A cozy Pacific Beach boutique with a unique, global vibe is proving that an independently owned San Diego fashion brand can compete on the international stage.
Tulux Resortwear, located on Cass Street, was selected among 14 other Latin American brands in May to present its latest collection at Espacio Vogue Miami: Runway Edition, a showcase produced through a partnership between Vogue México y Latinoamérica and Paraiso Miami Swim Week.
The luxury swimwear brand, founded in 2022 by Yamhed Torres, was featured alongside international labels including Elsie Méndez and Sandmade Swimwear.
“Being invited to present at Espacio Vogue during Miami Swim Week was deeply meaningful,” said Torres, 33. “Tulux is an independently built brand based in Pacific Beach, with production rooted in Mexico and materials connected to Latin American craftsmanship. To be selected for that kind of international platform made me feel proud, grateful and honestly a little surreal.”
Tulux operates in a growing global resortwear market that Custom Market Insights estimates is valued at nearly $26 billion and projects will reach more than $45 billion by 2034.
Tulux specializes in premium mix-and-match swimwear designed with molded cups, underwire support and adjustable tie-back details in cup sizes from A through DDD — a departure from the small-medium-large sizing common in swimwear. The specialized construction requires months of patternmaking, fitting and production before a collection reaches customers.
“One size fits all is usually not true, especially in swimwear,” Torres said. “The point is not to tell women they need to look a certain way to wear a bikini. It is to give them better tools to choose what feels supportive, sensual and authentic for them.”
Tulux’s curated color palette ranges from earthy nudes and neutrals to bold, shimmering fabrics. Signature swim tops sell for $159.99, while bottoms are priced at $109.99. Customers receive a discount when purchasing a matching set.
Beyond swimwear, Tulux curates resortwear and accessories sourced from artisans and manufacturers around the world. Clothing ranges from about $30 to $80, handcrafted espadrilles sell for $60 to $80, and handwoven necklaces retail for $59.
The road to business ownership
Torres was born in Galveston, Texas, but spent most of her formative years in Guadalajara, Mexico, where she says much of her cultural identity was shaped.
“Guadalajara gave me color, movement, family closeness, a love for beauty, celebration and the social energy of Mexico,” Torres said.
She said that San Diego, with its beach life, creativity, fitness, tourism and self-expression all existing together, beckoned her in 2020 and “gave me another important part of myself: a feeling of openness, coastal freedom and possibility.”
Pivoting after earning a degree in digital marketing and building a career in event planning, Torres opened the PB store in June 2025, three years after her earliest creative development for Tulux. Torres has grown the company without outside investors and still runs the constantly evolving business herself.
“That independence gives me creative control, but it also means growth can be slower and every investment has to be made carefully,” she said.
While Tulux does not yet have full-time employees, Torres works with freelance photographers, stylists, models and other creative professionals for fashion shows, marketing campaigns and special projects.
The Cass Street boutique, open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, was designed as an extension of the brand’s philosophy, emphasizing color, texture and an inviting shopping experience.
“I designed the boutique as a place that feels more like entering a small world than walking into a standard store,” Torres said.
Trust and the future
Torres recalls a customer preparing for a trip to Egypt, hesitating before purchasing a shimmering, mirror-detailed dress.
“She trusted herself, bought it, and later sent me a message saying that people complimented her outfit constantly and that the photos turned out beautifully,” Torres said.
Torres said she is moving toward Tulux, growing into a stronger resortwear and fashion label with a sustainable foundation and a clearer international presence.
“Swimwear will always be central, but I also see dresses, elevated beachwear, pieces for beach weddings, vacations, events and other moments when women want to feel expressive and memorable,” Torres said.
Torres said plans are in the works to expand Tulux’s swimwear line with one-piece suits, triangle bikinis and trikinis, and hinted at future exploration of retail partnerships and locations, potentially in Mexico or Europe.
“I do think about expansion, but I do not want growth to come at the expense of the experience or the quality,” she said. “My immediate goal is to keep strengthening the Pacific Beach boutique.”
