Meet Kylie DeWilde | Mother, maker, entrepreneur, and business owner.

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

Hi Kylie, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My business began after I unexpectedly became a mother in 2016 and I wanted to figure out a way to make a living entirely from home. I started thrifting and then reselling my thrifted finds on Poshmark and Depop. This evolved into a full-fledged resale business that allowed me to work from home and support myself and my son. From there, my goal was to work towards having my own fashion label one day; however, the more I learned about the fashion industry, the more discouraged I was about how unsustainable and unethical the “behind the scenes” really are.

Being from Hawaii, one of my favorite things to thrift was vintage aloha shirts. So, I got this idea, why not try and use what I already have to create something new? I had thrifted so many beautiful shirts with plenty of material to use, and they usually had little flaws here and there that would make them no longer wearable, but not totally unusable. So rather than having them end up discarded, I decided to try and bring new life to the beautiful prints and fabrics. I busted out my little sewing machine that my grandma gifted me for my 11th birthday and got to work. I make everything by hand out of thrifted vintage and/or secondhand materials.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As both the business owner as well as creative/maker for my business, it can be challenging balancing the roles of running the business logistically while also creating the product I’m selling. It challenges both the analytical as well as creative sides of my brain. I’m the boss, the marketing agent, customer service representative, the designer and the maker, etc. It can be hectic and my biggest challenge is balancing all these roles while also being present in my main and most important role as a mother. The whole point of me starting this business was so that I could work from home and be my own boss so that I could have the freedom to put my mom duties first.

My business seems to be constantly evolving around challenges the arise but are ultimately overcome, not necessarily always through clever strategy but ofter just sheer perseverance. Running. a business is not for the faint of heart. But it is possible. You just have to be up for the challenge.

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.
We live on the north shore of Oahu, so the beaches here or just breathtaking and absolutely unbeatable. An ideal day would be to post up at our favorite beach for the day, and then for dinner head into Haleiwa for drinks and good food at Mayas Tapas, of my and my son’s favorite places to eat. Or bring a picnic to the beach for a sunset beach dinner. Another favorite lunch spot of ours is Haleiwa Bowls, seriously the best açaí, bowls on the island.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m surrounded by a whole community of like-minded women who are not only supportive and encouraging through their friendship and support of me and my business, but through their own success and achievements. I have so many strong female friends and family members that are mothers, business owners and entrepreneurs themselves; constantly challenging and inspiring me to grow, improve, and reach my goals through watching them thrive and achieve theirs.

Website: dewildecollective.com

Instagram: @dewildecollective

Image Credits
Photos are film, taken by Alessia Avara (@hialessia). Models are Sage Lenier (@blacksagehoney) and Ami Ionela (@ami.ionela)