WE ARE EXCITED TO SHARE THIS FEATURE, NOW LIVE ON ELLE.COM, FEATURING OLEEMA AND KALANI AS PART OF THE “This Woman’s Work” series- is an ongoing series meant to show how women in different industries are living their lives.
THANK YOU RUTHIE FRIEDLANDER FOR INCLUDING US IN THIS AMAZING GROUP OF WORKING WOMEN. WE COULDN’T BE MORE HAPPY TO SHARE A GLIMPSE INTO OUR LIVES BEHIND THE SCENES OF MIKOH.
X
OLEEMA AND KALANI
Working women get all sorts of advice. Lean in, lean out, ask for a raise, but don’t ask in the wrong way, be aggressive, but not too aggressive. We’re also told to make sure not to forget about our personal lives, lest we end up foregoing families or love or travel or friendship in service of our careers. It’s confusing and maddening, and we’re all still struggling to figure it out.
“This Woman’s Work” is an ongoing series meant to show how women in different industries are living their lives. We hope to show that there’s no one “right” way to succeed. There are so many ways, and so many different experiences. Today we’re talking to sisters Oleema and Kalani Miller, co-founders of Mikoh, the super sexy, fashion-forward swimsuit line.
Describe a typical workday.
Oleema: Well, that’s the best part [of the job]. No one day is ever the same as the next. I’m pretty much traveling year round. I’m more of a morning person than a night owl. At the old age of 26, I go to bed at 10 P.M. I’m not a big party girl. I like to wake up early and if I’m at home, I’ll take my dog for a walk and get a coffee. I try to get outside in the morning. I think that’s a good way to start your day—to do something active in the sunshine. From there, I try to go on my computer and get as much work done as possible.
Kalani: Even though I’m on the business side of things, Oleema and I lead a very similar lifestyle. I wake up and drink a cup of hot green tea or hot water with lemon. I love to go outside—every single morning I go out on the beach, and I jump in the ocean or the pool, and then I get on my computer. I think I spend more time on my computer than Oleema. Oleema spends more time finding inspiration and sketching. But we’re both very active.
O: We definitely are doing things the unconventional way, which keeps it fun and keeps it true to who we are.
What were you doing before you came up with the idea for Mikoh?
O: We grew up in Orange County with the ocean as our backyard. We lived the quintessential Southern California lifestyle, so from day one we were always in bikinis, going to the beach every single day with our family. We started traveling from a really young age. After high school I knew I was definitely not going to take the conventional route of going to college. It was kind of a natural progression for me to go from wearing bikinis every day to creating them.
Was there one moment where you said to each other, “This is it! Let’s make this a company?”
O: [The idea] came to life when I was traveling through Europe and Kalani was studying business at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With a deep love for travel and having grown up at the beach, I had a moment of realization that there might be a way to translate the lifestyle I loved (and was leading) into a profitable business. Since I was so passionate about this lifestyle, I thought others might be too. I remember calling Kalani at home, presenting the idea to her, and hearing her say, “When can we start?”
K: We were fortunate enough to have a supportive family that has helped us every step of the way. We raised the money internally to start the company, and although they always say not to mix business and family, we found that we couldn’t have achieved our success without their love and support.
How did you learn how to design?
O: Both of my parents are designers in their own right. My father is a landscape architect and my mother went to school for interior design. When I was young, I started to sew for fun, and have been playing with fabrics and materials for as long as I can remember. My learning to design couldn’t be less formal, actually. I’ve never taken a course or a class; I taught myself. I loved the challenge of figuring out the best way to bring my design ideas to life. Throughout the years, I developed a strong working relationship with our manufacturer and we work hand in hand.
Was there ever a time you felt you were treated differently than your male counterparts or colleagues? Maybe when raising money for the brand?
K: It’s more that we’re young and Asian [than female]. We look like we’re 12 years old. People are more surprised that it’s two young, successful women that started the brand.
O: Yeah. At first glance, they probably underestimate us because we’re, like, 5’2”, tiny, Asian, literally can be mistaken for being underage when we fly. People think we’ll be very well-versed in fashion or aesthetics, but I think once they’re able to see us from a business perspective, they’re more taken aback. But it’s better that way. The element of surprise is always good.
What do you do to stay healthy?
O: What’s most important to us is being outside. Even right now, it’s kind of gray and overcast in California, but we’re still outside doing things. Our mom always said, “Just get outside and get some sun.” And it couldn’t be more true. Even if you’re in New York and it’s snowing, it’s important to get fresh air. I love doing Pilates. If I’m traveling in Hawaii I try to surf or go on walks on the beach. Being mindful of the different elements around you and choosing the better option whenever you can is very important.
K: For me it’s being mindful and aware of what you’re eating, but it’s also about having fun. If you want to have that piece of cake, eat that piece of cake!
O: It has to be a combination of things that leads to a healthy lifestyle. You can’t just do one thing and then go out and get drunk every single night. It’s has to be combination of everything.
K: I also don’t ever leave the house without putting sunscreen on my face, even if it’s cloudy. I really don’t want to get wrinkles. I think the best think you can do for your skin is to drink a lot of water.
O: I always put sunscreen on. One our friends started a sunscreen company called Shade Sunscreenthat’s really good. We like it because it has more of a matte finish and doesn’t leave that oily, thick residue. Also, pretty much rain or shine, I wear Bobbi Brown BB Cream, which I love.
What advice would you give someone who wanted to have your job someday?
O: Be humble—I definitely don’t know everything! Every moment I’m learning something new. Be humble and truthful and when you need help, ask for it. Always be gracious and grateful to whoever is helping you.
K: Mine is pretty simple: Just do what you love.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE