FASHTALKS WITH 3LL

How did starting 3LL compare to launching your mother brand, Daniella Batlle?

Our extensive industry knowledge and the ability to develop unique prints led us to create a more casual and approachable version of Latin resort-wear, offering a fresh concept with commercial value to the market. 

The brand offers ultra-feminine, versatile resort-wear that pulls inspiration and honors their Latin background at a more accessible price point. All 3LL pieces are consciously-crafted primarily with recycled polyester made from single-use plastic bottles, and digitally printed to avoid water waste.

When and why did you decide to start a separate brand from Daniella Batlle?

After seeing the great success of our occasion-wear mother brand, Daniella Batlle, we wanted to create a more casual, versatile, and approachable version of the same concept. 3LL designs for the globally mobile women who want to live in warm weather year-round and need soulful, uplifting, season-less pieces that make them feel uplifted in their everyday lives.

Since 2022, I took the role of Creative Director of this sustainable beachwear project. Behind the brand are my sister and me, two women full of passion for fashion, and an incredible team that seeks to deliver an innovative, ethical and feminine line. 

"We want our designs to make people feel beautiful at the beach and anywhere else."

What made you want to design resort-wear?

Our mother brand was born in Barranquilla, a coastal and tropical city in Colombia. Due to this location, there was a particular factor that led us to create our brands as we know them today. The Caribbean region has no seasons and the market demands tropical collections all year round.

Where do you find inspiration?

Mainly in Colombian nature. I've had the pleasure of knowing magical places in the country that have left me with a wonderful remembrance of diverse flora and fauna and has brought me closer to what I believe is one of my greatest passions: the love for nature. And with this I want to motivate the conservation of diverse ecosystems in Colombia, to call for activism in favor of this, and that more people around the world know & fall in love with the nature of our country.

What is your favorite part about designing resort-wear?

What I like the most is that the resort-wear category is constantly transforming and now we see it making inroads in scenarios where it did not inhabit before and where now there is a reinterpretation of it. So it opens an endless number of new perspectives as designers where we can experiment with different types of materials, silhouettes, textures, manual techniques, printing, and so on. At the moment I am working on a more practical proposal where the garments can be worn from the day to night & in cool/warm weathers.

What inspired you to name your brand?

My sister came up with the name, at the beginning she was designing both brands. Within her name, there are three double Ls (LL) DanieLLa BatLLe AbeLLo.

How would you describe the style of 3LL?

We believe in creating dynamic and functional styles that are exceptionally versatile to wear around the clock for different occasions and moods. 

"We design for spontaneous women who love to travel and are willing to be surprised by life."

Do you have a favorite piece that you have designed?

At the moment I am in love with a dress from the current collection, the "Sol" dress. It has several things that I like. The first, that it has an iconic element of inspiration (something we are going to do in every collection) which in this case is that of the sun seen in the back detail. The second is that it is a garment in a material (lycra) that suits many bodies, it is very versatile (depending on the styling it fits different occasions) and it is a very comfortable garment that does not sacrifice style.

What brand values are the most important for you?

3LL has established the following values with which it adheres consistently:

- CONSCIOUS EVOLUTION

We recognize how far we have to go as we progress towards sustainability. Still, we are committed to creating a better future for our planet and our community by engaging in sustainable practices and working towards becoming more transparent and ethical every day. For all of our pieces, 3LL uses recycled polyester made from single-use plastic bottles that are respun into reusable materials. And to avoid water waste, we use state-of-the-art digital printing methods to produce all of our unique designs.

- DESIGN ACTIVISM

Design activism is about using our talent as a designers to create a positive impact in the world. Design has the power to give a voice to people and causes and to offer alternative visions of how the world could be. In each collection, we contribute & support the needs of an environmental foundation thats related to the inspiration.

- CONFIDENCE

At 3LL, we believe that every woman should feel powerful and beautiful. Keeping in mind the array of body types and shapes that make a woman unique, we offer a range of versatile silhouettes which allow women to feel comfortable and confident throughout their day.

How does sustainability play a role in 3LL?

At 3LL, we care deeply about the environment and our community, and we are committed to creating a better future by engaging in sustainable practices and working towards becoming more transparent and ethical every day. Along this side, we also believe in practicing design activism, which has the power to give a voice to people and causes and to offer people alternative visions of how the world might be. In each collection, we contribute & support the needs of an environmental foundation that is related to the inspiration. Currently we are working with organizations from Colombia.

Each piece is carefully thought out down to the last detail and is manufactured locally in Colombia, in a fair trade environment. We work with small workshops that support and empower women heads of households. From the beginning, we have maintained ethical work and sourcing, and transparent practices. Our collections are locally made in Colombia using recycled polyester from single-use plastic bottles and digitally printed to avoid water waste.

What were some hurdles you had to overcome in your business?

I believe that the most critical moment for the company was during the pandemic, as we had to close our three physical stores and apart from having to endure being closed and still having to answer for our obligations we had to let go of our employees and rehire them under part-time contracts as we couldn’t financially support the operation. Those were very difficult days but they brought a lot of wisdom in relation to showing us that we should have a more flexible business model and understanding what elements were really critical to our business and thus debugging things that are not so important.

Could you elaborate more on how you incorporate design activism into your brand?

For 3LL, nature is our inspiration and what moves our hearts, so we feel that as a brand we have a responsibility towards its conservation. That is why as part of our philosophy we want to promote empathy and environmental/social activism recognizing the value of our individuality, as well as the power of our interconnection.

We are currently collaborating with environmental foundations in Colombia to raise funds for these organizations and generate citizen participation. For example, in the collection "Tierra de Agua" R24 we will promote with the funds raised the creation of a nursery of native plants for the reforestation of a nature reserve located in Chingaza. We will also promote the idea of "erasing" our carbon footprint by planting trees in this location with a holistic experience that includes yoga and temascal to to reconnect with ourselves and nature. We believe that more than raising funds it is important to live an experience in nature to connect with it and learn a little more about the work of each foundation and how each one can help the conservation of the planet.

Do you find it difficult to have a brand based in Bogota, Colombia? What are the perks versus the challenges?

The truth is that fortunately Colombia is located in a strategic place where it is very easy to ship to the U.S. We have an operation in Miami, which makes it even easier to manage (we have a company there with a boutique in Brickell City Centre and my sister is currently living there). On the contrary, I feel it is very beneficial to have the production in Colombia because of the value of the labor and the quality of the workmanship. We are a country that is growing enormously in our sector so we have an excellent level of specialized maquilas.

What do you envision for the future of 3LL?

Our mission is to create consciously-crafted resort-wear with a Latin flair for the modern woman who wants a versatile wardrobe that will make her feel the best version of herself. For the future of 3LL, we see ourselves continuing to care deeply about the environment and our community, and working towards becoming more sustainable, transparent, and inclusive.