I’ve known Oleema since she had a swimwear line that she started in her garage, which was over a decade ago! We met through our then boyfriends who were bff surfing buddies and our relationship has grown into a best friendship for which I am so grateful. I am so proud of how Oleema has grown her brand, MIKOH Swimwear, to be one of the best, most coveted piece(s) of swim in every stylish girl’s closet, purchased her dream home on the oceanfront of the North Shore, and has traveled the world, a dream of hers I remember her telling me long before it happened. She has a zest for life that we like to call “Yolo-ing” and that applies to her shopping habits, travel habits and anything that adds to her enjoyment. I am so pleased to share her with you today as she embodies the Art of Being Female. She is a great friend, a loving partner, a beautiful daughter and sister and if she loves her children even a fraction of the amount she loves her dog, Panda, she will put most to shame. See below for more on one of my personal favorite females… Oleema. <3
What does The Art of Being Female mean to you when it comes to business?
The Art of Being Female means doing everything with a feminine twist. Femininity does not necessarily mean having your hair done perfectly or wearing a perfect outfit or having a full face of makeup, it means being a strong woman, being direct, – feeling, acting and believing that you are an equal. It also means doing everything with grace, eloquence and confidence.
How does it feel to be celebrating over TEN YEARS in business?
It has been the most rewarding experience to have over a decade fulfilling my dreams as a business owner while traveling the world, building relationships, and most importantly, having fun along the way. To be able to accomplish what I have all by the age of 30 is a true nod to the determination that was instilled in me since the day I was born.
Tell us your path to becoming a business owner..
We grew up in a beach town of San Clemente, California with the ocean in our backyard. Surfing, the beach and bikinis were a part of our everyday life. My sisters and I surfed for Roxy for 10 years and I definitely learned incredible amounts about the swimwear industry over that decade. From a young age we attended photo shoots, trade shows, traveled and learned the ins and outs of the surf industry. This taught me not only about business, but the importance of relationships, learning to ask for help and the incredible lifestyle that owning my own business would give me.
When I was graduating high school, I knew that I wanted to have a business of my own. I never quite liked the idea of having a boss and knew from a very young age that I would be my own boss one day. When getting ready to graduate, I knew I wanted to start my own business. My sister at the time, was enrolled at UCSB studying communications and I asked her if she wanted to start MIKOH alongside me. It was then that MIKOH was born.
Did you ever have anyone along the road encourage you to be entrepreneurial? Teachers, family members, friends?
The most influential people in my life and in my business have always been my parents. My dad has owned his company for over 35 years and my mom has been his right hand woman since the day that they met. They have been the most encouraging, supportive and loving parents that I could have ever imagined. It is because of them that I was able to start a business, have the courage to go out on my own and to do it with grace, confidence and a strong sense of self. They instilled in both myself and my siblings the confidence to always believe in ourselves and that we could accomplish anything. I owe everything I have to them and will be forever grateful for the life that they have given me and have taught me to give myself.
What made you want to partner with your sister?
My sister, Kalani, has been my best friend since the day I was born. We are only 18 months apart and have grown up more like twins rather than sisters. The age old saying goes don’t mix business with family, but this couldn’t be more untrue when it comes to my sister and I. My sister first and foremost is my family and then my best friend and then my partner in business. I know that I can always count on her and count on family when everything else fails. She is determined like me and has always been supportive even when I have some crazy idea. She honestly is one of the most important people in the entire world to me and I love nothing more than creating this business alongside her.
Tell me about growing up in Orange County and growing up in the water?
Orange County is very different now than when I grew up. San Clemente was a lot smaller and much more simple back then and the roots of the town were at the beach and surfing. There weren’t the same restaurants, shopping, resorts and development that are here today. We literally grew up in bikinis right across the street from the beach and spent our entire summers in the ocean. Our dad has been a surfer since the 70’s and taught us to surf when we were just babies. Our small beach community was loving, open minded and our neighbors were more like family. It was the best place to grow up and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Surfing was such a big part of our life growing up and has definitely played a huge role in MIKOH today.
What personality traits do you think make you a good business person?
I definitely think that my stubbornness, determination, drive and being humble is what makes me a good business person. I think never taking no for an answer, not letting failures get in my way and to always push onward, are true traits of a business person.
One of the most common questions that people ask me is what advice would I give to them if they wanted to start a business. I always answer that the thing that I believe has gotten me this far is to know when to ask for help. I always think that there’s somebody smarter, better, and more knowledgeable out there. If you are humble and willing to put yourself out there, you are able to have that same knowledge that the person has passed down to you.
What personality traits do you think make Kalani a good business person and how are you two different when it comes to your roles and running the business?
Kalani is definitely stubborn like me and between us two you really can’t say no haha. Kalani, like myself, also has a business instinct and drive for success that I definitely think we get from our parents. When it comes to MIKOH, I do all of the creative side while Kalani handles more of the production/business aspect. We compliment each other in so many ways and also give each other space to do our jobs.
Where do you derive inspiration?
I derive inspiration from everyday life. Fortunately for me, I travel nearly year-round and usually to places that you can’t help but be inspired by. The South Pacific has always been one of my greatest inspirations and if you have ever been there you would agree. I love the textiles, the colors of the landscapes, the variation of colors of sand, and the way that the ocean changes colors throughout the day. You can definitely see the colors in each of our palettes each season and how it is taken from nature and from my travels.
What does it feel like to have women obsess over your pieces? It obviously means that you make them feel really good and sexy in your suits… how do you keep it up?
I absolutely love what I do and making women feel not only beautiful but confident and sexy is truly the best part of my job. I think that because I still have this passion for design, for running a company and for truly creating something that can make women feel strong and amazing in what they’re wearing is what it is all about and is what always pushes me to move forward.
How hard is it to be innovative with inches of fabric each season?
Even though it’s been over a decade, I still have no shortage or struggle of coming up with new designs. MIKOH has evolved so much since our very first collection and I love the challenge of coming up with something fresh and new and innovative. I love the challenge of creating something that people haven’t seen or worn, all with a MIKOH touch.
How do you continually brave the vulnerability it requires to show your creations to the world?
I have learned that you are always going to have criticism and that you cannot make everyone happy. One of the most important lessons I have learned in the last 10 years of business is to never lose sight of who you are. Since day one I have designed for a confident, strong, adventurous, and fun girl and woman. The principles that MIKOH was built on are the foundation of what it is today.
Tell us about the “OUR MIKOH” campaign…
The “OUR MIKOH” campaign is by far the most sentimental, powerful, and meaningful campaign I have ever done. I took a group of babies, girls, and women and shot them in our suits on the beach in front of my home in Hawaii. Seeing these little babies, girls, teenagers, women, and grandmothers all in pieces that I had designed was beyond words. I could see and feel the confidence that all of these women felt and it literally brought me to tears. It was so important for me to take images of these real women, to tell a brief story about who they are, and to let their beauty shine through. These women are true examples of a MIKOH woman.
Many women have the misconception that MIKOH is only for perfect bodies with small chests and tight little rear ends… tell us about the WOMAN Collection.
Many people think that most swimwear lines nowadays are just for these young twenty-somethings that have not a care in the world. It was so important for me to create a line of swimwear that catered to every generation. We make suits for little girls all the way up to women in their 90s.
In a lot of ways, the collection has grown up as I have grown up and it was important to me to cater to the women that are my friends, family, and colleagues. I wanted to design and create pieces that make women of all shapes, sizes, and ages feel confident and beautiful while wearing our pieces.
Why do you love what you do?
I love that I get to create something that makes women feel confident and beautiful and powerful in who they are.
What advice would you give the younger you?
I would tell the younger me to keep on the path that felt right to me. I would tell myself to hold on to that confidence, to stay true to who I am and to feel the same gratitude I feel today for my parents. I would tell myself exactly what I told myself then and I am so grateful to be in the position to feel that way.
What is one thing you know for sure?
I know to always believe in yourself and that it is okay to be different and to not fit into a mold. I know that you can create whatever life that you want and that whatever you want to achieve, that you can with grace, finesse, and confidence and always be exactly who you are.
Photos and Video by: Tahnei Roy
www.mikoh.com