Today we’d like to introduce you to Hartley Lynn.
Hi Hartley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
It all started with my personal struggle to find swimsuits that fit and flattered my smaller bust size. After years of feeling self-conscious and spending countless dollars trying to find the perfect swimsuit, I had my “ah-ha” moment when I accidentally left my sticky bra on underneath my swimsuit and realized how comfortable and supportive it felt. From there, I began the journey of creating SABAL, a swimsuit line designed specifically for women with smaller busts.
It was a long and challenging process, but after many months of working with factories and AA-B cup models, I finally created the perfect custom silicone insert that is waterproof, sturdy, and sewn in to provide added oomph and hold for women with smaller busts. The insert became the foundation of SABAL’s bikini design, and I knew I had something special.
In August 2022, SABAL officially launched online, and the response has been incredible. Women from all over have reached out to express their gratitude for finally having a swimsuit that fits and flatters their smaller busts. I am proud to say that SABAL is not just a swimsuit line but a swimsuit revolution that focuses on enhancing what’s already there, boosting confidence and making women feel comfortable and beautiful in their own skin.
Our journey at SABAL has been an exciting and rewarding one. We hit the ground running with a successful online debut that drew interest from customers across the world. Soon after, we were thrilled to be selected to participate in @DressUpButtercup’s “shark tank” style pitch event, which allowed us to showcase our brand to a wider audience and connect with other entrepreneurs.
Since then, we’ve continued to build momentum with several influencer partnerships that have helped spread the word about our swimsuits to even more women. And we were honored when Seventeen magazines named us “editors pick” as one of the “best swimwear for small busts” – a testament to our commitment to creating swimsuits that flatter and enhance every body type.
As we look to the future, we’re excited to continue growing our brand and empowering women everywhere to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin.
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?
Starting a small business is never easy, and creating an innovative new product that hasn’t existed before definitely comes with its share of challenges. One of the biggest struggles we faced at SABAL was perfecting the silicone boosters that are the foundation of our bikini design. We ordered hundreds of different inserts, but none of them quite fit the bill – so we knew we had to create our own from scratch.
That process took a lot of trial and error, with many samples and prototypes along the way. But it was also the most rewarding part of our journey because we knew that getting the insert just right would be the key to creating a swimsuit that truly flattered and enhanced smaller busts.
Which then led to the design process of incorporating the boosters. One thing that may not be immediately apparent to people is just how technical our silicone insert design is. It’s not as simple as sticking the insert in and calling it a day – there was a lot of design work that went into making sure the boosters are seamless and work seamlessly with our bikini design.
Perfecting the insert required a lot of testing and trial and error, with countless samples and prototypes along the way. But we knew that getting the insert just right was crucial to creating a swimsuit that truly flattered and enhanced smaller busts. And we’re proud to say that our insert design is a key part of what sets SABAL apart from other swimsuit brands out there.
Another challenge we faced as a niche brand for AA-B cups was reaching and connecting with our target audience. We knew that our product wasn’t for every woman, but for those who did fall within our size range, we wanted to create something truly special. Building a community around our brand and connecting with women who share our vision has been an ongoing process, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to see how much our customers appreciate and love our product.
Lastly, another big challenge we faced was navigating minimum order quantities and fees from manufacturers. Not hitting those minimums could result in extra charges and fees, which was a tough pill to swallow when we were just starting out and launching at the end of swim season.
However, we quickly learned that this was a common struggle for many small businesses, and it only made us more determined to succeed. We’re grateful for every challenge we’ve faced along the way because it’s given us a deeper appreciation for the obstacles that other small business owners face.
As a result, we’re committed to supporting other small businesses whenever we can – whether it’s through partnering with our woman-owned factory in LA or collaborating with other entrepreneurs who share our values. We believe that by working together and supporting one another, we can all help each other succeed and achieve our goals.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Personally, I wear many hats at SABAL – from design to marketing to legal calls to get the patent going – pretty much everything that touches the company. Before starting SABAL, I worked at a global real estate firm, JLL, and had no prior experience in the fashion industry- except for being an avid follower and purchase consumer. However, I knew that after decades of searching for the perfect swimsuit, I was going to have to make it myself – because no one else was.
I’m proud of the fact that we’ve created a product that fills a gap in the market and empowers women everywhere to feel confident and beautiful in their own skin. We’ve built a community of women who share our vision and support our brand, and that’s been incredibly rewarding.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the amazing team we’ve built at SABAL. From designers to manufacturers to marketers, every member of our team plays a crucial role in bringing our vision to life. And we’re committed to continuing to grow and evolve our brand to meet the needs of our customers and support women everywhere.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The Covid-19 crisis has taught us many important lessons, both on a personal and business level. One thing we noticed was that people were focusing more on taking care of themselves and their mental health during these challenging times. We believe that feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin is a big part of that self-care journey, and we’re proud to offer a product that helps women everywhere feel good about themselves.
On the business side, we faced many challenges with shipping delays, factory shutdowns, and other obstacles that came with the pandemic. However, we quickly realized the importance of having a local manufacturing base to help us overcome these issues. That’s why we made the decision to produce our swimsuits right here in Los Angeles, which allowed us to maintain greater control over our supply chain and ensure that our customers received their orders in a timely manner.
Overall, the Covid-19 crisis has reminded us of the importance of staying nimble and adaptable as a business while also prioritizing the mental and physical health of ourselves and our customers. We’re proud to have been able to navigate these challenging times and continue to offer a product that makes women everywhere feel confident and beautiful.
Pricing:
- 35
- 128
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shopsabal.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shop_sabal/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopSABAL
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@shop_sabal
Image Credits
MERAKI NARRATIVE AND LAUREN MURKEN
