Where there is warm weather, an ocean and sand, you’re sure to find Sara Babin rockin’ one of her hand-sewn bikinis while surfing the waves or drawing up a new design for her relatively new swimwear line, Tide Bird.

Babin was just like any other teenager: young, restless and ready to fly the coop. As soon as she turned 18, it was goodbye Vermont and hello world.

“I traveled for several years, and then went back to Vermont to go to college, but again, as soon as I graduated, I moved away, again. (It was) just too darn cold,” Babin said.    

The designer studied environmental science and chemistry at Castle State College in Vermont. After Babin finished school, she began sewing with a good friend of hers. And that’s what spurred her love for creating clothing.

“I learned how to sew from a very good friend when I was in my early 20s. We would go to Phish shows and sell our homemade dresses and patch pants in the parking lot. It was such an experience,” Babin said.

Despite being a native of Vermont, Babin never strayed from what inspired her the most. Ever since she was a little girl, she loved the ocean and so she began making her own bikinis.

“My first bikini was orange gingham and I loved it! I was probably about six, and I would wear it to swimming lessons,” Babin said. “But my true inspiration to make and design bikinis came when I lived in St. John, (in the) U.S. Virgin Islands.” 

Babin lived in the Virgin Islands for four years. She wore a bikini every day, soaking up the sun while swimming, diving, paddling and sailing.

“I was always trying to find the perfect bikini, and I had my favorites, but there was always something that I thought could be better,” Babin said.

The resources needed to make bikinis weren’t available in the one room bungalow she had in the Virgin Islands, so when she moved to Wilmington in 2008, she decided to start sewing and designing bikinis in her home studio.

The ocean-inspired Tide Bird line officially began in 2012.

“The name Tide Bird came to be because of my love for the sounds of the shore, the birds specifically,” Babin said. “They spend their days roaming the shore, soaking up the sun, flying in the breeze…just perfect.”  

Babin stresses functionality and “island cuteness” in her designs.

“All Tide Bird bikinis are made from milliskin matte nylon spandex…it has a super soft feel against the skin, which is so important, and nylon spandex holds up the best in salt and chlorine,” Babin said.

Other than designing and surfing, Babin works as the conservation coordinator for the Nature Conservancy in Wilmington.

“I love conservation. It’s what I always knew I wanted to do-help protect the natural places in our amazing world-because without them what would we have,” Babin said.

Babin is also a member of the SurfriderFoundation, which has been protecting oceans, waves and beaches since 1984.

Tide Bird has partnered with charities like TilestonOutreach and Hope from Helen, both dedicated to helping those in need.

“I think it is necessary to give back and support the community you live in, no matter how small the contribution,” Babin said.

Tide Bird bikinis can be found at Aqua Fedora in Lumina Station and at Drift Mobile Boutique. They’re also available online via Babin’s Etsy shop.

Like Babin’s designs online and in store, and who knows, you might just run into her on the beach!