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

Hi Opal, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always wanted to have my own business! I’ve been a fashion blogger for as long as I can remember, and creating my own line of accessories, the way I want them to look and feel, and sharing it with the world is just magical. There was never a doubt in my mind that this was the route I wanted to take, so I took the plunge and launched LapoLounge.com. We started with my signature chain belts and have since expanded to include gender-neutral necklaces, hair accessories, and art prints. We’re now working on launching more home products and a timeless loungewear collection, so stay tuned!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I was born in Jamaica but moved to NYC when I was young. Growing up in New York, I was inspired by what people wore around me and I started experimenting with my style and developed my love for fashion as a form of self-expression. Around 2009, when fashion blogging was just becoming a thing, I remember discovering a few fashion bloggers who I admired and thought that I had something to contribute to the space. So I started a blog of my own and named it OpalbyOpal.com. And I am still publishing posts on it to this day. From there, I transitioned to working with major brands as a full-time content creator after quitting my 9 to 5 job working in the operations/logistics space for some years. I have been blessed to work on campaigns with the likes of Paul Smith, Valentino Beauty, & Other Stories, Olay, & Grey Goose on creating photo, video & in-person experiences.

This road led me to my current venture – launching my own line of elevated chain belts & accessories called “Lapo Lounge”. Accessories have always been my tried and true formula for elevating one’s style. We offer elevated jewelry & accessories for everyday wear using quality materials that our customers love. I started with a line of chain belts but we also offer hair accessories, belt charms and we just launched necklaces which I am super excited about! I love stacking my necklaces and our 1st drop is perfect for that. As for starting my own brand, I did it out of necessity. Most of the belts that I have in my collection are vintage and most brands that made them don’t even exist anymore. I tried going the fast fashion route but the options I found were almost like gold-plated plastic as opposed to real metal options. I was going to an event once and the belt I was wearing at the time literally broke in two when I was getting into an Uber. I wanted to make an item that you can wear over and over and even pass down as a modern heirloom. We use PVD gold-plated stainless steel in our jewelry which is super durable, tarnish resistant, waterproof & sustainable. Definitely check us out at LapoLounge.com

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I was blown away by Edgewater last time I visited. There is definitely so much to do and see there! After that, we could grab some Cuban food in Little Havana and my favorite Jamaican food in Little Haiti.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would love to give a shoutout to my partner of 11 years, Maxim. We’ve been through thick and thin together – from meeting while both studying Business Management in NYC to working together on our fashion blog and finally launching Lapo Lounge from our apartment in 2019. I am a very creative and chaotic person, and Maxim is more analytical and level-headed, so he definitely grounds my wild ideas and helps bring them to life. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, so I wanted to give him this shoutout! Oh, and he’s also a photographer and a content creator in the men’s fashion space as well – check out his site at MaximSaidSo.com

Website: https://lapolounge.com/

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

Image Credits
Maxim @maximsaidso

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.