leaving on friday Founders Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage get their best ideas from the water. They both loved sports like surfing and kitesurfing, and during a conversation in the hot tub, they came up with a million-dollar idea: cute athletic swimsuits that would be great for playing sports as well as hanging out with friends.
Laura and Shannon were the perfect people to bring this idea to life. They have more than 20 years of combined experience developing products for activewear company Lululemon. “No one was applying what we knew about fabrics and fit in the Lululemon era to the swimwear industry,” Laura said.
The following is their entrepreneurial journey.
Learn in a corporate environment
Although Laura and Shannon continued to discuss starting their own businesses, it was six years after their hot tub conversation that they left Lululemon and launched their brand, Left on Friday.
Explaining why staying at Lululemon for six years was the right move for them, Shannon said, “It’s very valuable to go out and build your own skills first and then make mistakes on other people’s money.” She’s grateful. During those years at Lululemon, both she and Laura were able to develop relationships and understand the apparel business inside and out.
create fabric
When Laura and Shannon decided to start Left on Friday, they brainstormed the swimsuits they wanted and needed. Many of the problems with other swimsuits came from the fabric, so they created their own.
They set four distinct standards for swimwear: durability, buttery softness that gives a luxurious feel, compression fit in wet and dry conditions, and coverage that remains modest when wet. Laura and Shannon sourced and tested a variety of fabrics, collecting samples on a trip to Hawaii and getting feedback from friends before finding what they now call their “smooth dream fabric.”
Get early validation and feedback
Laura says that as early as one day, the partners got the validation they needed to continue growing their business: “Someone went to the locker room, tried on a bathing suit, and started crying because of how it made them feel.”
Swimwear is a close-fitting, intimate item, and Laura and Shannon put a lot of thought into the design of their products. In the first few years, the two founders answered customer emails personally. They even allow customers to come in and try on swimsuits by appointment.
Partnering with Canadian Beach Volleyball Association
Laura and Shannon’s attention to detail is evident in Friday’s left set. Professional beach volleyball players loved the brand, and Left on Friday eventually became a sponsor of the Canadian national team. The company makes equipment worn by athletes in competitions, including the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
On Friday, Left teamed up with Canadian beach volleyball stars Brandie Wilkerson and Melissa Humana-Paredes to create a custom one-shoulder top. A strap is attached to their non-dominant hand so they can serve the ball unobstructed. “That makes these great uniforms come entirely from player feedback and guidance,” Shannon said.
Brandi and Melissa won silver medals at the Olympics, catapulting Friday Left onto the world stage. “When they competed in the final Olympic Games next to the Eiffel Tower, they looked really incredible,” Laura said.
To learn more about the designs and fabrics of Left on Friday, listen to Laura and Shannon full interview Shopify Masters.
