Meet Vincent Cole | Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vincent Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vincent Cole, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Actually we were two founders. Me Cole and my business partner Andrew who has since retired from the business.

The idea of founding our own swim wear brand came after a summer vacation in the Mediterranean. Before we went for vacation we bought some pretty cool swim shorts, but after spending hours on the beach they started to be uncomfortable. We then realized that is difficult to find swimwear that aligned with our sense of style and provide the functionality and comfort and most important to find a swim shorts without the bothering mesh net inside.

We were fueled by our frustration and entrepreneurial spirit, so we decided to embark on a mission to create our own swimwear brand. We wanted to design swimwear that not only looked fashionable but also performed exceptionally well in the water and provide the best comfort without a net but with the same protection. With a clear vision in mind, we started Andrew & Cole.

Today the brand is run by Cole and his sister Lara.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Well as already mentioned the brand Andrew & Cole was founded in 2016 by two friends with a goal to offer the world a new way of men’s swim shorts that provide style, functionality, comfort and most important no NET in the shorts. I believe what sets us apart from others is that we stand behind our unique ideas, style and the DNA that we gave the brand. We believed in our product creations despite all the negative influence. I think we can be proud of that.

It was really not easy to reach the level or where we stand today as a brand. As we are not the only one on the market beside the medium and big players. I think I have mastered the challenges by not letting others oppress me and thinking of myself that I can and will achieve that. I have learned on along the whole way that you can’t get where you to go or reach this or that as you wanted or imagined. There is always something on the way that is waiting for you and you gotta find a solution or compromise.

I want the world to know that we as a brand are a small but a nice player with a wow!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We know all that Miami is a booming city, every week or months something new is opening or happening. Not even I can follow everything or know what’s trendy right now. That’s why I mostly rely on places I already know, but certainly I’m more than ready to see something new. Here in Miami I would certainly take out my friend to Casa Tua as I like the food and the ambiance in their garten it’s a great dinner spot. For drinks and hang out I would drag my friends to the Basement at the Beach Edition or to Gitano Rooftop and to The Living Room. Some great spots!

For some days out of Florida, I would fly out my friends to the neighboring Islands in the Bahamas. Probably to Harbour Island. I really like the island style there, you have some great restaurants, small but nice hotels you can visit the neighborhood island of Eleuthera and spend lunch in the “Otherside” with its breathtaking view or to do some water activities and most importantly the tranquility you find there to come down from your busy days.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well this is bit hard to answer. I mean, I wasn’t focused really on a book or in a person that inspired me. I was more fueled and inspired from other stories from people that started their own business or their own fashion brand. It’s encourage me to start my own business, because I was certain that in a way it could be fun when you are responsible for everything in your business and learning by doing is a valuable experience after the all the studies you did in your past.

When I think about it now I want someone to say thank you or give some appreciation. It’s certainly my family as they stood always behind my back and fueled my with new ideas or advice me in the hard times.

Website: https://andrewandcole.com/en

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewandcole/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrewandcole

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEPNH9Y1LXU

Image Credits
Credits to ANDREW & COLE and Lara Stadelhofer