life in America and was thrilled to follow her dreams of becoming a fashion designer in Manhattan, the fashion capital of the world. She presently works as a designer for Calvin Klein and is so excited to see how far Morada Blue has come since first meeting Kat. Milena knows that wearing nice clothes makes people happy and she likes nothing more than seeing happy faces!

Today, Islamorada is known as the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World," and is an icon among sport divers for a similar reason: a massive population of tropical marine life. High profile coral heads and broad ledges shelter huge congregates of French grunt and goatfish, while regal queen angelfish casually graze amid the reef recesses. Friendly green moray eels swim freely along the spur-and-groove channels, and reclusive nurse sharks lurk beneath the overhangs. Sea turtles and manatees can be spotted during sunset cruises and resting under docks. Islamorada offers a wide variety of shallow coral reefs, mini walls, shipwrecks, and even an underwater habitat for scientific research, the Aquarius.

Islamorada also offers many pleasures to the casual traveler. The sunsets are breathtakingly beautiful when viewed over the Florida Bay from one of the many relaxing restaurants that are nestled along the mangrove coast. From Morada Bay to Mile Marker 88, Lazy Days or Holiday Isle and Island Grille, Islamorada offers a lifestyle that can be appreciated by anyone who values relaxation, a chilled drink and tiki huts.