We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Trishelle Leacock a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Trishelle, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
I hope to create a brand that inspires people from not only my country of birth; Trinidad and Tobago but people around the world. I use my brand as a way to express my creativity and share my current life experiences in the hope that it resonates with persons who choose to shop the brand. One of my goals is that people shop not only because they love the product but also because the meaning behind each piece connects with them in some way.
Coming from a small island, I want to show that no matter where you’re from, it is definitely possible to expand your horizon outside of what you know and create something special.
I want this brand to be easily recognizable around the world.
Trishelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
At 22, Trinidad and Tobago-born, self-taught designer Trishelle Leacock founded Kaiso. Swim (formerly Reign.) during her last semester as a University of Miami track and field student-athlete. In 2018, she decided to step away from competing and began to work on designs inspired by her Island “gyal” upbringing, passion for creating, and love of swimwear. Her first collection, “Trouble,” was launched on July 14th, 2018, and now at 26, she has launched two more collections since the brand’s inception. The name Kaiso. Swim is an ode to her heritage and vision for the brand.
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Kaiso. Swim is Resort Wear inspired by the island lifestyle touched with the boldness & authenticity of the Caribbean aesthetic. We use vivid prints, clean-cut shapes & high-quality materials to make each swimsuit the perfect combination of luxury & comfort that flatters the body.
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The name Kaiso. Swim is rooted in the idea of continually breathing life into our stories/heritage through our pieces and also being inspired by the new generation who are now writing their own. When broken down, the word Kaiso means (Ka) Go (Iso) Forward, highlighting some of our central values: to continually grow, evolve, and innovate as a brand.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I initially had plans to go all the way with track and field. I wanted to be an Olympian, but God had other plans. During my time at the University of Miami, I faced many injuries-related challenges, so I eventually decided to step away from the track and get more involved with my communications major. I decided to take the leap and launch my brand at that time. It all happened within a short space of time, and in the same period, I was graduating. It was a very confusing time for me as I wasn’t sure if launching the brand would be the right decision, especially then when I wasn’t sure of my next move, but now that I am four years in, I believe the pivot was worth it even though I am still trying to figure things out.
Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?
I use Shopify to sell my merchandise. Pros- I can learn more about my customers
Very easy back end set up so creating and managing the store was quick
I am able to handle everything on my own and can reach out to customer service if I run into any issues
I was able to expand the store to ship worldwide
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kaisoswim.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaiso.swim/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaisoswim
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaisoswim
Image Credits
Head shot photo @Brandon_eyes Campaign Photos Tiona White @qunchd