Sarah Jon Porreca – Owner of Salty Mermaid Swim Inc.
Sarah Jon Porreca is a dynamic entrepreneur and passionate owner of Salty Mermaid Swim, a brand dedicated to empowering women of all shapes and sizes. With over eight years of experience in curating swimwear that molds to diverse body types, Sarah has positioned herself as a leader in the industry, focusing on creative direction and fostering a supportive community for women to discuss fit and style.
Hi SJ! Tell us what inspired you to create Salty Mermaid?
Salty Mermaid was born seven years ago with a singular vision: “Let’s make all women feel powerful.” This journey began with a poster board adorned with magazine cutouts of diverse body shapes and swim designs, shaping our idea of the “Perfect Swimsuit”—a suit that empowers you to feel and look like a power babe. And just like that, our “Kara Mesh Me” one-piece was born. To this day, it remains our No. 1 best seller, evoking feelings of beauty and playfulness while the fabric ensures you feel secure and confident.
It was during this process that we realized our brand’s true essence: The playful yet powerful babe. From that moment, we began designing the pieces you see today. Each creation starts with a feeling, which we then transform into a unique print. From that print, we carefully craft a pattern that complements the woman’s body, resulting in a harmonious blend of style and strength.
Our inspiration flows from places we’ve yet to visit, curating prints that capture the fantasy of global travel. Each collection reflects a destination that invites you to feel as though you’ve journeyed to your dream location without ever leaving your hometown.
How does your background in fitness overlap with developing a swimwear brand?
Being surrounded by like-minded women of all ages and body types, each committed to feeling healthy from the inside out, was nothing short of inspiring. Their confidence was contagious, and the energy was electric—motivating you to push toward your own fitness goals. Of course, in the company of such incredible women, the conversation often turned to the age-old struggle of finding the perfect bikini. Regardless of size, we all shared a common desire: “I want a suit that makes me feel powerful.” This challenge sparked a personal mission—to design swimsuits that empower women to walk with confidence.
At Salty Mermaid, our community thrives on the power of women uplifting one another. It’s fulfilling to see that the very foundation of our brand—building confidence—continues to grow every day. Whether it’s through our swimsuits, our ambassadors or the passionate women behind the scenes, we are proud of the relationships we’ve built with our customers and followers. For me, success is waking up to see a woman sporting a Salty Suit, her hands in the air, living her best life—radiating power and playfulness.
What makes Salty Mermaid stand out in the swimwear market?
We are a women-owned, small-but-mighty swim company that understands the challenges of wearing a bikini. Some days we feel beautiful, while other days we might feel bloated. Salty Mermaid gets it, and we strive to create bikinis that become your go-to suits—ranging from sexy to sporty and everything in between.
Our fabric moves with you and breathes, feeling like a second skin, as it should. We want every woman to feel playful and powerful in our swimwear, and our goal is to help them feel beautiful. Additionally, we understand that you sometimes enjoy shopping for your partner as much as for yourself, which is why we’ve created amazing matching his-and-hers suits. Our trunks have been tested by our husbands and boyfriends to ensure the perfect fit, featuring four-way stretch, a zipper back pocket and, of course, ensuring their thighs look great.
How does sustainability play a role in your brand’s ethos?
Our collection varies from recycled fabrics to textured terry and ribbed fabrics. We consume 98% of our fabrics by creating swim bags for every suit in lieu of poly bags. We also strive to make use of every scrap and get creative to making scrungies, dog scarves, anything we can to ensure every piece of fabric has been consumed. Salty Mermaid creates small production units to ensure we sell out every time with only limited suits being replenished. We want to make sure no piece goes to waste and value the ethos of being a small company and being able to create big waves with recycled materials, small production and consuming all our fabric.
Who is the Salty Mermaid customer? Who do you envision wearing your swimwear?
It’s funny how so many brands try to pinpoint the “perfect customer,” as if we need to fit into one singular mold. As women, we wear countless hats and juggle many roles throughout the day.
One minute, I’m in office attire, then a gym session, and by the afternoon, I’m a dog mom. The Salty Mermaid customer is the woman who embraces her full, multifaceted life. She’s the beach girl, dreaming of tropical vacations from her desk, or the mom in her pajamas planning a family beach day.
I see Salty Mermaid as the brand for any woman who dreams of wearing a swimsuit with confidence. Whether you’re a dog-loving mom, a passionate gardener, a beach bum, a vacationer or a poolside dreamer, Salty Mermaid is for you. There are no limits, and no woman should ever feel she isn’t the right fit for a brand.
What’s the narrative or story behind the upcoming Mob Wife collection?
The Mob Wife swim collection embodies the boss babe vibes we all desire, especially when donning a daring bikini. This collection is designed to create a powerful aura around every woman. We understand that it takes courage to wear a bikini, and our goal is to empower women, showing them that we support and understand them. The Mob Wife collection is all about bringing out the powerful babe in all of us. This collection was a subtle nod to my Italian background and the stories my grandparents would tell me about the beautiful ladies that would walk down Fifth Ave in their heels and big glasses. He always would say to me, “It’s the women who run this world, never forget that.” This collection is a shout out to the women who walk with power knowing their worth and remembering who runs this world.
As you’re gearing up for Paraiso Miami Swim Week, what are you most looking forward to?
So many thoughts come to mind when I reflect on the experience. I love witnessing the incredible creativity from such talented designers—it’s always inspiring. Catching up with everyone is equally enjoyable, and of course, the events and parties add a special touch. For the entire Salty team, it’s a chance to come together, and it always feels like a family reunion.
What excites me most is the opportunity to showcase our suits on the runway and witness firsthand how guests react. That moment when the show ends, and you step out to see the expressions on people’s faces, is unforgettable. It’s incredibly fulfilling. And when I look over to see my friends, parents and husband cheering, it adds a layer of pride and gratitude. It’s a feeling every woman deserves to experience—truly amazing.
