Our Story

 

Hi I'm Holly.  I am 52, and the mother of two beautiful and talented girls.  In the spring of 2008, I bought a pair of yoga type leggings that had this long flip down piece attached from the waist that covered me down to my crotch area.  I loved those leggings! Then I thought, wouldn’t it be even better, to  have the wide waist band piece only, that I could wear with any of my existing leggings and tops too?  Surely, I would be able to get more use from my existing wardrobe that way.  That’s when the idea of a layering accessory that could be transferred from garment to garment first entered my mind.  The "Camiband" (my 3rd. child) was officially born!

 I shared my idea with a few of my lady friends and family, getting great input from each and every one. My older daughter Alexa challenged me by saying ”you will never do this ”.  That's when I knew I had to set the right example, about following through on things, to my teenager. Even though I had officially declared, in 2004, that I was totally retired (after selling my direct mail advertising business that I ran since 1989) and had announced that I was committed to never, ever sell anything ever again!  Then I thought to myself that the item would have to sell itself and that a little internet business seemed harmless enough.  I forgot one little thing though…I am totally computer challenged.  I mean totally!  I could email and cut and paste, but not much more than that!

 I knew I wanted to manufacture the Camibands out of lace and I wanted it to be done in the USA.  Lace, I decided was classic and would never really go out of style. Then the search for just the right lace began.  It couldn’t be too sheer, needed to stretch and have a pretty, finished edge. 

 Immediately I started driving my whole household crazy asking for computer help and later on, the website guy I hired coincidentally posted on his website that he was closed for a seven day “mental health break” the minute he finished my site (I am a bit of a perfectionist).  Speaking of the website, my wonderful husband Ray and my now 13 year old daughter Jackie were the most help (although I did have to pay Jackie).  Jackie made the video (the first girl modeling the white Camiband in the video is my older daughter Alexa) and added many of the photos, graphics and numerous little changes I kept making.  Jackie loved my Camibands and looked so cute as she masterfully coordinated her outfits with them for school almost daily.  So when I say it’s for all ages I meant it!  Just today I had a woman 75 years old order one.  It’s very rare to have an item that literally appeals to such a wide group of ages.  A woman of 45-55 can very easily find her teenage daughter borrowing her Camiband (like my older daughter has many times) when dressing to go to her job!

 Eventually, I test marketed the Camibands locally and even put them in a few boutiques.  The store owners would say “Hey Holly,  the women are buying your Camibands like crazy to use up top! ".  One of my other friends said that she thought it would be a great look over her bathing suit bottoms for her beach club.  At that point I designed new hangtags to show this (with Jackies and Ray's help of course) and have been filling online orders to women across the USA and internationally daily !