Vrindy, Ramana & Kunti are the sisters behind cult swimwear and active label Lahana. Launching the concept out of need for unique swimwear that they couldn't find anywhere, the sisters went all in on not just creating a swimwear label but also a movement of empowered women, a judgement free community that encourages creativity and freedom from the normal.
Growing rapidly after their launch in 2015 the brand now has it's own active wear line and amassed a following of almost 600k followers on Instagram alone.
In this chat the sisters share their motivation for launching the brand, how they used Instagram to scale their business and the importance of confidence in who you are and what you do.
Q1: Hi ladies, welcome to the Woman Of Series! Can you tell us what it is you create?
In short, Swimwear and Activewear. But we are creating so much more than just a product; we are an empowering movement and tribe. Our strand is our brand.
Q2: What inspired you to start Lahana Swim?
A book actually inspired me to create Lahana. A book around manifestation.
The ‘Alchemist’ By Paulo Coelho. After reading this piece of art on a flight back from a snow trip, I felt super powerful. I returned back to Coolangatta on the Gold coast, super excited to get down to the beach. I was looking through my swimwear draw and was not happy with anything. I ran into my sisters (Co-Founder - Ramana’s) room and said, let’s start a swimwear label with unique cuts and tones. The market had not yet seen cheeky basics like the ones we were about to produce. She designed up the famous ‘Basic Bae’ set, and the rest is history.
Q3: How do you break the mould and create a point of difference with Lahana Swim?
How do you break the mould and create a point of difference with Lahana Swim?
At the time, there were only very generic swimwear companies around, Ripcurl, Billabong etc. We wanted to be wearing as teenagers living on the Gold Coast were super minimal yet bold pieces that were super cheeky pieces that worked with our bodies and turned some heads. We didn’t want the same prints and cuts every girl was wearing.
We also wanted to create an empowered tribe of woman that felt beautiful in our pieces. It was wild how that energy flowed through the screens and around the world. How we communicated via Instagram was unconventional for a company at the time. We would wake up and post things like ‘ Good morning, beautiful tribe, we hope your day is filled with little moments of magic, oh and here’s our cheeky new release.’ It was very personal and heartfelt.
Q4: What single tool or strategy have you found invaluable to your business so far?
What single tool or strategy have you found invaluable to your business so far?
INSTAGRAM, what a Godsend for small upcoming businesses. At the time we started Lahana, there weren’t even ‘Business’ accounts on the gram. However, we created a personal page and made our online presence on this app. A lot has changed since then; it’s still a massive part of our business. However, we have expanded and elevated in many ways since the beginning.
Q5: How does Lahana Swim relate to your personality and who you are?
How does Lahana Swim relate to your personality and who you are?
We are a family run business, and Lahana relates so closely to who we are!
Our stand truly is our brand. Lahana is all about empowering woman, uplifting and motivating our tribe. We get to express our creativeness and love for fashion through unique designs, jaw-dropping campaigns, and collaborating with exceptional minds. We have also linked up with some incredible grass-root organisations that are very close to our heart and the driving force behind a lot of what we do here!
Q6: What is your big hope and dream of your work?
We have reached a level we are super content and happy with. We love our team, our HQ etc. We just want to continue producing the best designs and making girls feel amazing. We do have something big in the pipeline we are unable to speak about just yet. However, it is around health and fitness!!
We also want to link closer to charities and organisations that are in alignment with our core values.
Q7: What is the last thing you read, listened or watched that inspired you, and how?
We are podcast Junkies here at Lahana. We cannot get enough. Our favourite channel for personal development, growth and business is ‘MIND VALLEY’ with Vishen Lakhiani.
Q8: What are your top 3 superpowers?
Confidence
Fearlessness
Stubborn optimist
Q9: We’re all about women inspiring women. Who inspires you?
A woman of significant influence is our absolute favourite! We have so many women that inspire us daily, our Mother, Sisters, friends, employees, and tribe. The go-to inspirational woman we listen to on Podcasts, Youtube are; Jada Smith, Marissa Pear, Lacy Phillips, Rumi (Life changing)
Q10: What advice would you impart on the next generation of women, and women in business?
Create your own path; you don’t have to follow others to be successful. Stay true to your core values. Be confident in the spark you have to offer the world.
