Larimelle debuted 4 months ago, and within that short amount of time, the fashion brand has been seen by over 1 million people on social media, wrapped countless photoshoots at the most luxurious and exquisite locations around the world, and collaborated with top fashion influencers. Dubai, Monaco, and Los Angeles, serve as key cities for the brand’s operations. So how did one brand get so big, so quickly, and what does it take to start a successful fashion brand? We sat down with the brand’s founder, Sara Rewienska to better understand her journey.
Did you always want to be a fashion designer? How did you get started?
No, I actually never wanted to be a fashion designer, it all happened by chance. I still don’t consider myself a designer, but rather a brand owner, because I have an MBA degree and I look at everything more from a business perspective. Though of course, I do design all my products myself. I must say I started designing because I couldn’t find classy and feminine outfits in the stores, so I figured, why not just make it yourself?
My clothes are made like high fashion clothes, everything is handcrafted. I have even recently designed silk patterns for my newest sleepwear collection. From the packaging to the final touches, everything is made with the highest attention to detail. The clothes are made in Dubai, so I wanted to capture the essence of Dubai luxury and share it out with the world.
What does it take to build a successful fashion brand?
That is a really good question. Frankly, we are a very new brand. It’s been less than 6 months since our launch so I’m learning and trying to figure out what are the best practices in this highly competitive market. I think that people really value authenticity and passion, because you can’t copy that, and that’s what my brand is all about. Larimelle was born from pure passion and love for traveling in style across the globe. It was made for those who value femininity, class, and elegance. I want to empower women to dream bigger and travel the world in pursuit of their own passions and dreams. Larimelle is unique, and people see that because I do everything 100%. The products, photoshoots, branding, and packaging are all designed by me. I’m creating the products I always wanted to purchase as a customer, and that’s why I think people really notice the quality and passion in my products. Larimelle was never a business idea, it was a way for me to express my idea of beauty and share my creativity with the world.
Do you have any advice for those who wish to start a fashion business?
Well, if you think it’s going to be easy, don’t bother. The myth about any fashion business is that it’s all about glamour and photoshoots, and it’s not. It’s a business like any other, but with more emphasis on aesthetics which I think is even more challenging, especially if you are creating luxurious products. I would say learn as much as you can, oversee everything 100%, and hire really skillful and reliable staff. Also, be smart about your operations. I would say having a good operational manager is more important than anything else, because you need to make sure you keep meticulous track of your inventory, stay on top of shipping requirements, and so much more. I must say I’m quite lucky because I used to work as an operational manager at Amazon so that proved to be a helpful experience.
Lastly, dream big and don’t listen to people who tell you that something can’t be done. If they say that, it just means you are talking to the wrong person.
For more check out the website www.larimelle.com
