Sometimes it’s all about the journey.
On a summer afternoon, I had the pleasure of interviewing Melinda Huff, designer & CEO of Mirame Swim. In the course of our interview, our conversation about her journey to becoming an entrepreneur reminded me of a trip I once took to Maui, Hawaii. I was told that when in Maui, I must make sure to take the road to Hana. I didn’t really understand what this meant but once en route I began to understand that the reason this is such a magical journey is not because of the final destination, but because of all the beautiful stops along the way.
As Huff shared her background story of how and why she started her company, her trajectory reminded me of this same meandering path and how each step along the way was a stepping stone paving the way to her success at entrepreneurship.
Now celebrating a decade of Mirame Swim, and coming out of the pandemic with a strong year of sales, Huff feels fortunate and confident about her brand. She felt the support of existing customers and new customers wanting to help female owned small businesses and hopes that the silver lining of coming out of the pandemic is that consumers will think twice about their money and where they spend it, making sure they can see what it really means to small businesses.
Huff credits her grandmothers with instilling the interest of sewing and design in her. Neither her Honduran or German grandmother spoke any English, but both knew how to sew and worked in the New York garment center. Huff recalls exactly the moment when the seed was planted in her head that she wanted to do something related to sewing or fashion. She was in 8th grade and sketching an idea of a dress she wanted to wear to her school dance. Huff’s German grandmother asked “Melin-chen,” her affectionate nickname for her granddaughter what she was sketching and two days later came over holding the actual dress that Huff had sketched. The fact that something could live in her mind and so quickly become a reality was the moment of empowerment and magic that started her on her long journey.
Listen to more of Melinda Huff’s story right here:
You can shop the brand at https://mirameswim.com/.
And just because we’re already in September, you may think, “who needs a swimsuit at the end of summer?” Well, the best part about many of Huff’s swimsuits is that they are part of what she calls her “beach to brunch” look, creating swimwear that is so versatile it can streamline women’s wardrobes. These one piece suits look chic on the beach, and can double as bodysuits to layer under jeans or a skirt for a casual look.
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