New-School Swim

Recent SMU grad dips her toe into design with new, eco-conscious swimwear

Dylan Patterson may have just graduated from Southern Methodist University, but she's already putting her business degree to good use.

This summer, the budding entrepreneur is realizing a longtime dream by launching Born From A Wave, a collection of eco-conscious swimwear.

“Growing up in Florida, I always had a love and appreciation for the water,” says Patterson. “I quickly discovered a passion for swimwear but couldn’t find a brand that encompassed everything I wanted: versatile, ethically made swimwear with a social cause.”

Patterson graduated in May 2019 from SMU, where she studied business and entrepreneurship and fashion media. The designer says she was inspired to found her own company by the "strong female leaders" who surrounded her at SMU.

Realizing her own potential, she got serious about creating a swimwear line. She now manages the Born From A Wave brand full time and oversees all aspects of design, creative production, fabric selection, and more.

"I basically grew up in a bathing suit and always had a passion for finding new brands," she says, "so I thought, 'Why couldn't I start my own swimwear brand?'"

Wanting to offer a sustainable alternative to standard offerings, Patterson spent hours researching manufacturers and fabric suppliers around the globe.

Eventually, she found a winner with a material made in Italy of recycled plastic that's been reclaimed from the ocean.

“I’ve always cared about protecting our coastlines from environmental waste,” says Patterson. “So when I realized how much waste is produced by the fashion industry, I knew that I had to do my part and make Born From A Wave as environmentally friendly as I could.”

Vibrant colors and a playful citrus print pay homage to Patterson's home state, where the brand is based.

Cuts are influenced by Patterson’s personal style, evoking silhouettes of the late ’60s and early ’70s.

Inclusivity is a pillar of the brand, and Patterson strives to offer silhouettes for all body types and personalities. Her goal, she says, is for Born From A Wave to be a swimwear line women can look at and see themselves in.

Eventually, Patterson would like to develop a complementary accessories collection. But for now, she's happy to be hitting her stride as a new business owner.

“I hope that I inspire other people to try and live more sustainable lives by choosing brands and products that actually care about the environment," she says. "I also hope that I can be an example to other young women to follow their dreams and to not be afraid of starting their own businesses.”

The collection is available online in sizes ranging from XS to L and priced $70-$200.

Born From A Wave swimwear line launched last month.

Courtesy of Born From A Wave

Born From A Wave swimwear line launched last month.

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Thrifty shopping

Massive Goodwill store in Garland reopens as 2nd largest in the U.S.

Photo courtesy of Goodwill

The Goodwill in Garland is the largest in Texas.

A major expansion has made a Garland Goodwill store nearly the largest of its kind in the country. Goodwill Industries of Dallas officially reopened its "Broadway store," at 451 W. Interstate 30 #100, on April 30 after a major renovation. The new-and-improved store is twice its previous size.

According to a release, at 31,000 square feet, the Broadway Store and Donation Center is now the largest Goodwill in Texas and the second largest in the U.S.

The expansion will significantly boost inventory turnover. According to the organization, the store will introduce about 10,000 new items daily, including clothing, home goods, and accessories. At that pace, inventory cycles through the store roughly every four weeks, they say.

“Our newly expanded Garland store sets the gold standard for Goodwill in Texas — not only as our largest location, but as our most operationally complex,” says Tim Heis, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Dallas, in the release. “Turning out 10,000 fresh items every single day requires a tremendous, coordinated effort behind the scenes to make sure our shelves are always stocked with new finds."

The reopening comes amid "explosive growth" in the resale sector, Goodwill says. A 2024 report from ThredUp found that the U.S. secondhand market grew 11 percent in 2023 (growing seven times faster than the broader retail clothing sector) and is projected to reach $73 billion by 2028.

“As consumers are increasingly turning to resale for its affordability, unique product variety, and positive environmental impact, the new Garland store redefines what’s possible — every visit promises one of the widest, most frequently refreshed selections anywhere in North Texas,” says Joel Ibanez, vice president, Donated Goods Retail.

To support its larger retail footprint and meet demand, Goodwill Dallas has also expanded its donation network, they say, opening new Donation Express locations in Frisco, Plano, and Lantana in recent months and bringing the total number of donation drop off locations in North Texas to 52.

The Garland store includes a drive-up donation center, and additional sites are in development across North Texas, they say.

"Over the past two years, Goodwill Dallas has experienced record-breaking performance, earning recognition as the top performing Goodwill in the country for two consecutive years," they say in the release.

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