Meet Melany Lintuuran | Founder of HEXI Los Angeles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melany Lintuuran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melany, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have been working on various promotional events for Indonesia in and around LA for over a decade and have always been very involved with the diaspora community at large. So i have always wanted to do something socially impactful while amplifying the Indonesian heritage and connecting communities.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I never imagined myself as a businesswoman nor did I ever aim to be an entrepreneur. All I had was the drive to amplify Indonesia’s name and having been an international student for years, I wanted to do that while connecting the diaspora and local communities in Los Angeles.
I founded HEXI (House of Explore Indonesia) with like-minded business partners, Harry Surjadiredja and Vonny Pascoal-Pangemanan. Supported by the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center in Los Angeles, we launched HEXI Los Angeles retail in November 2018. Our main goal was to promote Indonesia through lifestyle goods. We began curating products made by Indonesian artisans and small brands—items that were not only of great sustainable quality but also eager to go global. As we learned to market our unique products and joined different pop-ups, COVID-19 shut us down. But with that challenge came an unexpected opportunity, thanks to an amazing lady, Lilis Huguet of Artha Graha Network. We have now been operating our own physical “House of Explore Indonesia” inside the historic Deco Bldg on Wilshire and La Brea since 2022. We are immensely grateful to have such a beautiful piece of architecture where we can combine a retail space with co-working and events. It is not only a venue where people can have a taste of Indonesia but also create their own experiences and collaborate with communities—exactly as I had always envisioned.

The daily tasks now are maintaining, improving, sustaining the business, keeping us relevant, and not lose HEXI’s core purpose.
In this era of social media and instant gratification, it is hard not to compare and be overwhelmed. The constant barrage of social contents and influencer culture can be intimidating for a small business with niche market like us. Not to mention the side effects like trusting the wrong people, losing resources, and managing the risks that come with running a brick and mortar in Los Angeles. There were times when quitting felt like the more logical thing to do. Somehow, in paralel to growing HEXI, it has been a self discovery journey where I can now embrace my own self doubts as part of my entrepreneurial growing pains. It is also a daily self training to accept me and believe in me–my vision for HEXI and in my own purpose. The more I make peace with myself, the less I need to be validated. I already feel incredibly blessed to be able to do what I love with the people that I love. So if more people come to know Indonesia because of HEXI, that’s a wonderful bonus. And if more communities benefit from what we’re doing, that’s extra happiness for me.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In random order, the itinerary will consist of the Grove’s Farmers Market, Korean BBQ, Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign, Grand Central Market, Little Tokyo, LACMA urban lights, Taco Trucks, Thai Town, Hollywood Bowl show, Santa Monica Pier and Malibu, Drive thru Hollywood Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive, and more Museum Tours. I think LA’s food scene represents the world’s great culinary experience so daily tour will consist of multiple foodie stops!!!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It literally took a village for me to get to this point. I must credit the Indonesian Consulate General and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center in Los Angeles, the Indonesian Women Alliance, the Artha Graha Network, my Papuan family, and last but not least, my HEXI family. Their support has been immensely instrumental and it has been an honor to have learned from and worked alongside them. Most importantly, my family: my parents, my brothers, and my husband have been the constant fuel and inspiration that keep pushing me forward and do more good.

Website: https://hexilosangeles.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hexi.concept/

Linkedin: HEXI Los Angeles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hexi.losangeles/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hexi-los-angeles-5?osq=hexi