By Kayla Solway
Faareha Asad is making a splash in the swimwear industry with the debut of her modest swimwear brand, Muna.
Born out of a personal struggle to find modest swimwear as a Muslim woman and combined with her love for fashion, the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) graduate developed Muna Swimwear. The line aims to be both fashionable and sustainable.
The suits’ fabric are made from recycled materials and sourced from discarded fishing nets that pose a threat to oceans.
“I never felt great about my swimwear options and they were limited,” said Asad. “I wanted to create something that I would be proud to swim in.”
Growing up in Canada, Asad observed a need for modest swimwear options in stores. In her own community, young girls never learned to swim and lacked appropriate swimwear.
“Things like swimming were not encouraged, or people steered clear of it and they didn’t want to get in because they didn’t have the right attire. That was just another deterrent for them,” she explained.
As Asad started discussing her ideas with other women, she quickly began to recognize the demand for modest swimwear beyond her own community. Covering up during a work trip with a boss or feeling more comfortable at the beach were just a few of the many reasons others said they wanted swimsuits with more coverage.
“I wanted to create something that I would be proud to swim in.”
“I had women from all walks of faith and backgrounds coming up to me saying they would love to have full-covered swimwear that actually looks cute,” she said.
Associate professor in TMU’s School of Fashion Nigel Lezama also sees the need and demand for more inclusive swimwear options in today’s diverse world.
“We live in a plural society,” Lezama explained in an interview with The Eyeopener. “Women have a right to swim in pools, swim at the beach and feel comfortable doing so. I’m totally for expanding what swimwear is.”
With a background in marketing and finance but limited experience in fashion, Asad leveraged the support and guidance of TMU’s Fashion Zone—Canada’s fastest-growing incubator for fashion-inspired businesses—to navigate the industry and launch her brand successfully.
Anyone can apply to work with the Fashion Zone, including current TMU students. The student associate program caters to undergrads looking for work experience, mentorship and feedback. The zone is a space that encourages new fashion entrepreneurs to define their niche and understand their audience.
Prior to working with the incubator, Asad only had sketches and a brand logo. She said being accepted into the incubator was the catalyst to get her project off the ground and provided the encouragement she needed to bring Muna to life.
“Women have a right to
swim in pools, swim at the
beach and feel comfortable
doing so”
“Since joining the Fashion Zone in fall 2022, [Asad] has been an active participant in many of our programming elements,” the startup experience coordinator, Angelique Bowen-Achong, told The Eye. “She worked closely with our team, receiving mentorship on everything from grading and sizing to pricing strategies and fabric sourcing.”
Asad’s journey, from sketches on an iPad to a fully developed brand, showcases both the necessity and value of mentorship support.
“We are so proud of the progress Muna Swimwear has made,” said Bowen-Achong. “[Asad] is a fantastic example of the type of founder we like to foster at the Fashion Zone. She’s passionate, driven and not afraid to ask the right questions.”
Muna Swimwear is more than just a bathing suit—it’s a symbol of inclusivity, empowerment and a contributing factor to creating an inclusive environment in fashion.
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