From Buyer to Designer: the Anna Diva success story

Mixing ready-to-wear, accessories, fabrics and jewelry in a single place, a match made in heaven for the founder of this Dutch shop. She told us about her journey from retail to creation.

“I have a bigger cup size, but that doesn't mean I have to wear boring styles” says Mariëlle van der Loo, founder of the lingerie and swimwear stores Anna Diva. First launched online 14 years ago, with the goal of offering creative lingerie to women with big cup sizes, she quickly expanded to owning three stores across the Netherlands, with loyal online customers as far as Belgium and Germany. And Mariëlle van der Loo has no intention of slowing down.

From buying to creating

« A few years ago, I realized that my customers were lacking a range of large-cup swimsuits with a younger, more fashionable edge.” So she used her expertise to launch a line of her own. And it paid off. Six collections later, Anna Diva – the brand, successfully made it through a health crisis and is beginning its second wholesale season.

Comfortable in both her parts, Mariëlle van der Loo switches from Who’s Next to Interfilière with brilliant ease. The buyer-turned-designer now alternates from sourcing jewelry and accessories for her stores, to sourcing fabrics and trimmings for her swimwear line. “Buying ready-made products starts with a commercial need refined by creative thinking. Creating a piece is the opposite: you first have to visualize the shape, the fabric, the color, the beads and charms, before thinking about the commercial aspect.”


An inspirational journey from Who’s Next to Interfilière and Bijorhca

We meet Mariëlle van der Loo at the end of a rather uncommon buying session, which took her from the colorful aisles of Who’s Next to the technical booths of Interfilière via Bijorhca’s beaded treasures, all within a single space. A lucky combination for someone like her, who navigates between the three, nurturing a 360° approach to design, retail and image. “I keep my mind open. I found pearls that inspire me both for the collection and for their colors, as well as an Indian supplier who makes nice bags for the beach.”


Her commitment remains the same as when she started: to offer women quality products for large cup sizes, and the opportunity to picture themselves in a creative universe where ideas thrive, and functionality never comes at the expense of creativity.

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