We had been working for a couple of years in St.Maarten and saving all our $ to go sailing again, we had a new boat we had bought very cheap at a boatyard auction but was in quite a state, so we had worked very hard to do her up.
Our baby was now 2 and the perfect age for sailing.
While we were sailing I was creating beaded jewelry in the colors of the Caribbean Sea, which I already had an obsession about. I used crystals, glass beads and LARIMAR which is the gem stone of the Caribbean, only found in Dominican Republic.
I had all the beads stored underneath the big navigation table, so I would lift that lid of the table up and all the beads were laid out in organized compartments.
My very good friend and old colleague at Billabong South Africa said to me "when are you going to stop fiddling around with these little things, and start your own clothing line?".....it was like an "aha moment" from Oprah, something I had seriously not previously thought about, even though I had 12 years of experience in the Fashion Industry by that time. Graduating Fashion School, then working in Australia, London, Alexandria, Egypt where I worked for a big clothing manufacturer, and then over 4 years as Head Designer for Billabong South Africa.
So I bought an old hand operated sewing machine from another yachtie, and started sewing samples on the boat.
We put together our first sample line, and then scouted around the island on the dinghy, looking for cool places to take some photos. We found this rock stage in between 2 perfect palm tree's to take photos of me in various sarongs & name dropped tee's.
It was always a bit difficult to keep the 2 year old out of the photos though!
Funny now, looking back.... she was the special element in the photos!
Nowadays the samples are made in the factory, and our photos are shot by a professional photograher, but we are still on island time and my sister Amy and her island friends model the line.
Times have changed and we have grown, but we can still be found in the most tiny of island boutiques, anywhere from Nevis to Maine to Kaui.
Check out our store locator to find a store near you! #islandsmiles #islandtime
4 comments
Just received my first order, the navy starfish tunic. I absolutely love it!! I’ll be ordering the aqua soon! Thank you for the bikini bag & key chain gift. What a great surprise!! The key chain is now on my keys. I’m recovering from a fractured knee cap & shattered elbow. Reading about your company is great therapy for me. I adore the beach. Merry Christmas happy holiday season! Rocki
LOVE seeing your new creations and still are enjoying the past pieces I have …
LOVE to receive your photos with adventure stories and updates. All of you are so cute and know the importance of family, friends, lifestyle and work.
Please keep posting!
I live on a small island in the Bahamas almost year round and was looking for some nice light weight tops when a friend of mine had one of your on. My husband was in FL so I looked to see if there was anything on Amazon under West Indies and I found your Star Fish top so I had 3 days to get 2 delivered to my house in Fl so he could bring them to me in Long Island.
When I asked him if they came he said yes but you didn’t pay $45 for these flimsy tops did you :), so I told a little white lie until I had a chance to see them. So now I have my 2 star fish tops and love them, the fit, the feel I can where year round and the quality is worth the money ! I fessed up to him that yes I paid $45 a top but after he got to see the product on and realized it was not just a baggie shirt I got his approval too.
Cant wait to add more of your collection to my closet.
Robin
Having worked with you in St Martin – I know all of this lol ?. Having now bought 3 tops from you I am really impressed with the fit, material and wonderfully bright patterns.
I do rather miss playing in the water ? with the wonderful Maya and listening to her giggle in the sunshine.
Great to see you doing so very well Kim.
Donna