MY STORY

Hey there!

I'm Adriana Soto, the designer and founder of Aragma Swim, and we’ve just celebrated our fifth anniversary! I thought it was the perfect time to share my story, so you can get to know me and the journey that led me here.

I've always been crafty and good with my hands, a trait I often attribute to my early Montessori education. But the truth is, both my parents are incredibly creative in their own ways. My dad runs a fuel distribution company where he's always innovating and engineering, while my mom is a licensed pharmacist and interior designer. I used to think my passion for fashion was unique, but I’ve come to realize that my creativity is a blend of influences from both of them, and their support and recognition of my creative interests have been a tremendous blessing.

Despite their support, fashion wasn't initially considered a career path for me. With my father’s successful business, the plan was to study business and join his company. However, after high school, I quickly realized this wasn’t for me. I explored various fields in the social sciences and eventually fell in love with psychology. I switched majors and, with my family’s support, transferred to UMass in Boston to complete my undergrad. It was an incredible experience, but nearing graduation, I still wasn’t sure about my future. I thought about law school and even took the LSATs, but it didn’t feel right either.

It was my dad who suggested I pursue a fashion degree. So, three days after finishing my BA in Psychology, I moved to New York to study fashion design at Parsons. It was one of the best decisions of my life. After graduating, I returned to Puerto Rico, having finally decided I wanted to continue my studies and pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology.

With a gap between December graduation and the start of my psychology doctorate in August 2014, I decided to dive into bespoke eveningwear and even participated in my first runway show. During my third year of the doctorate program, I started experimenting with swimwear alongside a friend. Although we eventually parted ways, my passion for creating remained strong, leading me to launch Aragma Swim in April 2019.

Aragma has been a journey of self-discovery, creativity, patience, and passion. The first two years were relatively smooth, with many loyal clients still supporting me today. However, the third year brought challenges, and the fourth and fifth years have been particularly tough. Balancing my psychology boards and launching a private practice took a toll on Aragma. Despite the exhaustion and frustration, my desire to create keeps me going. Aragma is my favorite hobby and passion project, and as long as it sustains itself, I’ll keep pursuing this dream.

To all the wonderful people who have supported me over the past five years, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your love and encouragement mean the world to me and fuel my creative spirit everyday.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!