An Inspired Chat with Elise Taormina & Morgan Brahs of Newport Beach

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Elise Taormina & Morgan Brahs. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Elise & Morgan, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Swimwear is notoriously known for being on the more expensive side. We feel that swimwear pricing is commonly misunderstood. Visually, it’s such a small piece of fabric. To the outside eye, it seems that it should cost a lot less. Once we really get deep into production and manufacturing, we understood more about the cost that goes into it. Swimwear is a lot more technical than the average person may realize. Sewing and developing swimwear is pretty niche. So just that alone causes the pricing to go way up.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Nuku was founded in Newport Beach, California. Two daughters of the ocean with a passion for design and eyes on the horizon. Morgan Brahs and Elise Taormina joined creative forces after an inspirational trip to Fiji. Both Southern California natives, their journey began in high school where they bonded over a shared love of swimwear and surf culture.

We bring you swimwear for the new generation. Endlessly mixable separates that keep a little change in the bank for your next adventure. Mix and match or wear the set. Our brand is committed to bringing you a collection of swimsuits that are flattering, comfortable and well made.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
We would say each other! We started Nuku when we were so young. We both were working entry level jobs at the time with no real work experience. So together we taught each other a lot about work ethic, showing up, being persistent, and working HARD.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
As business owners, we feel we are constantly changing our minds. We are always adapting and evolving. Markets shift, customers change, and what worked yesterday may not work today. We had a lot of strong opinions when we first started our business, as many do but we quickly learned you need to prioritize what matters and be flexible with the rest. We began our business being strictly direct to consumer and we were under the impression that would never change. Until it did. Our business grew and we had buyers reaching out to us to carry our brand and with how small our business was at the time, we weren’t in the position to turn them down. That right there was the biggest learning lesson for us. We are so grateful for all the shops that carry our products and wouldn’t want it any other way!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
We are in a lucky position where all of our closest friends are the perfect demographic. We love being able to bring swatch books home and have all of our friends and family flip through and pick their top picks. It is always nice to get a fresh set of eyes after looking at the same swatches all year long. Our friends are our biggest support system – they want us to succeed and grow so they love putting in their two cents.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If we retired tomorrow, our customers would miss feeling good about what they are wearing and where it comes from. Nuku represents quality, care and intention. Closing Nuku would mean losing a brand that proves you don’t have to compromise between craftsmanship, affordability and supporting local.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nukuswim.com/
• Instagram: @nukuswim
• Linkedin: Nuku Swim

Image Credits
@tahneinei, @valvogtbauer @mollyraemedia