Meet Oliver Tomalin, Founder of Luxury Men’s Swimwear Brand: LOVE BRAND & Co.

Tell us about LOVE BRAND & Co.

 

A love of island life and helping endangered elephants forms the bedrock of LOVE BRAND & Co. My wife and I have always wanted to create the best laid-back luxury beachwear brand while giving it greater purpose. We produce using sustainable fabrics and true craftsmanship. We are a proud certified B-Corp and our pledge is always to be mindful of our impact.

We are a proud member of ‘1 % for the Planet’, and since we started we have donated a percentage of our revenues, not profits, to wildlife conservation projects.

 

How did you come up with the idea for the company?

 

The inspiration for the brand came from my wife Rose and my love of beach lifestyle and elephants. Over a decade ago we wanted to create a brand that combined stylish, sustainable fashion with a mission to protect endangered elephants. Love is the driving ethos behind our brand and that is why we chose to name ourselves, ‘Love Brand’.

Since the start we have aimed to use our luxury brand as a vehicle for giving back to conservation efforts around the world. Helping endangered species including sharks and coral reefs in The Bahamas but also most notably elephants in India and Kenya. This is symbolised in the brand’s logo of two mirrored elephants forming a heart.

 

 

What is your advice to aspiring entrepreneurs?

 

I have a list of words that all begin with P. Rose and I have learnt from our mistakes and also from our successes. The first of the 6 ‘P’s is Product – the product has to be good. Purpose – stay true to your mission. Plan – set your north star and have a clear plan how to get there. People – find the right people and partners. Precision – perfect execution, clarity and focus is key. And finally, Perseverance – keep believing! The best things take time.

 

 

What most excites you about LOVE BRAND & Co.?

 

What is exciting is our customers aren’t just purchasing clothing; they’re also giving back and helping raise awareness for protecting our planet. In a post-pandemic world,  we have witnessed a consumer shift to conscious-maximalism, where we are more aware of sustainability and the environment around us. But we are also aware how important it is to live for the moment.

I think the world has moved closer to our LOVE BRAND & Co. values. I believe we can enjoy the good times and love the planet too and one doesn’t have to cost the other. I think this approach is resonating all over the globe, and it’s very exciting to be part of this storyline.

 

How has the company evolved over the last couple of years?

 

Our plan and mission have not changed since day one. Our goal has always been to create the best beach lifestyle brand and at the same time do our best to give back and help vulnerable animals and wild places. I suppose in recent years, living in The Bahamas full time, has given me a deeper insight to real island living. We have always drawn inspiration from beaches and waters and island vibe of The Bahamas, and hence all our product names are Bahamian islands. My wife’s family have a special connection with the Bahamas.

When I met my wife and we started our brand together, we visited the islands and had incredible holidays. During the pandemic, we decided to invert our lives and rather than work in London and holiday in the Bahamas, we did it the other way around. With this move, our company has also evolved to a more remote and flexible way of working with us spending more time on the other side of the pond. As a result the company is evolving in the USA as well.

 

What can we hope to see from LOVE BRAND & Co. in the future?

 

Having specialised in men’s swim and beachwear for many years, we are now developing our product range, including womens resort wear, beach accessories and homewares for the beach house. Fully encapsulating Love Brand’s ultimate beach lifestyle, we are very excited to be launching our Love Brand standalone store in The Bahamas later this year.