NORTH HAWAII – From woolen one-pieces introduced in the 1920s to the first bikini in 1964, the shores of Hawaii have been the runway for the evolution of swimwear. Yet, while there are a wide variety of swimsuits today, three local swimwear businesses have loyal followings for their eye-catching designs on island and off.
Kalo Kini Swimwear is a pop up boutique on the Big Island, while Kelea Love Swimwear is a trendy store in Honokaa. Indigo Sage Swim is based in Waimea but sold exclusively online and through several local boutiques and trunk shows.
Mariah Toledo-Tavares, owner of Kalo Kini Swimwear, started her business in 2014, using her bikinis for both income and as a way to pay homage to her roots in Waipio.
“I grew up in Waipio Valley all my life as a taro farmer’s daughter,” Toledo-Tavares said. “I roamed the valley as a small girl and was always captivated by the natural beauty. I practically lived in a bikini while growing up, always swimming in the rivers and the ocean in Waipio.”
Paying respect to the world around you is something Indigo Sage owner and designer Taleah Smith wholeheartedly embodies.
“Ironically, my motivation to get into fashion was not so much that I love fashion but that it was a drive to create products that promote a healthier lifestyle and environment,” Smith said. “I suppose this is the fusion of my creative passion with my foundation in holistic health.”
According to Smith, the textile industry is the second largest environmental polluter in the world. This prompted her to begin Indigo Sage in 2010, one of the only swimwear businesses to partner with the Healthy Seas Initiative whose mission is to create healthier marine habitats by reclaiming fishing waste from the seas and recycling it into high-tech fiber. She uses an Italian fiber made from recycled fishing nets for her swimwear to keep them sustainable and environmentally conscious.
For Kelea Love Swimwear’s owner and designer, Leilani Salvador, the recent opening of her storefront in the heart of Honokaa has been much to celebrate. She created the business to satisfy her own desire for chic and versatile swimwear.
“Growing up on the beaches of Hawaii and spending most days surfing Waipio Valley, I could never find bikinis that were unique and stylish yet durable,” she said. “So, I decided to create and design bikinis based on one’s everyday lifestyle in Hawaii.”
The three designers have found resounding success. Cumulatively, they have sold more than 3,000 pieces to locals, visitors and international clientele since opening.
Customers of every age appreciate the hand-crafted designs, and items sell out quickly.
Kalo Kini’s signature Nicole style swimsuit – a full-piece with straps running along both sides – comes in a variety of designs, recently in a hand-drawn birds-of-paradise print.
The Kukio bikini bottoms from Indigo Sage feature a modern cheeky cut and a thin straps style with a high waist to give it a vintage appeal.
Kelea Love Swimwear’s online release of a full-piece Hiilawe swimsuit with a Kalo print sold out overnight.
The hours of the day that don’t go into constructing pieces by hand and managing their empires are spent raising children.
“The most rewarding part of this whole experience so far is being able to work from home and raise my baby girl,” Toledo-Tavares said, echoing the other owners’ appreciation for the flexibility and freedom granted by entrepreneurship. “This has become my sole passion in life and the rewards are overwhelming and awesome.”
For more information and a peek at the designs got to www.kalokini.com,www.kelealoveswimwear.com and www.indigosageswim.com.