Conversations with Kelly Meacham

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Meacham.

Hi Kelly, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kelly Meacham – Founder, owner and designer of Slay Swimwear. As a first-generation college student. I followed the American dream every parent would want for their child- study, get a degree, and get a corporate job after college, and I did just that. After working and managing a Fortune 500 company store for several years, I decided to quit my job and pursue my passion of designing head-turning swimwear for affordable prices.

I had a friend, Blair, who was going through a stressful life event, and she would come to visit me and we would sit and sort out rhinestones for hours by color and size. Then we began to glue them onto any clothing item we could find. We would wear our creations out and people would comment and say how much they loved them! Blair started to make costumes/ lingerie for customers who requested custom pieces. Then I got really inspired and wanted to do swimsuits.

The reason I really found a passion for blinging swimsuits was because when I went shopping for bedazzled swimsuits for vacations, they were always $300+. I myself am a cheapskate. Therefore, once I started designing the swimsuits, I saw that these swimsuits don’t need to costs $300+. I could make them and price them at half of what companies are selling them for!

I started to try selling my creations in the Midwest, but most people there are simple and do not like flashy things. I knew I had to move somewhere flashy and warm. What better place than Los Angeles? Flashy and nice weather? Count me in!

So I moved to LA. It took me a long time to save money to pursue my dreams, but finally I did it. Now, I have been in business for two years and I see so much progress, and I am excited for what the future holds.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Has anyone’s business been a smooth road? If yes, I want to meet them and ask how did they do it? Heck no it hasn’t been a smooth road. I went to school for retail management, not clothing design. Therefore either I had to teach myself how to sew or hire someone to do it for me. I did try to hire a lady who was in the garment industry and she was defiantly taking advantage of me. She was quoting me $550 a sample. Anyone who has gotten a sample done for swimsuits know that’s ways too much money. I didn’t think twice and declined the offer and decided to learn how to sew. Thank god for taking sewing in grade school and high school so at least I knew the basics. I just started to Youtube everything (thank God for Youtube) and quickly picked up sewing techniques.

It’s a constant battle with Covid as well. Starting a company during Covid is already hard enough. Almost all the rhinestones come from China. If you haven’t been following the news currently I’ll explain to you what’s going on in China. Covid is extremely promenant there and China being a communist country they have to follow the governments rules. Therefore, in some towns if one person gets Covid, they have to shut down the whole town and everyone must stay home. This is a HUGE problem for me for the last two years. Factories are shutting down making it impossible to get materials that I need. I just tell myself I have to be patient.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in swimwear with unique jewel, chain & beaded accents. I am known for sexy, affordable, and head-turning swimwear. My company likes to help build self-confidence and transform women into sexy goddesses.

I am most proud of making my swimsuits beautiful, making women feel beautiful, affordability and customer service! I have to add customer service in there because after working at a high volume store, the thing I saw them do wrong time and time again is not value their customers. It would break my heart to have to turn away customers or say they can’t return a $20 item for the smallest reasons. I would see the anger and hurt inside them, and I would never want to make anyone feel that way. They didn’t value their customer and lost a lot of them over petty situations. I constantly get customers who praise my customer service. They share their stories with me on where they are going to wear my pieces, and it’s so heart warming to me. I love to help others out and hear about the joy my pieces bring them. I’m from Indiana so being friendly and helping others out is just part of my Midwest upbringing.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Small business for dummies taught me about an online program called SCORE that’s amazing. They provide free classes for small businesses and you can even sign up and meet up with a mentor in your field.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.slay-swimwear.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopslayswimwear/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SlaySwimwearLosAngeles
• Youtube: @slayswimwear

Image Credits
Models: Atiyana, Toi Hardy, Mollie Hannah Gould, Carly Belle, Deborah Lynn