Today we’d like to introduce you to Lana Stewart
Hi Lana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was a stay at home mom for 15 years and moved to Hawaii not knowing anyone. I had a lot of time on my hands while my kids were in school. I decided to start a website selling bikinis. I was selling there and decided to list my business on Google. As soon as I did that, people started asking for directions to my store. I did not have a physical location at the time. I started looking for places to rent around my town. I decided on a place at an outdoor marketplace and gave a deposit and moved in a few months later with $500 in inventory. Once I was situated there I decided to start my own eco-friendly brand. Being in Hawaii, a lot of people care about having an eco-friendly product. I researched a lot of different manufacturers and tried a few of them out. I decided on using a wonderful manufacturer in Brazil that had a new technology in the bikini world, a biodegradable yarn. After about a year of being at that location, I got an opportunity to move into an actual retail shop. I jumped on that and am so glad that I did. I have been at my retail location now for over 2 years and my brand is growing daily.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It most definetely has not been a smooth road. There is a lot of competiton in this market and as a brand with little to no capital to spend on advertising, it has been challenging. We are turning over all profits into new inventory and have been applying for as many grants as possible. We hope to be able to secure funding from grants to use for advertising and expanding our collection to offer more styles.
We’ve been impressed with Kona Kinis Swimwear, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded Kona Kinis Swimwear in May of 2020. We are a woman owned swimwear brand. We specialize in bikinis that are sustainable and eco-friendly. We are known for our super soft fabrics that are made of a biodegradable yarn. This is what sets us apart from most other bikini brands. We are proud to offer a sustainable solution to swimwear. Our swimwear is designed and produced with a focus on minimizing environmental impact and promoting ethical practices. Our Eco-Luxe line is made using Eco-friendly materials, mindful manufacturing processes, supports fair trade and social responsibility. We are most proud of our commitment to use less impact on the environment as well as the rational use of water. The water used for dyeing and printing our fabrics has been reused. We do not use potable water. We are also proud to offer a product that is certified to be safe for your skin. The Oeko-Tex® Class I seal certifies that our articles are free of products toxic to human skin. Our customers should know that We prioritize ethical manufacturing practices, ensuring safe working conditions and fair wages for the workers involved in the production process. All of our Swimwear in our ECO-LUXE line is made in Brazil, in a small family owned factory.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Finding a mentor has been extremely helpful in all stages of my business. Someone that has been in the industry for a long time has absolutely helped grow my brand. Networking and getting my brand out there in the public eye has worked well. Participating in Fashion Week shows, other runway shows, business networking events, trade shows, etc. has all helped me build my brand.
Pricing:
- Eco Luxe – $50-$60 per piece
- Paradise Collection – $30-$35 per piece
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.konakinis.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/konakinisofficial
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/konakinisswimwear
- Twitter: https://x.com/kona_kinis
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/konakinis
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/kona-kinis-swimwear-kailua-kona?osq=kona+kinis+swimwear
Image Credits
Larry Kam
Alexander Gurman
Rodrigo photography
VJB Films