Taylor Long
Chief Executive Officer and Founder
Nomads Swimwear
Taylor Long is the founder, designer and CEO of Nomads Swimwear. She obtained her degree in Fashion Design from the University of Cincinnati's DAAP program. During her studies, she began working as a plus-size model. During her years as a model, Taylor has shot with major brands such as Target, Soma, and Beyond Yoga and modeled internationally in Australia.
She quickly realized that fashion design schools generally do not teach or encourage students to design or pattern for plus-size bodies, even though the average American woman is size 18-20. During the early stages of her modeling career, she also noticed the direct correlation between the lack of inclusive design education and how it led to mediocre plus-size offerings and, in some cases, no offerings. For swimwear bookings, Taylor modeled dated and modest suits made of polluting fabrics. For her UC senior capstone project, she designed swimwear that was everything she didn't see on the market - luxe, size-inclusive, sustainable, and timeless. With the overwhelming positive feedback from the collection, Taylor launched Nomads Swimwear right out of college.
Driven by Taylor's creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, Nomads Swimwear has quickly become a standout brand in the size-inclusive swim space. Since its launch in July 2020, the brand has been featured by prestigious publications such as Forbes, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and Business Insider. Its luxurious pieces and unique design aesthetic have caught the eye of major retailers like Anthropologie and Shopbop and set a new standard for size-inclusive, sustainable fashion. Nomads' pieces, made in small batches using cutting-edge biodegradable and compostable fabrics, have received widespread acclaim. Taylor's accolades include landing a spot in Andreessen Horowitz's coveted A16Z Talent X Opportunity accelerator and the LinkedIn accelerator program, the AMEX100for100 program, and receiving numerous grants. Currently, Taylor is raising a $500K friends, family, and angel round to expand Nomads' reach and impact further.
She quickly realized that fashion design schools generally do not teach or encourage students to design or pattern for plus-size bodies, even though the average American woman is size 18-20. During the early stages of her modeling career, she also noticed the direct correlation between the lack of inclusive design education and how it led to mediocre plus-size offerings and, in some cases, no offerings. For swimwear bookings, Taylor modeled dated and modest suits made of polluting fabrics. For her UC senior capstone project, she designed swimwear that was everything she didn't see on the market - luxe, size-inclusive, sustainable, and timeless. With the overwhelming positive feedback from the collection, Taylor launched Nomads Swimwear right out of college.
Driven by Taylor's creativity and entrepreneurial spirit, Nomads Swimwear has quickly become a standout brand in the size-inclusive swim space. Since its launch in July 2020, the brand has been featured by prestigious publications such as Forbes, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and Business Insider. Its luxurious pieces and unique design aesthetic have caught the eye of major retailers like Anthropologie and Shopbop and set a new standard for size-inclusive, sustainable fashion. Nomads' pieces, made in small batches using cutting-edge biodegradable and compostable fabrics, have received widespread acclaim. Taylor's accolades include landing a spot in Andreessen Horowitz's coveted A16Z Talent X Opportunity accelerator and the LinkedIn accelerator program, the AMEX100for100 program, and receiving numerous grants. Currently, Taylor is raising a $500K friends, family, and angel round to expand Nomads' reach and impact further.