It has now been forty-seven years since my family and I emigrated to the United States, arriving during the height of the American hostage crisis. As Jews fleeing Iran, we were often grouped together with other Iranians and viewed as unwelcome intruders, despite the fact that we were genuinely seeking refuge on American shores. We were thoroughly vetted, required to demonstrate financial stability through U.S. bank accounts, and sponsored by an American citizen. In many ways, we were blessed to enter the United States as non-refugees—yet our journey was still marked by scrutiny, resilience, and profound gratitude for the opportunity to rebuild our lives.

I pray for brighter days ahead for all Iranians. May the long suffering and oppression of the Shia Islam regime finally lift, and may peace, dignity, and freedom-Azadi prevail in Iran—and, in turn, bring healing and stability to the world at large. 

Today’s world is filled with pressure to look a certain way. Social media, fashion trends, and unrealistic beauty standards often leave people feeling inadequate. This mindset traces back to Greek ideals of the “perfect body.”

Judaism, however, teaches a very different perspective.
In Jewish tradition, the body is a sacred gift from G-d. It has meaning and purpose far beyond appearance. Judaism teaches that the physical world—including our bodies—can be elevated and used for something holy. Caring for our bodies is not about vanity; it is a mitzvah. Nourishing ourselves with healthy food, staying active, maintaining good hygiene, and choosing modest clothing are all ways to honor G-d’s gift. 

The Spiritual Purpose of Modest Clothing

Modesty in Judaism is not about hiding the body—it is about respecting it.
Wearing modest clothing allows us to present ourselves with dignity, confidence, and intention. It supports a mindset of self-worth that comes from within, not from external approval.

This belief is at the heart of Aqua Modesta. Our modest swimwear and modest activewear are designed to help women feel comfortable, confident, and beautifully covered while living active, joyful lives. Modest fashion can empower us to celebrate our bodies not as objects, but as vessels for purpose and goodness.

Hanukkah: A Time to Celebrate Light, Strength, and Inner Beauty

Hanukkah reminds us of the victory of spiritual light over physical power. The Maccabees fought against a culture that valued physical beauty and strength above all else. Their triumph symbolizes the strength of faith, holiness, Jewish identity, and inner purpose.

As we light the candles this year, we can reflect on how we treat our bodies and the values we want to carry into the new year:

• Honor your body as a sacred gift

• Embrace modesty as empowerment, not restriction

• Choose clothing that reflects dignity and self-respect

• Celebrate beauty that comes from purpose, confidence, and faith

May this Hanukkah bring you warmth, clarity, and a renewed appreciation for the incredible body and soul G-d has blessed you with.

Wishing you a bright, meaningful, and beautiful Hanukkah from Aqua Modesta.

Stay tuned for exciting additions to our swimwear line, with new styles joining our extensive Aqua Modesta modest swimwear collection. Proudly manufactured in the USA, our swimwear and sportswear are crafted using premium fabrics for unparalleled comfort and durability.

Aqua Modesta swimwear features UV ratings of 50 plus and boasts a four-way stretch for optimal movement in the water. Our activewear line utilizes moisture-wicking fabric, ensuring you can engage in sports activities with ease and comfort.

Explore our exclusive swimwear prints and be sure to check out our stylish beach totes designed to complement our swimwear collection. Keep an eye out for new prints and solid colors added to our hair-covering pretied style A to perfectly match our swimwear line.

Indulge in our exquisite hand-crafted jewelry, each piece lovingly created by our head designer, Regine. Customized designs are also available, so stay tuned for new releases coming soon, BH.

Connect with us on social media and subscribe to our email list for exclusive sales and coupons throughout the year. Discover fantastic deals on our outlet page, featuring ladies' and girls' swimwear year-round. Gift certificates of various denominations are offered via the resources tab, with customized certificates available upon request.

Explore our engaging blogs for insights and updates, and don't miss Regine M. Tessone's memoir, available for purchase on our website. If you'd like a signed copy, simply drop us a note at checkout.

We value your feedback and are always striving to improve. Feel free to reach out to us by phone or email with any suggestions or inquiries. Explore opportunities to join our team, with positions available in both sales and administration. Interns are welcome, and if you're interested in hosting a trunk show in your community, we'd love to hear from you.

For wholesale or camp orders, please contact Regine at AquaModesta@gmail.com or call 718-810-2422.

Thank you for choosing Aqua Modesta. We look forward to serving you with excellence in modest fashion.

"I feel so dressed up," says the walk-in customer at our showroom in Brooklyn. "Well, that's the idea," I respond. To look dressed yet gorgeous at the beach". "I can go out in this outfit," she continues. Of course, you can. That is why, in Hebrew, the name for a swimsuit is בגד- יום, clothing for the beach. The beach or pool is usually an outdoor place, a public space where modesty and dressing up are required. When did undressing in such a public place become the norm? In visiting our showroom, you will learn through our research just when that transformation began.

"How did you ever come up with this idea? She asks. "It's brilliant!" She says she will proceed to purchase a few. The idea is from Hashem, the master and first clothing designer. It is written in Genesis that Hashem fashions a covering for Adam and Eve from leather to cover their bodies. That occurred after Adam And Eve ate fruits from the Tree of Knowledge and realized they were naked. They felt shame. Therefore, Hashem, in his infinite mercy, creates clothing for them. Designing clothing and dressing people is a genuine act of kindness. 

I loved designing, and now that I was growing more observant, I needed something modest to wear while swimming. I realized dressing half-naked was no longer a solution but a problem for me. Studying the Torah and performing mitzvot taught me how to make that change. The desire was there; therefore, the answer would surely come my way. I saw myself swimming in the ocean in this swim dress night after night in my dreams. 

That began the Aqua Modesta modest swimwear idea: planning and research. The follow-up was all with super divine intervention. As with many great ideas, there were many obstacles along the way. With grit and perseverance, any idea can come to fruition. I thank my master G-D for giving me the idea and abilities to produce and sell Aqua Modesta modest swimwear and sportswear. I feel truly blessed to partake in the lofty mitzvah of dressing women and girls modestly from all walks of life, irrespective of religion. 

Today, more than at any other time in history, modesty is greatly challenged by society that promotes nakedness or near nakedness. Humility begins with the clothing we adorn on our bodies but does not end there. It must go hand in hand with our thoughts, speech, actions, and attitude towards ourselves and others. In doing so, we will achieve being a genuinely modest woman. This blog is dedicated to all the truly modest-dressing and humble women and girls I have met in my lifetime.

Aqua Modesta, the original modest swimwear for ladies and girls, has revolutionized the clothing industry. It was all so overwhelming at first. As my lawyer put it, no business had gone through as much trouble in their first year as ours had. My Rabbi explained that anything significant will have many obstacles before fruition. Ours did enough to fill up the pages of a great read as I entered my first store to sell to, being mocked and laughed at by the woman buyer for creating this modest line. I told the buyer of this store in Boro Park, NY, that if they did not wish to carry the line, I would go direct to their customers and sell to them. They replied mockingly: "How can you be so sure that it will sell?". I replied:" Any idea from G-D is bound to succeed." They replied: "Because I was so audacious, they would give me an initial order, and if it sold a year from that date, the line would be copied by them. I took my chances and replied: "The entire line will sell, but should they decide to copy it, they would not succeed as the idea did not come to them but to me." 

Indeed, they did sell through that season, but when they attempted to copy and sell it, they failed the following year. Throughout it all, I felt G-D's divine providence. My creator overpowered obstacles by obstacles and cleared the path for me to do his work. Although I was an experienced designer, my business acumen was all too fresh. Being somewhat naive did not serve me, and I had to quickly learn the business side of fashion. I am immensely grateful to G-D for giving me the idea of designing a modest swimwear line for ladies and girls. 

Where would any of us be without gratitude? Throughout all these years, I witnessed big and small miracles daily in my professional and personal life. I cannot thank G-D enough and the customers who have supported me. The customers ranged from all ages, who graciously tried and enjoyed a new line of fashion they had never heard of before. I thank all those behind the scenes, the factory owners, sewists, pattern makers, graders, and fabric suppliers, for giving me their time, patience, hard work, and much guidance over the years. Thank you for making Aqua Modesta the brand name trusted and loved in modest swimwear and sportswear. 

As our line is produced in the USA, I have come to know some of the finest and hardest-working people in the fashion industry. Contributing to the country where I grew up and received my education gives me deep pleasure and satisfaction. Aqua Modesta has allowed me to serve so many of G-D's children and elevate them by dressing them modestly at beaches, pools, camps, cruises, and anywhere they went for a swim. It was the highlight of my design career, combining my love of Judaism and fashion into this incredible, unique line—an idea whose time had come. I hope to continue to serve you and create more styles for you to enjoy in all water activities and sports for many more years!

The end use of the fabric is critical to its selection. For example, at Aqua Modesta, we design modest swimwear. Swimwear has to be light, Quick drying, and non-absorbent, and it must protect you from the intense UV rays of sunlight. We live in an era where swimwear fabric can be top quality. We use four-way stretch UV-rated 50-plus swimwear fabric only. Recently, a customer showed me a swim skirt from a "swimwear" company that uses 53 percent polyester as the main fabric in its swimwear line. Polyester is not a swimwear fabric. It does not function well in chlorinated waters and does not have the non-absorbancy and stretch required in swimwear. Polyester lends itself to pilling as well. It is the ideal fabric for a less expensive lining in menswear suits. Years ago, menswear used silk lining for custom-made suits, rendering it more pricey. Today, nearly all men's cases use polyester as a liner. There are undergarments, dresses, skirts, and tops used in ladies ready to wear made of polyester because it is among the cheapest fabrics on the market. Any fashion that is designed of high quality will never use polyester.

Authentic swimwear fabric is made mostly of nylon and, for the stretch, must have spandex in it. Spandex is the trade name for lycra thread or elastane, a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. There are swimwear fabrics that have two-way stretch as opposed to four-way stretch when swimming. Two-way stretch restricts the body's movement in the water. Aqua Modesta's materials are 80 percent nylon and 20 percent spandex. They are all made of four-way stretch fabric for maximum movement in water. All authentic swimwear fabrics have a UV protection of 50 plus. Beware of swimwear made with too much spandex or lycra content, as it will be short-lived.

Please read the fabric content before you purchase swimwear. Do not be fooled by fake swimwear that is out there. Remember, quality swimwear will last you numerous seasons of enjoyable swimming time when washed correctly. At Aqua Modesta, we feel it is incumbent upon us to educate our customers regarding fabrics, sizes, and shapes that will suit you best for all your swimming needs. As the pioneers in modest swimwear, we take our responsibility quite seriously. We designed our line primarily to dress our ladies and girls genuinely humbly in all water-related activities. In addition, we offer them a quality fashion line that can last swim after swim for many seasons.

Remember that swimwear manufactured in the USA is also of higher quality than any overseas swimwear. The stitching designed in our swimwear line is made of threads that allow the seams to stretch as needed to ensure that the seams never fall apart while doing your water activities. Remember the end use for which you are buying the garment. If you desire to spend money on quality garments, read the fabric content before your purchase. It will make all the difference on whether you wasted your money or spent it wisely and received the value you paid for. 

Prints, when appropriately chosen, can be the most effective design tool. At times, the print will significantly enhance one’s shape or form. Our solid colors are rich and deep, trendy without compromising modesty. After thorough introspection, the next step is sketching the designs we intend to create and choosing the styles that will be made into patterns. Our expert patternmakers will then create an original way to make a sample. After ensuring all details are correct, they go into production at our factory in the USA. Swimwear made in the USA is of the very highest quality in craftsmanship and is made to last for more than just one season. We are very proud that our line contributes to this country. Being the pioneer in the modest swimwear industry and creating a unique string of modest swimwear gives me the utmost joy as a designer. Seeing the joyous faces of our satisfied customers gives me the ultimate high. B” H, I have been blessed to combine my love of modesty with my love of fashion for over a decade.

www.aquamodesta.com

Most people refer to humility as discretion in dress.

Some say it means humble.

Some say modesty is as important in behavior and speech as in dress codes.

I believe it is all of the above. I want to tell you how I became more modest in the abovementioned ways—a process that has taken more than a decade and which I am currently undertaking. As a Fashion Institute of Technology student, I was taught to design fashion for women by accentuating all feminine parts. This is the opposite of what I do today: to shed light away from all feminine aspects yet allow the fashion to remain feminine; not so easy. My journey towards modest dressing began when I was working as a childrenswear designer in the famous 112 building on West 34th Street in New York City. On my lunch break, I would go down to what was then Woolworths and look for ideas to make my appliqués and embroideries by viewing gift wrappings and greeting cards. On one such occasion, as I looked over the greeting card section, an elderly woman approached me and said: “You look like a nice Jewish girl; can you help me pick out a Bat Mitzvah card.” I looked at what I was wearing and wondered how she figured I was Jewish. I was wearing a tight pair of jeans with not such a modest top, and I had long hair that was permed. Most people took me for an Indian or Spanish girl. It had never bothered me that they did so, either. But that day, what she said made me wonder, “Is this how a nice Jewish girl dresses?” I helped her pick out a card, and she thanked me profusely. I should have thanked her profusely, for here began my journey back to becoming a nice Jewish girl.

From that day on, I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology library and researched the dress codes worn by Jewish women throughout the centuries. Indeed, it was most fascinating. I noticed that, throughout the centuries, as fashion changed, so did we. For most of the centuries, Jewish women and women in general dressed very elegantly, following the standards dictated to them by designers throughout time. For most of those centuries, modesty was a non-issue as the fashion of the time was relatively modest. However, in the middle of our last century, the 60s and there-after, “ready to wear” became most immodest. What has happened to the Jewish woman? Well, she continued to follow the standards of her day; however, she was now at odds with who she was and with her values as a Jew. I remember thinking,” Well, the only modest clothing is in Boro Park, NY.” That was not the look I was searching for. I began the painstaking task of shopping in a popular department. Stores for pieces of fashion here and there and modifying them by adding fabric to a short skirt or a sweater to a dress that revealed too much, etc. It was not easy, but doable.

For me, the concept of the hair covering was most natural, so I started wearing skirts. I always drew my “fashion models” with hats as a child. I adore hats and hair coverings, so it is a no-brainer for me to wear one. My most difficult challenge when dressing modestly was with swimwear. I was an avid swimmer, and giving that up was not an option. I returned to FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) and researched swimwearat the library. That marked the beginning of the most fascinating research I have done today. I could not believe my eyes. Right here in the U.S., at the beginning of the 20th century, women would go with wagons up to the shoreline, undress inside the wagons, down to their cotton petticoats under their long dresses, and then enter the water. They then took a swim or dip and returned to the wagons to head home. The drawings showed the women drooping in their petticoats, soaked with water, which I believe was most uncomfortable and impractical.

As time progressed, in the late1940′s and early 50s, synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon hit the market. The swimwear industry was born. Companies no longer had to use cotton, which was expensive and took too long to dry. Now, they could use polyester and nylon. Swimwear soon became highly immodest for its day. It consisted of a top with an attached skirt, albeit mini. The women wore the most adorable swim caps made of rubber with them as well. As spandex hit the swimwear market, fashion continued to evolve, and swimwear became increasingly revealing. In the 60′s and 70′s, swimwear became available in two pieces: “The bikini was born.” Today, we have the string bikini, and frankly, I do not understand why anyone would spend so much money on such little material.

When I designed my line of Aqua Modesta Swimwear, I did it mainly because” I needed one.” As time went by, I realized how necessary the idea of modest swimwear was. Baruch Hashem, I have been truly blessed to meet so many incredible women and girls due to the creation of this line. Jewish women today are seeking to grow religiously, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. They are bright, fit, fashionable, and have much “savoir-faire”(know-how). I dedicate my line to all these women who are constantly growing and working on improving themselves and their families. IYH”, through observing modesty and performing kind acts, we will bring redemption speedily in our days, amen!

http://aquamodesta.com/

In our fashion illustration class, we learned that the best way to draw a fashion figure is to extend the legs to be way longer than they are. From day one, we learned that to enhance the woman’s body, we must begin to change it. Next, we learned to illustrate her with a much smaller waist than humanly possible. We were told the hips and shoulders should be similar in width. If the shoulders are sketched at one angle, the hips shall be drawn in the reverse direction, giving the illustration much attitude. The arms, too, had to be elongated and thin. There was little difference between the upper arm and lower arm in terms of width. The arms always had to reach slightly below the hip line of the woman we drew. The hands had to be thin with long and slender fingers. 

We then learned to draw the ankle and feet much more delicately and extended proportionately to the illustration. The face had to be on a small, perfectly shaped oval head with large thick lips, perfect almond-shaped eyes, and a small upturned nose. The ears, too, must be drawn small and flat to the face, preferably covered by thick, long hair. As for the neck, it, too, had to be extended. All that they taught us was very correct. It did make the fashion model on paper genuinely outstanding and beautiful. 

However, it was far from portraying what real women look like. As students, we were taught well. As a young lady, I understood that it was only a fashion illustration and not an actual view of what women should or do look like. I hope that young girls and women today can understand that difference. Just like an author will write a fiction book based on a true story, we also draw women’s bodies as fiction based on a true story. However, some women today make their best effort to look like fashion illustrations. It is their right to do so. I believe that each of us should make an effort to present ourselves in the best possible way outwardly with clothing and accessories as well as inwardly by improving our character, regardless of what designers and illustrators seem to dictate to us. http://aquamodesta.com/

Before my father passed on many years ago, he said, "One day, you will create a design that will be very successful and useful to many people." I dismissed it at the time as I thought all fathers think so highly of their daughters. I never imagined that he had foreseen what I was beginning to embark upon.

As a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, I was always immersed in design. I was growing in my observance of mitzvot and could not imagine giving up swimming as I always loved the water so much! It was also due to the simple fact that I needed one, and there was none in the market. The modest market lacked a garment that could be worn in water and look modest yet fashionable. Above all, the long cotton tee shirts they sold for swimming did not perform well in water. It was nothing short of a giant sponge. I proceeded to do some basic research at the Fashion Institute of Technology library as to what women wore in the days when modesty did matter. The study showed that women in the early 1900s wore their cotton petticoats into the water. The men would ride the wagon up to the shorefront. The women would undress down to their petticoats in the wagon. They exited the wagon, walked into the ocean, and swam. Afterward, they would return to the wagon soaking wet and go home.

Wool was incorporated as the fabric of choice among the first swimsuits designed in the day. I could not believe what I was reading. As the decades progressed and new fabrics came about, such as synthetic materials, women's suits became shorter and more revealing. I could not believe that modesty was disappearing from ladies' swimwear fashions with the advent of swimwear fabrics. I now knew I had a genuine mission to fulfill. To bring back modest swimwear fashion to women who needed one. I now realize that modest swimwear can only work if it incorporates the correct fabrics with the proper cut and style. (To view some of the research, visit our showroom in Brooklyn, NY).

Finally, I decided to go ahead and design one for myself. I purchased some swimwear fabric yardage, took it to a local pattern maker, and showed her the sketch of what I wanted the design to look like based on my dream. The first time I wore it at Belle Harbor Beach in Queens, NY, various women approached me and asked where I purchased it. I then told them I recently started designing and selling them. I gave them my phone number as I did not even have a business card, a website, or a production. Upon taking orders from them and various local stores in the N.Y. area, I began producing them at a local factory. The rest is history in the making. As the saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of all invention." With G-D as my partner, I knew I was bound for success! http://aquamodesta.com/