We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kari Dowiak. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kari below.
Kari, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
I’ve been lucky to grow up with a solid support system, especially my mom, who always said I could do anything I set my mind to… she still says it, honestly. It was also a happy coincidence that I got into activities where women dominate, like gymnastics and fashion. I was in environments where I was always seeing women at the top, and it always felt like if I worked hard enough and if it was what I truly wanted, I could get there, too.
I also started working young… smoothie bar, waitressing, bartending. Each job pushed me to talk to strangers, and let me tell you, waitressing is a crash course in communication. You get to experiment with tone, pace, and language, and the best part? Immediate feedback in the form of tips!
All those experiences helped shape me into who I am today – no imposter syndrome here.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m the founder of Memorí, a luxury eyewear brand focused on creating high-quality, handcrafted Italian sunglasses specifically for people with smaller face shapes. It all started because I could never find sunglasses that met my high standards for fit, design, and ethical production that didn’t make me look like a bug. After I moved to Miami where sunglasses are a daily necessity, I knew I was the right person to solve this problem.
My favorite part of this journey is definitely our pop-ups. We do trunk shows and pop-up at high end events and vintage markets all over the country. There’s nothing better than like meeting someone who’s struggled their entire life to find sunglasses that fit. Watching their face light up as they try on glasses and they all look good, and then I point to our sign that says “Small Batch Sunglasses For Small Faces” and it clicks, that these fit because finally someone sees their struggle and made a brand for them – that’s the best part. Then it doubles down when that same person brings a friend to the event next time and they say “I’ll never buy sunglasses from any other brand” – that’s pretty incredible. Sign up for our email list at MemoriEyewear.com if you want to be in the loop for our pop-ups!
Getting to push the boundaries of design within eyewear is also a major highlight. The eyewear industry is dominated by just a few massive conglomerates, because of this most brands use the same molds and designs. Unlike them, we make everything by hand in Italy, so we have the flexibility to create truly unique, sculptural designs that the big brands wouldn’t even consider.
In just the last 2 weeks, we finished an amazing pop-up in the Hamptons where we partnered with Rebecca Minkoff, and we’ve also been featured in outlets like The Zoe Report. We keep pushing our designs, working with new materials, and we just released our first model that is available in two sizes (narrow and medium). Always moving forward!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Bartending – It may sound random, but it taught me how to be good with people. Charisma goes a long way in business and I don’t know any faster way to build it than being a waitress or bartender. In a world where AI and tech are everywhere, having strong people skills will make you stand out, especially with the younger generation who might not be as comfortable with face-to-face interactions. My #1 piece of advice to high school and college age people is to get a job in a restaurant. The social skills are more valuable than anything you’ll learn in an “intro to entrepreneurship” class.
2. Being good with numbers. Before starting Memorí, I was a fashion buyer. People think it’s glamorous, but it’s really just a lot of Excel and margin crunching. If you’re not comfortable with numbers, you’re going to have a tough time building a profitable business.
3. Attention to detail – I’m obsessive when it comes to our designs and quality. Every little detail, from the handcrafted leather cases to metal detailing down to the tenth of a millimeter gets my attention. Luxury is in the details, but you also have to be able to zoom out and see the big picture strategy.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
We are always open to collaborating with other fashion brands that align with our values (quality over quantity, ethical labor only, sustainable practices). Also open to collaborating with artists or creatives who may be known for somehing that they can layer on top of our designs (paint, beading, etc).
The best way to get in touch would be via the “contact us” form on memorieyewear.com, or an instagram DM.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://memorieyewear.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/memori.eyewear
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104902423
Image Credits
Vis Arts, Julio Naranjo, Manuel Hernandez
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
