Making Waves

Manakai

Some designers start with a vision. Kelley Chapman and Anna Lieding launched their swimwear line, Manakai, with a mission, using an innovative technology that spins durable, nylon-like thread out of discarded fishing nets and other plastic marine debris.

The business partners met while working on dive and snorkel boats out of Lahaina Harbor in 2007. Their paths crossed repeatedly, and in 2015 they discovered they were each trying to buy Manakai from its original owner. The synergy between them (Kelley, the artistic, passionate dreamer; Anna, the calculated, driven achiever) sparked the shared mission for what they wanted the brand to be. They bought the business together, sourced a recycled nylon from Italy, and Kickstarted their first eco-swim collection a year later.

Naturally, the former boat hands revere the functionality of a comfortable and well-built suit, but Manakai’s fringy cuts and embellished styles pulse with a distinctly bohemian, festival vibe. “Women everywhere are looking for a suit to surf in, dance on the beach in, and still feel sexy in,” says Kelley, the Atlanta native who serves as the chief creative.

All Manakai suits are reversible, UV protective, and durable. “Fast fashion cycles don’t interest us,” says Kelley. “That kind of consumerism is destroying our planet. We are committed to more timeless pieces.” Anna adds that they’re developing a repair program to encourage their customers to mend rather than replace their suits.

The partners manufacture in the U.S. and keep a close eye on ethical standards. Their philosophy encompasses more than their clothing: they support local nonprofits, organize beach cleanups, and educate consumers. Anna, who says she was born and raised in a “Hāna hippie commune” by German immigrant parents, notes, “We are very transparent; we have nothing to hide.” Together, Kelley and Anna are creating a fashion brand that has the integrity they want to encourage in the industry. ManakaiSwimwear.com