Today we’d like to introduce you to Lila Stewart.
Lila, please share your story with us.
Hari Mari’s story started in Indonesia, where we lived and worked for several years, starting in 2007. During our time there, Jeremy was producing a documentary film on children fighting hunger and malnutrition in Southeast Asia, and I was volunteering on behalf of the American Women’s Association in Jakarta, spearheading in-country fundraising, clothing drives, and food donations to aid and support orphans across the archipelago. Our unique & indelible experiences clicked and spurred a collective passion for helping kids abroad.
Moving back to the States in 2010 and expecting our first child, we decided the next project to take on would be to help kids here in the US, and when we saw an unmet need for comfortable and colorful flip flops at a premium level, we married our two passions together to found Hari Mari.
We were shocked to learn that pediatric cancer is the most fatal disease amongst American kids, a deeply concerning statistic that immediately launched what is now an embedded part of Hari Mari’s DNA – giving 1% of sales to support kids battling pediatric cancer – we call it Flops Fighting Cancer.
Paying homage to the origin of our commitment to helping kids and the trace root of the brand, “Hari” (Hahr-ee) literally means “sun” in the Indonesian Language while “Mari” (Mahr- ee) means “sea” in Latin, but Jeremy and I are more likely to tell you Hari Mari just means making a great pair of flip flops that also help support a lot of incredibly brave children.
Hari Mari launched in 2012, with the hopes of combining clever color with superlative comfort together in a singular flip flop, creating looks as unique as the people who wear them.
Fast forward to today, the brand has hit its stride with over 900 accounts across the country selling the line and counting. Our roster includes well known retailers such as Nordstrom, Zappos, REI, Allen Edmonds, Von Maur and many more. Plus in the last six months alone, Hari Mari has been picked up by the Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton and Auberge Resorts as well as Club Corp locations across the US and abroad.
Has it been a smooth road?
Where do we begin? Ha!
Dallas has just recently, as in the last few years, started to catch up to Austin and other hot spots in the country in terms of the number of brands that are headquartered here – and even still, there’s a small number of us! But when we first started out back in 2012, and as the one and only flip flop company not only in Dallas but in the entire state of Texas, we were, and still are, an anomaly. And as such, finding rock star employees that have experience in the footwear business has been a challenge for us.
Also, forecasting has been a challenge and I’m sure it’s a common complaint with all growing brands. With as fast as Hari Mari is growing, it’s always a challenge for us to determine the number of pairs, and in what styles, we need to order for the upcoming Spring and Summer. Every year during our peak season, we always seem to sell out of way too many skus. Good problem to have, yes, but we also hate missing out on opportunities for growth.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Hari Mari – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are known for premium flip flops with a pop of color with an insane amount of comfort – an added bonus, we get to help brave kids along the way who are battling pediatric cancer – we call if Flops Fighting Cancer.
We’re proud of many aspects to our company: our philanthropy, our team, the product, and our growth.
What sets Hari Mari apart from the rest is the quality of the product we’re putting out there. We have a patented memory foam toe piece, carbon-free non marking outsoles, arch support, cupping in the heels for added stability, cushion in the straps, the list goes on.
Not only do we want to make flops that are fashion forward and on the dressier more premium end of the flip flop spectrum but we’re also hyper focused in producing a product with a minimal break in period, ideally none at all. We haven’t re-invented the wheel here, but we’ve definitely made it more comfortable.
We are headquartered in East Dallas which is where we office and handle all of our e-commerce and wholesale fulfillment. Due to the large number of local folks wanting to support us and buy from us directly, we’ve turned part of our office into a store front as well, so please come visit us!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We were both born and raised in Dallas and are proud Texans. Our favorite quality about Dallas are the people. We’ve both lived in many places outside of Dallas and both always missed the Southern hospitality – you can’t beat it. Our least favorite trait about Dallas being the traffic!
Pricing:
- Lines range from $45 – $110
Contact Info:
- Address: Hari Mari
- Website: www.harimari.com
- Phone: 214-637-2700
- Email: info@harimari.com
Image Credit:
Hari Mari
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