Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan McKinley.
Hi Ryan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Growing up, I had always had an interest in fashion design. I would sketch out and make clothing for myself as well as for my friends. However, when I went away to college, I decided to go into the business side of fashion studying communications. With that, I worked for a luxury shoe company for about 6 years in New York City. When on vacation one day in the Caribbean, I had an idea to create my own swimwear line. Over the next year or two, I would brainstorm concepts and ideas and slowing just build this idea as a dream. Then in 2020, I decided to take the leap of faith and really make this dream into a reality. Named after my late dog, Spyker, I prepared a debut collection of men’s swimwear which I had made in Bali, and launched my online store in January of 2021. I wanted to keep my designs quite classic and clean and focused on sourcing the best fabrics that also were eco-friendly being made of recycled plastic fibers. It was such a fulfilling thing to see my designs come to life and I quickly learned every facet of running a business from forming the legal entities, obtaining sales permits, building the website, social media, marketing, and running production needs. The past year and a half have been a whirlwind of successes and mistakes and ups and downs. It is definitely a struggle sometimes, but the reward of creating this business that is truly my vision and creation brings me so much joy.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not the smoothest road. There are always unforeseen things, and I have definitely learned a few lessons the hard way. I am naturally a very trusting person and that can be a fault sometimes in business. Since I am not physically making each garment, it can be hard to have this vital process that you entrust to the manufacturer be out of your hands. I had an issue with a manufacturer (I no longer use them) I used at the beginning of this year failing to meet their production deadlines and eventually leaving me without product for a few months which really hurt my business. I had to not only try to deal with that problem legally but then also quickly cover with another manufacturer to get some product in hand quickly to recover some loss. I definitely also want to give credit to my partner Shane O’Neill as well. He has fully supported and encouraged me from the beginning and is always my biggest supporter as well as pushing me to always do my best. I wouldn’t be here today without him.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Spyker Studio is a Miami-based menswear swim, and underwear brand focused on quality fabrics made of recycled materials and comfort in our fit. We offer a range of shorts, swim briefs, and underwear, all sold on our website www.spykerstudio.com.
We really believe that comfort brings out confidence. We you feel physically comfortable in what you wear, you feel confident.
I found that many swimwear brands fit very small and tight and pulled at your legs and waist in ways that made me feel uncomfortable. So, when I went to design our products, I focused on sizing and fit primarily, as well as quality. We sourced out the best Italian fabrics that were also eco-friendly being made from recycled plastics fibers.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I really want to grow our product offering to include more resort wear and everyday essentials as well. We recently underwent a big change in our name from Spyker Swim to Spyker Studio. I felt it would be better sooner than later to change the name since we are already starting to offer more products beyond swimwear. I love exploring new materials and colors that are not as frequently represented in menswear. I also always consider expanding into womenswear too as I get request frequently for that.
Pricing:
- $65-$120
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spykerstudio.com
- Instagram: @spykerstudio
Image Credits
Shane A. O’Neill
Zachary Kendrick
