Flash Tat your HYDRO Flask!

What we aim to do with our hand-MADE on Kauai blog series it to be relevant. And what is more relevant than water?! Whether we are surrounded by it, in it, or drinking it, water is most relevant in our everyday life (especially with a bikini).

Basically all of Kauai has ditched the plastic bags and bottles- and are proud owners of every size and color hydro-flask. Some are dec'd in stickers, handles, wrap carrying bags and different accessories. - but what if you dressed them up in... (wait for it) flash tats?

This creative idea first stemmed from KaiKini owner, Taryn, suggesting we take the Kauai-Made sparkly temporary tattoos (Tats4Now) that we sell on our website, and tatt-up a flask! So we experimented, and results were epic! Check out the video below.

Some tips and tricks for decorating: 

• Once on the flask, the tattoos REALLY stick and are durable, so make sure the layout is what you want before applying! 
• When applying, make sure cloth is really wet! Damp cloths will not activate tatt. 
• Hold wet cloth on tattoo for 15 seconds or more, or until you see the paper slip off of the flask
• DO NOT try and remove tattoo with alcohol or acetone based substances- it will take the paint off your flask! 
• The Tats4Now can be removed by scrubbing it off (gently) and then washing area with warm water and soap. 

Pair it with the Aloha Set (triangle beaded top and okole bottoms) and you'll be beach ready and eco-chic all summer long! 

Tats4Now also donates 10% of sales to Kauai Food Bank!  @tats4now

hand-MADE on Kauai Series

While being one of the most renowned vacation destinations today, the island of Kauai is actually either missing or unrecognizable on most maps. All 1,430 kilometers of greenery and waterfalls in the middle of the Pacific offer some of the world's best produce, products, people, and places on the planet!

KaiKini Bikinis is a locally owned and operated, hand-MADE on Kauai, and is the largest bikini manufacturer in the state of Hawaii! Being located at least 3,000 miles away from any major city and shore line only makes us appreciate and value our out-of-state and international customers even more!

As I walk into headquarters today, music is bumping while Kristen and Kim are running production, Allison (model) and Keith (photographer) are photographing new arrivals, Desirea is marketing and processing sales, and Taryn is directing the whole show.

Everyone was in their own element, zone, and specialty- flowing gracefully. Mama said they'll be days like this! She also warned that there would be days in which you aren't as fluid. Times when you'll be faced with bumps in the road, and the inevitable question of why are you not so inspired?

For anyone on a daily basis it's a rut we know all too well. You snack a little, check your email, scroll through social media, edit your selfies, and drain your brain of motivation while trying to squeeze out of yourself any shred of inspiration.

But maybe the inspiration doesn't come from you. Maybe it comes from other people and requires you to put yourself in their shoes and to see the ambition from their point of view.

Looking around at all these talented people, I found that that kind of empathy breaks my writers block and in turn gives my position and voice an opportunity to represent everyone around me.

I think of all the beauty and talent in Kauai and my community and can see where KaiKini's design inspiration comes from. The blues of the ocean represent the teal, white set suits, the glowing Polihale sunsets radiate both magenta & neon nights collection, and the Aloha print represents the colorful spirits of the people.

As you can guess, our next series of blog posts all stem to honor the community and environment in which we create our bikinis and reside, Kauai- Hawaii.

KaiKini would also like to challenge our readers to ask yourself, where do you come from, who is surrounding you, and what influences your thoughts and behavior when you create? Let us know!

Step outside and consider that the creative process is NOT only about you, but instead you are an honorary channel for others. Lets help make something of each-other!

Hand-MADE on Kauai with Aloha- KaiKini Bikinis
Mahalo-Kona-Kai

P.S- stay tuned for posts through out the week of Kauai Made features!

Source of Creativity- What's original?

Have you ever thought that every book ever written after the dictionary is just a remix? Every scientific theory is just a version of the big bang? Every garment is based on the last? And how in the world are you supposed to find good music, food, art, or heaven forbid a bikini that no one else has? Is there any thing we can say is totally original these days? _________________________________________________________________

 Being a new employee, I am able to see the manufacturing process from an outside perspective, and couldn't be more impressed with the Kaikini team. With the summer rush coming in, and the bikini bods heating up, production records are soaring! The beautifully decorated headquarters offer a positive environment for the creation of award winning suits from the ashes of organization, expertise, design, laughter, honesty, and everything in-between. The only direction is up for Kaikini's and we are progressing every day! But as we all know too well, growing also entails stepping out of your comfort zone and by doing this we are talking on a few extra projects we are excited about!

I love this company because we communicate. Nothing is swept under the rug and topics and ideas are always being discussed.

 A popular subject that seems to be in the hot seat is the source of originality, main focus on bikinis. We recently discovered some bizarre knockoffs of our suits on EBAY, copywriting of model's pictures, and replicas of ours and other suits in popular magazines and media.

And so we discussed: Being an apparel manufacturer and to work in an industry where copying is the rule, NOT the exception is a hard and humbling concept to grasp. Especially when the swimsuit industry is booming and everywhere you turn a new bikini manufacturer pops up usually with styles looking very similar to the last 10 you've already tried on.

 We took the high road and asked ourselves; do you think the swimsuit industry actually thrives because designers borrow and steal from other designers? Can you actually replicate something so much that it re-invents itself as something new?

 Then we took the low road and asked ourselves, is it legal for them to copy designs like this? Should we be watermarking every image? Should we get a lawyer? As you can see, it was easy for us to get upset when a swimsuit that looks remarkably similar to that of which just took months for us to design shows up in a popular underwear catalog.

 But the facts are in the fashion industry- there is very little intellectual property protection. Anyone can copy an image, but to create utilitarian 3 dimensional object to wear and sell is TOTALLY legal.

We also considered our customers: Do more options make it easier or harder to choose a bikini? What criteria is considered when purchasing? Fit? Material? Price?

We then questioned KaiKini's trademark styles that we considered original. What about the day-one scrunch butt bottoms that have been perfected? Or the traditional bikini top that ties around the back of your neck (which gets caught in your hair and strains your neck) that we modified so the straps crisscross in some creative way for more support and comfort?

Sigh. Unfortunately these designs can all be replicated.

So how can we distinguish ourselves? What makes us different from all the other bikini companies out there? Ding! Our tireless efforts to give you the best swimsuit to fit your lifestyle. The consistency and perfectionism applied to every suit that is made. The dedication and persistence to treat every customer with repect, and to make our products affordable. The production management, the designer's ideas, the quality control- all these things are original to us.

I know KaiKini will always continue to transform the things that CAN be copied, by combining the elements we are inspired by; our customers, surroundings (Kauai), adventure, and YES- other bikinis. For all of those who know how hard it is to pick a bikini, we hope we meet your expectations in inspiration and originality.

 So... we welcome all bikini manufacturers, all budding designers, and all dreamers who are willing to create. If your creative impulse is feeling unoriginal don't get discouraged- use it as inspiration! Don't let images from others filter into your work.
Instead perfect your product by putting together what you have in the present moment and be your OWN creative genius! Focus on being innovative, understanding, hardworking, and YOU!- that can never be replicated!

 Hand-made with originality and Aloha, -Kaikini HQ :)

 Mahalo- Kona-Kai Wilson

Meet the Meanest employee at KaiKini

Okay... maybe she's not really the Meanest... but her nickname IS Mina! Our a capella singing, paper-cutting, cookie baking, stranger-than-strange(-in-all-the best-ways) movie critic does more than help sew each and every bikini - she makes sure they all meet our rigid quality standards and look perfect before reaching your mailbox. With her artistic flair she's also great at helping solve design problems and has helped bring some of our newest styles to life! Hooray for mean girls! Read on to learn more about why we're so thankful for Miss Mina...

Name: Marina Loew

KaiKini Position: Quality Control Manager & Seamstress AKA The Cookie Monster

What’s Your Sign: Cancer (June 25)

Hometown: Dryden, NY

Favorite Color: Fall Colors (at the moment!)

Favorite KaiKini at the moment: Kahuna bottoms!

Favorite thing about working at KaiKini: Other than the awesome group of girls I work with, I’d have to say that one of the awesome things about KaiKini is that it’s the first job where I've been able to put my art degree to good use. Education money NOT wasted!

What’s the last book you read? 

“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline. As a closet gamer and RPG addict, I LOVED it! 

Stripper Name (middle name + first road you lived on):
Sophia Lake…which sounds more like a cross between a stripper and an opera singer

Theme song at the moment?
I’m currently on a sick-of-all-my-music-especially-if-it-has-words kick (yes, random), so I’m gonna go with one of my favorite songs from the Amélie soundtrack, “Comptine d’un autre été, l’après-midi” by Yann Tiersen.

Any secret talents you’d like to reveal?
Not really a secret, but I've been a weaver since I was two and used to teach classes back in high school. I've got my own floor looms and everything.

What inspires you?
Art. Particularly from the Renaissance and Art Nouveau eras. And the amazing brush strokes of the Impressionists.

What are your hobbies outside of making bikinis?
If you haven’t guessed it yet, it’s making art. Knitting, painting, paper cutting, needlepoint, lithography, encaustic, carving, beadwork…if it’s a form of art, I’m doin' it.

Favorite way to stay fit?
Outrigger paddling. The main reason (other than Kaikini, of course!) that I’m still here on Kauai.

Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas?
Can I answer “Hallothanksmas”?

Any secrets you’d like to reveal?
I joined an ocean outrigger club to face my fear of big waves.

What’s your favorite childhood memory?
Sappy answer, but my sister is my favorite childhood memory. Having ‘bull fights’, designing our own parachutes and testing them out on our dolls by throwing them off the balcony, water ballet in the St. Lawrence, getting buried in the ditch by the snowplow, bribing her with my stashed Halloween candy…we've been on a lot of adventures. Love you, sible!

What are you giving thanks for?
My island ohana; for embracing me so warmly and making me feel at home even when I'm so far from it.