Life Instyle sat down with Loco Living, a concoction of eclectic design, artfully crafted for a vibrant home. Infused with contemporary colour, each piece is intended to compliment the uniqueness of individual style. A brand not born from necessity, but designed for those who need to play, create and fuss over detail. In homes that delight and inspire. For hostesses with the mostesses. It gives life to your living space and brightens your bath time ritual. Put simply, our statement textiles put the extra in extravagant.

What inspired the idea for your business? 

I'm Keahny and I’m the owner and designer of homewares brand, Loco Living. I'm a lover of all things art and design but my taste is as about as eclectic as it gets. I always found that I’d be scouring the stores for quirky homewares that spoke to my soul, only to come up empty-handed on most occasions. I was in search of unique statement pieces that could be tied back to staple items from the home. So I started creating my own, an outlet for art and adventurous design. And that’s when Loco Living was born. My intention was to design textiles that seamlessly blended from room to room, creating a cohesive chaos that was unique to my individual style. Think of it as the ultimate mix-and-match brand for the modern home!

Where is the business now? And where is it headed? 

Loco Living is in its third season and is growing at a steady pace which is exciting. SS24 will see our range expand to living and bathroom as we apply designs across new categories.

How does your brand differentiate itself in the market? 

Our brand differentiates itself through our print designs particularly with our tableware. Each illustration is a placement print created specifically for each product in our collection. I also design with a universal colour pallet so that each piece can be mixed and matched across styles. This means that our collections are transeasonal and buyers can be more adventurous with their purchases as they can pick and choose items based on their own unique style. 

Can you share the challenges you've encountered and how you've navigated them? 

It’s challenging scaling a business when being a one woman show. I have to balance the craziness of raising a young family with work life and still maintain a high quality level of customer service, implement marketing strategies and develop new products. I have managed to navigate these challenges being more flexible with my time and being organised with my planning. Being adaptable is really important for me.

What have been your key strengths and weaknesses, and what have you learned from them? 

My strengths are that although the business is new I have worked within the industry for the past decade so I have a pretty good grasp on how to face challenges when they arise. It helps me have perspective when resolving issues. My weakness is that I am impatient. LOL. I want everything now. I am working on it. 

What are the core values and principles that shape your brand's decision-making process 

The core values that shape Loco Living are sustainability and authenticity, both within design and business operations. Ensuring that the decisions I make with creating product, sourcing suppliers and selecting stockists contribute to the long term sustainability of the brand and genuinely reflect my style and interests.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to start their own business? 

Some advice for someone wanting to start their own business would be to maintain focus on your original intentions. Stick in your lane and nurture your idea because the market moves fast and it’s easy to get caught up in the hype of trends, sales and competition.

What achievement are you most proud of in your business journey? 

My proudest achievement was to sell through my first collection within  two months of starting the brand. I felt really vulnerable putting my designs out into the world but the feedback I received about the collection was so positive that it gave me the confidence to continue designing and build the business.