Interview with Olivia Fabian, Founder of OFabz Swimwear
Entrepreneur: Olivia Fabian
Company: OFabz; http://www.ofabz.com/
Age: 26
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Olivia Fabian is the owner of OFabz Swimwear, manufacturer of cutie, retro swimwear sold at boutiques across the U.S., Australia, and Western Europe. This company, formed in 2010, is committed to its “made in the USA” label and designs and manufactures its swimwear lines from its Fort Wayne headquarters.
Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in the fashion business?
My interest in fashion began with my mother. She made figure skating costumes for competitive figure skaters all over the world and I was always around the sketching, sewing and creative process. My interest in business began when I entered a business plan competition in college with a project called OFabz Swimwear.
After winning the competition (and the seed money), my love for fashion and my excitement for business came together in a great and fun way.
What was the inspiration for your company?
The look and inspiration for the OFabz suit has always come from real women. We look at how and where women are wearing swimwear and keep that in the front of our minds when designing new suits. We are always, of course, inspired by the glamour of the styles of yesteryear but always give the fit an update for the modern woman.
What were some of the challenges you faced in launching your brand and how did you overcome them?
Production has been the biggest challenge for sure. We have always been interested in keeping production in the U.S. and finding a partner to do that was difficult. Production is currently in California.
What are the benefits of running a company like yours from a place like Fort Wayne, Indiana?
Fort Wayne is the type of place where if you want to do something, the only thing holding you back is yourself. One of the greatest things about being based in Fort Wayne is the amazing community support. People in our town feel an ownership over local companies and almost a responsibility to see them, and help them, to succeed. Professional organizations like the Millennial Leaders Alliance work to support young local entrepreneurs through mentorship and networking events. Our marketing comes from our many brand champions who spread the good word of OFabz Swimwear simply because they love it. Overall, being based in Fort Wayne gives millennials like me a lot more freedom to be successful.
How does your brand stand out in the marketplace?
We think a mix of nostalgic styles and modern fits helps OFabz to stand out in the swimwear market. There are a ton of companies putting out super skimpy styles and many more on the opposite side of the spectrum, selling very covered up tankinis. We recognize that women wearing swimwear in the real world want to cover up some assets and flaunt others. Swimsuit coverage does not have to be all or nothing.
We believe that we can empower women through swimwear by making them feel strong and confidant, and this also sets us apart in the marketplace. At OFabz, we never lose sight of the message of “girl power” and we encourage women to follow their dreams.
What are some of the ways you’ve been successful in marketing your brand?
A “why not” mentality and a lot of hard work take you further than you might think. We knew that we wanted to pursue the wholesale market more than retail so we started by making a list. We listed every store where we thought the OFabz gal was shopping and then simply contacted them and told them how cute our suits were. Both small and large shops liked our suits and decided to pick up the line. We had put our very favorite store ever, ModCloth.com, on the list and, to our delight, they picked up the line too! This was a huge leap for the company and a real high-five moment.
With 2015 just around the corner, what’s next for your company?
Hard work, new suits and so much fun! We will continue selling cutie swimsuits wholesale and on our website, along with our fun little pop up shops. We love what we do and are so excited to share the suits with the proud and beautiful women who wear them. Cheers to a sunny 2015!