Hidden Gems: Meet Julie Lomakka of Tabono Lifestyle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Lomakka.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? 
This year, I turned 60, and I passionately wanted to do something that had a positive message and impact on others. So many people have inspired me, and I, in turn, wanted to inspire others; the saying “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” by Maya Angelou has always been a guiding principle for me. Tabono is my way of promoting strength, joy, and positivity. 

For the last 9 years, I have been a residential real estate agent in Westlake Village, yet prior to that, I was in the fashion industry for 23 years. I then had the idea to launch a brand that promoted positivity and strength. As mothers, sisters, and daughters in 2024, the pressure and stress on women is more than ever before. The American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America survey finds women continue to report higher stress levels than men and could have used more support. Lomakka says “with the many women I interact with on a daily basis in our community, life has challenged them more than ever in the last few years”. I became so obsessed with the idea that I worked around the clock while working my real estate career and launched the brand 5 weeks later, at the end of 2023. We now offer women’s and men’s tees and hoodies, journals, mugs, jewelry, pouches and hats. 

Tabono’s ethos is encapsulated by the Western African symbol of tabono – an emblem signifying strength, perseverance, and unity. My hope is that the messages of Tabono Lifestyle will “create a multiplier effect of joy and strength, sharing with the world what we stand for and spreading a positive message.” 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Once I had the idea in my head to start the brand, I was so driven that I did not let the obstacles take me down. I would get up at my normal 5:30 am work on Tabono for a while, then start my real estate workday and start-up on Tabono again in the evenings until about 2 am. I gave myself 3 months to launch and ended up launching in 5 weeks. There were so many things I had no idea how to do, yet I made mistakes, learned, and kept going. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
We are a lifestyle brand for women and men and offer clothing, mugs, journals, pouches, hats, and bracelets, all with inspiring messages of strength, joy, and love. We also donate 100% of profits of some items to NAMI and The Surfrider Foundation. 

Pricing:

• Journals $17
• Mugs $10
• Bracelets $20
• Tanks and Tees $25 to $30
• Pouches $17

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tabonolifestyle.com
• Instagram: tabono_lifestyle
• Facebook: tabono lifestyle