We were lucky to catch up with Emily LaPlume recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Emily, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I grew up with smart, creative parents who taught me that I could achieve anything if I worked hard enough.
When I was 13 years old, I told my parents that I wanted to go to snowboard camp on the other side of the country. They said, “if you can raise the money, you can go.” I was determined. With the help of my dad, I decided to start a business selling ice cream off a small fishing boat on a lake in Vermont. I spent every weekend for two whole summers out there selling ice cream until I finally had enough to send myself to snowboard camp.
My life has been compiled of a lot of little moments like that. Working my butt off until I made it my reality.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have always had a passion for travel and the outdoors. During and after college, I spent a lot of time abroad. It was during my international travels that I noticed the impact that overconsumption and the fashion industry were having on the environment – most predominantly in developing countries. It was at that point that I knew I wanted to spend my life dedicated to something that did more good than harm in the world.
I started Saturday Swimwear as a passion project in college and it has evolved into so much more over the years. My sustainable, women’s swimsuits are handmade in small batches in Portland, Oregon. The ethical production studio I work with is woman-owned and has some really amazing sustainability initiatives (upcycling larger scraps into new items like scrunchies, recycling smaller scraps into new material, etc.). Working with likeminded individuals has always been so important to me. By uplifting other companies and individuals that are doing good in the world, I think we can create a real, systemic change in the industry.
In July 2023, I opened a small boutique in Bend, Oregon, called Local Assembly. The whole purpose of the shop is to support small, predominantly woman-owned brands that create high-quality products that add value to our lives.
Working with these companies has been so inspiring and reassures my desire to continue doing the work that I am doing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Grit – Being an entrepreneur is not easy. The highs are super high and the lows can feel really low. I have had so many days where I ask myself whether or not this is the right path. Having the ability to bounce back and work hard through every obstacle will make or break you, especially in the early days.
Having a clear vision – When I first started Saturday Swimwear, I didn’t have a clear vision for the brand. It wasn’t until I decided to shift the focus towards sustainability that I felt like I had found my purpose. That purpose has guided me in every other aspect of my life from that point on.
Not being afraid to utilize your resources and ask for help – There are so many people that want to see you succeed. Tapping into those individuals can prove so beneficial to you and your business. Asking for help can seem intimidating sometimes, but it’s in those moments of vulnerability that you will learn and grow.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always looking to collaborate!
Every year, I launch a new “Artist Series” where I work with a female-identifying designer to create a new print for my swimsuits. Not only does this bring some differentiation into my line, it also allows me to uplift another artist and vice versa.
There are so many other ways to collaborate, and I would be honored to hear from anyone that has an idea and thinks we could support one another!
I am always available by email at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Website: saturdayswimwear.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/saturdayswimwear
- Facebook: Facebook.com/saturdayswimwear
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilylaplume
Image Credits
Mark McInnis, Jared Watts, Courtney Brugiuer, Lauren Howland, Lisa Cantin, Morgan Karanasios
