A swimsuit from MOTSI is a must-have as we roll into Summer 2022. MOSTI is a black-owned fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brand.
MOTSI Swim’s sustainable swimwear collection features ten modern and flattering swimwear styles, all made from 78% polyamide (harvested from ocean plastic). 5% of all MOTSI swim proceeds go to the World Wildlife Fund. I had the pleasure of interviewing the founder, Courtney LeMarco, and receiving a sustaining swimsuit that will have all the heads turning this Summer.
The Knockturnal: Please tell readers about yourself and your brand?
Courtney LeMarco: I’m a Los Angeles native who grew up in Seattle. I have a career that spans everything from culinary and hospitality to media and entertainment. It’s been quite a ride so far. I’m the CEO of LeMarco Global, LLC, which is an investment firm with an interest in various industries. My latest venture, Motsi Couture, is a lifestyle brand that I created that focuses on fashion, skincare, and apparel. We have a growing line of skincare products and recently launched Motsi Swim, a sustainable swimwear line made from over 78% recycled ocean plastic.
The Knockturnal: How did you come up with your business idea?
Courtney LeMarco: I worked as a professional model from my childhood into my teenage years. Because of that, I have always been interested in creating my own lifestyle brand that encompasses everything from skincare to fashion. My circumstances took me in a different direction and I ended up becoming a chef, but I slowly got involved with media and started working as a content producer for companies like Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. That inspired to me push toward my dream of owning my own company in that space. Once I was able to save up enough capital, I opened my company and have been going nonstop ever since.
The Knockturnal: How did you choose the name for your business?
Courtney LeMarco: I wanted to find a name that was both unique and paid homage to my heritage as an African American. That’s how I came up with the name Motsi, which means “the one” or “the first” depending on where in Africa it is translated from. It’s a very fitting name considering the fact that I’m the first in my family to break the cycle of poverty that we grew up in. And God willing, I plan on being the first to break the rules that dictate that an African American man who grew up poor and create and maintain an innovative lifestyle brand. With the right mindset and work ethic, I believe anything is possible.
The Knockturnal: How long did it take for your business to turn a profit?
Courtney LeMarco: I don’t consider us profitable in the standard sense because we’re constantly reinvesting back into the company. We’re expanding our offerings in cosmetics, fashion, and accessories, as well as cultivating new partnerships with distributors and brand ambassadors. We’re being extremely aggressive with this strategy, and I expect us to stay on this course for the foreseeable future. The company is completely funded by me and has no outside investors, so we have no debt. That allows us to make a lot of moves without a lot of bureaucracy. That saves us a lot of time, energy, and money.
The Knockturnal: How do you define fashion?
Courtney LeMarco: To me, fashion is a reflection of one’s true individuality. It enhances the human body and in many ways the spirit. When you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good that energy permeates through the people around you. It’s a visual storyteller and establishes your personal brand.
The Knockturnal: Who or what inspires you when you’re creating your swimsuits?
Courtney LeMarco: A combination of nature and the human body. The colors, fabrics and come from nature. The lines, cuts, and design come from the beauty of the human form. Everyone is different, but we all have our angles. It’s very intriguing and creatively inspiring to me.
The Knockturnal: Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Courtney LeMarco: It hasn’t been smooth at all. And I’m glad that it hasn’t. If this was easy, everyone would be doing it. We’re constantly facing challenges in our business, but we’ve always been able to adjust accordingly. One of the biggest challenges was managing our supply chain during the pandemic. A lot of our suppliers and deliveries were months behind due to the breakdown of logistics. But it became obvious that almost every industry was going through the same thing. At that point, it became more about a change in perspective. And the shift in focus allowed us to go back to the drawing board and reassess our approach. It was an amazing learning experience.
The Knockturnal: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own business?
Courtney LeMarco: My best advice is to find people who are doing what you want to do and spend time with them. Find a mentor in the industry that you want to be in. Set goals and be relentless in your focus. Give up bad habits that are stopping you from reaching your full potential. It won’t be easy, you will feel lonely at first, and you’ll be criticized by friends and family who do not share your vision. But that is when you know you’re on the right path.
The Knockturnal: How are you different from the competition?
Courtney LeMarco: I don’t really consider there to be any competition. There are a lot of other brands that are out there that I like and I’m inspired by. At the same time, we see a lot of brands following the same trends. We’re not looking to follow what everyone else is doing, and we’re not about selling a product as much as we are about creating a lifestyle.
The Knockturnal: What are some upcoming goals for your brand?
Courtney LeMarco: We’re in the process of developing an amazing streetwear collection which we intend to launch by the end of the year. I’m also looking to partner with various notable influencers and celebrities to launch curated capsule collections over the next two years.
The Knockturnal: Any exciting news you can share with us?
Courtney LeMarco: Yes, I’m excited about our plans to open up two retail locations. We’re currently scouting locations for a Motsi store in the greater Seattle area, and a Motsi Swim store in Los Angeles. Both locations would of course maintain our overall image, but they would also be tailored to the local community in regards to what is featured. People enjoy the shopping experience and we intend to provide them with an experience they’ll love.
