We were lucky to catch up with Lillian Garlick and Sarah Kowallik recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lillian and Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for Before Dawn Supply Co was born on a sailboat in Southeast Asia where my co-founder Sarah and I first met. Sarah is a notorious over-packer and I brought very minimal clothes for the month-long trip yet neither of us had exactly what we needed. We wanted one thing we could wear surfing, hiking, sailing, to a yoga class, or in town – something that was quick dry, breathable, and comfortable. When we couldn’t find anything in the market, we decided to make it ourselves.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Before Dawn creates versatile apparel designed to move seamlessly between land and water—so women can do more of what they love with fewer, better pieces. Our goal is to build a more intentional and sustainable future for activewear by designing quick-dry, breathable garments that work for sweating, stretching, or simply moving through everyday life. Our focus is on thoughtful design that reduces excess while enabling freedom of movement and lifestyle.

Tired of needing different clothes for every activity, we set out to create our first product – The Horizon Bodysuit. Designed for surfing, yoga, hiking, or wherever the day takes you, the bodysuit is multifunctional and minimizes the need for outfit changes. It’s made from buttery-soft recycled fabric so you never want to take it off and has tonal piping that accentuates natural curves, making it a flattering fit for every woman.

Sarah is a digital and brand designer, and I’ve spent the past 6 years designing clothes for active, swim, and lifestyle brands. We both bring unique perspectives to Before Dawn, and our backgrounds influence how we approach creating go-anywhere pieces.

Sarah spent five and half years living in a van, so she is very familiar with needing clothes to pull double duty. Growing up traveling, I understand the difficulty of packing what you need – whether its a day trip in the mountains or month-long sailing trip.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

We’re funding our first production run of the Horizon Bodysuit through a Kickstarter campaign. Crowdfunding felt like the right path because it allows us to stay true to our vision while testing market fit and producing only what’s needed. It’s a community-driven approach—our backers are part of the journey, not just the outcome. Unlike the traditional behind-closed-doors model, Kickstarter opens the process up and makes people feel invested in bringing the product to life. Avoiding excess materials and overproduction is central to our ethos, and this model keeps us aligned with that from day one.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Sarah and I first met aboard a 46-foot sailboat in Eastern Indonesia. We were complete strangers brought together by a mutual friend to explore Raja Ampat, a remote archipelago off the coast of West Papua. Sarah and I instantly bonded over our shared sense of adventure and go-with-the-flow spirit: the kind you need when the engine overheats, the captain gets really sick, and the trip takes an unexpected turn.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.beforedawnsupplyco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beforedawnsupplyco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579082466023

Image Credits

Jordyn Romero