Who is Mikai?

You actually have already probably seen me. I don't stray too far from my bikini brands instagram page @mikaiswimwear. I try to appear here and there, but my amazing models do a good job on their own!

I am Mikhailla, Mikai was formed as a bit of a nickname. Everyone used to call me Miki but lets face it I wasn't going to start a brand name as "Miki" so I just gave it it's own little edge...well actually just an extra letter. I am just 20 years old right now! Actually as of today!

When I was 16 I launched my first business venture starting an online clothing store selling other Australian clothing brands. This was a really hard market to break into, especially as an inexperienced 16 year old but you have to start somewhere! I took that as my learning curve - understanding what to do and how to manage a business. As expected it failed because I wasn't passionate about selling OTHER peoples designs. I wanted my own designs, I wanted recognition, not to help "other" brands gain recognition (Selfish hey? Maybe a Gemini thing - haha!) I then sold that business for the price I paid for me to start it so that was a bonus!

At the same time of my failed business venture I got a job in a marketing business, inexperienced again but I believe that people will hire you for what you can show them, not what is written on that resume because I didn't even show them a resume prior or during my interview! I still work here today because I absoutley love it. I can thank my placement in this job for inspiring me with all of my other endeavours. 

On the side of this I was employed (as a second job) to nationally manage a promotional agency in Australia - big step for me and I wasn't experienced AGAIN but this person had faith in me, more than I had in myself and I guess perhaps I was just determined, more than the person that would have been experienced. This was a great opportunity and learning curve which helped me to gain more knowledge in the field I was already interested in. 

At this point I decided I was doing too much, a university student studying marketing, a fashion agent and then national manager for a promotional agency. It was crazy! I gave up the national manager job to continue pursuing my own dream of having my own swimwear line, which was inspired by my job working in marketing alongside other Australian brands - one to which has a strong swimwear line!

After 3 months of painful researching and failures it eventually all came together releasing my first tester collection in April 2013, then my first official collection in August 2013 which sold wonderfully throughout the spring/summer period of it's release. I consider myself lucky because I not only have the benefits of working with other brands, but due to the people who surround me in the fashion industry they constantly inspire me, they keep me in trends and this in turn allows me to create price-point affordable swimwear consistent with the surrounding market and my own niche. 

xx Mikhailla xx