Aqua Intima x Indie Identity Dive into Mermaidcore at Miami Swim Week
- Ellen Jones
- Jun 4, 2025
- 3 min read
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: Designer Paola Diaz Walks the runway wearing Aqua Intima during Miami Swim Week: The Shows. (Photo by Thomas Concordia/Getty Images)
This poolside at Miami Swim Week: The Shows, the runway wasn’t just wet, it was drenched in magic. Miami-based label Aqua Intima debuted their dreamy Oceana Collection, and spoiler alert: it gave full mermaid fantasy with zero apologies.
And to style the collection? Indie Identity was there with our bespoke ocean-themed accessories capsule collection, dripping in pearls and golden flair, to help bring Aqua Intima’s vision to life.
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 29: Designer Paola Diaz Walks the runway wearing Aqua Intima during Miami Swim Week: The Shows. (Photo by Thomas Concordia/Getty Images)
The Visionary Behind the Splash
For Aqua Intima’s founder, Paola Diaz, the Oceana Collection was a realization of her lifelong obsession with mermaids, transformed from childhood fantasy into an entire wearable daydream. Inspired by her iconic girlhood staples H2O: Just Add Water and Aquamarine, this collection wasn’t just a vibe - it was a full-blown sirens-only aesthetic. Think glistening water nymphs, power-finned divas, and sea goddesses reclaiming the runway.
“When I started Aqua Intima, I was really focused on that core idea of ‘intimates for the water,’ creating pieces that felt incredibly supportive and comfortable, almost like a second skin,” explains Paola.
“Growing up in Puerto Rico, the ocean was my whole world. As I was designing, my mind kept drifting back to it, which is just woven into my DNA. My designs became more fluid and organic as I experimented with colours and textures that evoked the sea. I was constantly pulling up images from my ‘mermaid mood board’ – shimmering scales, iridescent pearls, the way a fin moves so gracefully. It just hit me: this isn't just a silly childhood fantasy; it's a deep well of inspiration.”
And let us tell you: mission accomplished. Every look shimmered with under-the-sea seduction - sleek one-pieces, cheeky monochrome cut-outs, and iridescent bikinis in hues of turquoise and pearl that caught the Miami sun like a wink from Poseidon himself.
Paola’s Oceana Collection beautifully blends nostalgia with modern sensuality. How does she strike that balance between fantasy and wearability? “For me, it's really about capturing the vibe of that mermaid fantasy,” she says. “I'm talking about the fluidity, the shimmer, and that incredible feeling of being strong and beautiful when you're moving through the water.
“The nostalgia comes through in the subtle details. Maybe it's a fabric that catches the light just right, like a fish's scales, or a cut that hints at a mermaid's graceful lines without being impractical. But the modern sensuality? That's where the heart of Aqua Intima truly shines, because I'm totally obsessed with fit and function. I design pieces that genuinely flatter your body, feel incredibly comfortable, and give you that instant confidence boost, just like your favorite lingerie does.”
II x Aqua Intima Accessories Capsule
But wait, what’s a modern mermaid without her deep-sea treasure? That’s where we came in. We created an exclusive ocean-themed accessories capsule collection.
From dripping pearl head chains to molten gold cuffs and statement shell earrings, our collab brought sea queen sparkle themes aplenty. And the eyewear? Bold, sculptural, oversized, and unapologetically extra. Perfect for casting shade while serving siren energy. It was old-world Atlantis meets 2025 it-girl, and we were here for all of it.
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA - MAY 28: Models backstage fitting for Aqua Intima during Miami Swim Week: The Shows. (Photo by Lara Tomenchok)
So here’s to mermaids making waves in fashion and indie clothing. The future is fluid, fabulous, and dripping in pearls.
And as Paola says, “I want my Aqua Intima girls to experience that little spark of childhood wonder and embrace their inner mermaid. I hope they feel beautiful in a way that’s deeply personal and authentic. Ultimately, it’s about more than just a swimsuit; it’s about this amazing feeling of stepping into a fantasy that makes you feel strong, confident, and maybe even a little bit otherworldly.”
Want to channel your inner Ariel? Discover Aqua Intima's Oceana collection and our Miami Swim Week accessories capsule collection at Indie Identity.
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