Opening a popup swimwear store in one of Atlanta’s most upscale malls represented a surge of momentum for Tristan Davis’ high-end brand that began not on a beach or a runway, but in Kansas City’s tight-knit startup community.
The Atlas Swimwear pop-up at Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza mall; photo courtesy of Tristan Davis
“We’ve gone from an idea in a handmade bathing suit to a high fashion mall in less than a year,” said Davis, founder of Atlas Swimwear. “It’s pretty fast development for a brand, so I’m proud of that.”
The stint at Phipps Plaza in Atlanta was the first time customers could walk into a storefront location, feel the material and walk out with a pair of Atlas trunks, he said. On the heels of his debut appearance this fall at Kansas City’s 1 Million Cups meetup, the entrepreneur called it a meaningful step for a company that started with a traveler, a suitcase full of disappointing swimwear and a willingness to learn something new. Davis spent five years traveling the world, eventually visiting more than 105 countries. Most days were spent in a bathing suit, and over time, frustration grew, he recalled.
“They were really boring, they were uncomfortable,” Davis said. “I really needed better bathing suits in every way.”
Click here to follow Atlas Swimwear on Instagram.
As a young traveler constantly taking photos in beautiful places, he said, he felt ridiculous in subpar bathing suits, so he began sewing his own, adding details he wished already existed such as a comfortable lining, zipper pockets and patterns inspired by places he had visited.
Davis made about 10 pairs for himself, posted them online and immediately people wanted to know where to buy them, he recalled. Unsure whether the interest was real, he tested the market with a small runway show in Kansas.
When that show drew enthusiasm, he headed back to the Midwest to explore production more seriously.
“That reaction pushed me into the deep end of entrepreneurship,” said Davis.
Click here to follow Tristan Davis’ travels via his Tristan’s Expeditions account.
KC: The creative base
Davis’s connection to Kansas City stretches back to 2017 when he worked for a local startup called WiGo Trips. That’s where he met established founder Jaqui McCarthy, a Kansas City entrepreneur known for launching several ventures including a synthetic leather company.
Jaqui McCarthy and Tristan Davis in Kansas City’s West Bottoms; photo by Nicholas Segura
“When I started doing this, the first person I thought of was Jaqui,” he said. “She knows all about materials and how to get things made.”
Davis returned to Kansas City to work with McCarthy, who helped turn his handmade trunks into a manufacturable product. Together they sourced factories, refined materials and tested prototypes.
“That is what brought me out to Kansas City, essentially, the collaboration and the startup culture that already existed there,” he said.
KC founders also stepped in as informal product testers. They tried on early suits, pointed out issues and suggested improvements. Davis embraced every round of feedback.
“At this point, I think we have really perfected the men’s bathing suit,” he said. “There are so many utilitarian features, but not too many that it becomes bulky. It is a very streamlined, well fitting suit.”
Kansas City’s entrepreneurial scene gave him visibility and confidence. Davis presented at 1 Million Cups, entered pitch competitions and attended New2KC events while building early momentum.
“I was very quickly introduced to lots of entrepreneurs in Kansas City, so it has been a really good base,” he said.
Jaqui McCarthy and Tristan Davis stand with models Asantie McGaughy and Kai Kunz at Mosaic in Kansas City’s Power and Light District during media night for Kansas City Fashion Week; photo courtesy of KC Fashion Week
Playful luxury with a purpose
Atlas is positioned as attainable luxury with elevated design, intentional features and limited edition patterns at a price point below competitors.
“We are about half of what our competitors cost,” said Davis.
Though it is a luxury product, he said the brand aims to stay playful. Even the logo riffs on the Greek Titan who carries the world.
“It looks like me with a toga on,” he said. “It is like a silly little logo, but it is supposed to just be fun.”
Click here to shop Atlas Swimwear.
Most customers today are men between 28 and 55. Women’s wear will eventually come, Davis said, but not until the team has the resources to do it right.
“Women’s wear is on the horizon,” he said. “But we really focus on making the best men’s product on the market.”
Tristan Davis walks the runway during the Atlas Swimwear show during Kansas City Fashion Week; photo courtesy of Tristan Davis
Marathon days behind the counter
This fall has been one of the busiest stretches yet. After a runway show in Kansas City and events at Crossroads KC and Kansas City Fashion Week, Davis spent time traveling for startup gatherings from the U.S. to Mexico before returning home to prepare for the pop-up.
Inside the Atlas Swimwear pop-up at Atlanta’s Phipps Plaza mall; photo courtesy of Tristan Davis
The Phipps Plaza storefront came together at lightning speed, he added.
“From coming back to the US, putting on the runway show, creating the final product to manufacturing and opening the store, it all happened in about six months,” Davis said.
Funding remains the biggest hurdle, he said.
Davis self-funded Atlas until this fall when two investors came onboard. He aims to raise $350,000 to fuel rapid expansion through 2025, including more stores, fashion week activations, and trade shows.
Big dreams and bold moves
Tristan Davis, Atlas Swimwear
For 2026, Davis wants to host a Kansas City pop-up, finding ways to participate in FIFA World Cup activities and collaborate with local sports teams to expand Atlas’s KC and global footprint.
Beyond that, he wants permanent locations in Miami, Los Angeles or San Diego and eventually to make Atlas a brand people expect to see in major shopping districts.
“When people go to the mall, they know it is going to be there,” he said. “I do not think it is impossible. I think we can do it with the right budget.”
Entrepreneurship, he admitted, comes with periods of self doubt. “There is nothing you can do except keep going and hope the right people will find you,” said Davis.
