kai conversations with... belen salomon, designer + creator of @shopwithbelen

we are thrilled to bring you this week’s kai conversation with belen salomon, the designer/creator of the la-based belen “every day essentials” clothing collection that is made for women, by women locally (designed and manufactured in los angeles) and striving towards being 100% domestically sourced for all of their textiles used and knit in los angeles.

beyond her beautiful, sustainably-focused clothing line @shopwithbelen, you may have also heard of belen from one of her many noteworthy accomplishments and roles she’s played in the fashion industry over the years. belen started her career working as stylist and personal shopper for over a decade, before launching her own blog a few years ago, which has become a go-to fashion, lifestyle and platform called, style notes by belen. throughout her career as a stylist, she worked with celebrities on movie sets, red carpet events, photo shoots, music videos and more. she is also known on instagram as @stylebybelen where her lifestyle and fashion content have earned her more than 260,000 followers. not to mention, she also has a style by belen youtube channel and a podcast; and she also plays a strong supporting role to her husband, alejandro salomón, a youtube star and influencer.

belen is clearly an incredibly talented (and busy!) female entrepreneur, and she is such a bright star in the fashion industry. we are honored to call her a friend and collaborator! 

we highly encourage you to check out belen on the platforms linked above, and follow @shopwithbelen and @stylebybelen on instagram. 

please stay tuned for a very exciting giveaway between kai and belen to be launching soon!

xo,
gaye.

how did you start your career? and how did you end up with your current role?

i was a fashion stylist for 12 years and i had the opportunity to design a capsule collection and never looked back. now i am a full-time clothing designer. 

 

what do you like most about what you do professionally? 

design clothing for women to make them feel confident and comfortable.
 

please share a few key points about the mission of your brand.

belen is designed by women, for women and made in the heart of downtown los angeles. we focus on sustainable materials and making basics that are made to last. 

how did you first discover kai? please share a memory of your first-time using kai, which product it 

was, and anything special you noticed during your experience.

it was 2005 and i was working at a boutique in irvine, ca and when we got our first shipment of kai products the smell was absolutely incredible and immediately made me feel like i was on vacation.
 

what’s your beauty secret? or must-have beauty product? 

ice roller is an absolute must and tons of water!
 

go-to lipstick color? 

kosas jellyfish. 
 

what color nail polish are you wearing right now? 

lincoln park after dark.
 

how would you describe your personal style? 

effortless, timeless and girl on the go.

describe your perfect day. 

meditation right after waking up, a morning walk with my pitbull, followed by pilates and a day at the beach with my husband, then take-out at home with our dog and a romcom movie, ideally “it’s complicated.”

ultimate getaway?

anywhere in italy.
 

favorite food? 

sushi. 

favorite date spot? 

little beach house malibu.

guilty pleasure?  

the kardashians. 
 

morning person or night owl? 

morning person all the way. 

currently craving? 

a vacation to cabo.
 

ideal way to relax/unwind? 

a warm shower, peppermint tea and getting in bed at 9pm.

thank you, belen!