Today we’d like to introduce you to Malena.
Hi Malena, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Everything began in 2021, when my husband and I decided to leave our beloved Peru to embark on a new chapter in this country. Back in Lima, our lives were deeply rooted in sports and entrepreneurship: I owned and directed concepts for a children’s party entertainment company, while also actively competing as the captain of my club’s tennis team. My husband, meanwhile, dedicated himself to teaching the sport we both love so much.
When we arrived here, while he began teaching tennis in the Katy area, I faithfully accompanied him to help interpret and translate into English. Without planning it, that became our gateway into the vibrant local tennis community.
As we integrated and I began signing up for various women’s leagues, I noticed a very particular detail: unlike what we were used to in Lima—where teams competed in spotless, coordinated uniforms—the players here typically didn’t wear team uniforms.
That small observation sparked an idea. I saw a perfect opportunity to blend my background in business ventures, my love for tennis, and the incredible textile talent of my homeland. That is how the idea was born to start importing skirts, tops, and athletic apparel from Lima to create custom, beautiful uniforms for the tennis players in our community. What began as a flash of inspiration has blossomed into a bridge between my two homes and a project that truly reflects our core: hard work, passion, and strong connection through sport.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Building this path hasn’t been a smooth road, and we certainly faced our fair share of struggles along the way. Coming from Lima, our local tennis players were accustomed to major, well-known brands, so one of our biggest initial hurdles was introducing them to something entirely new and unique: standing out through our own original prints rather than traditional labels.
Another major challenge was adapting to the incredible diversity of women’s bodies across different ages and builds. This reality forced us to venture far beyond standard sizing, designing specific models tailored to various physical characteristics—a process that definitely made us struggle and test our limits until we got it right.
Perhaps the steepest learning curve, however, was personal. I was a team captain and a passionate entrepreneur, not a trained seamstress or a fashion designer. I had to dive headfirst into research, relying on relentless trial and error until I finally found the right manufacturing workshop capable of delivering the high-end finish my standards demanded. Naturally, this entire journey involved a significant financial investment, but every obstacle shaped us and made the final result truly worthwhile.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Pinkpoint LLC actually started as an idea shared with my great friend Roxana, with whom we initially began spreading the word about the originality of our prints. However, a few months later, she had to move to another state. I reached a crossroads: I could either close the business or take it on entirely by myself. That was when I decided to push forward alone in a brand-new country, having to learn the ins and outs of a retail system I had never worked with before. Today, I am the creator, manager, and salesperson, I handle the marketing—in short, I am a one-woman band!
What truly distinguishes us and what clients love most is the exceptional quality of our skirt fabrics and our signature inner shorts, which we managed to make ultra-comfortable by integrating specific features requested directly by the players. We are the go-to brand for teams that want to stand out as a truly unique, cohesive unit. Of course, I also make it a point to be personally present at local tennis and padel tournaments.
Above all, what makes me the proudest is when I run into someone who tells me that the skirt they bought from me is still their absolute favorite, that they keep wearing it, and that it still looks brand new. I want everyone who reaches out to us to know that we deliver a high-quality product built to last over time, one that will make them stand out from the rest, and that any idea they have in mind, we can bring to life.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone just starting out, it would be this: educate yourself thoroughly and make informed decisions with knowledge.
When you start a business in a new country, you have to learn the rules of the game with zero room for error regarding private enterprise protocols, taxes, and local laws. I definitely want to express my deepest gratitude to the SBDC (Small Business Development Center). I took all of their courses—both in-person and online—and worked closely with a personal advisor who guided me every step of the way to make the best, fully informed decisions.
Surrounding yourself with the right guidance and understanding the legal and financial frameworks from day one is the absolute key to building something that lasts.
Pricing:
- Personalized Tennis Skirts $60
- Solid color Tops and Tanks $35
- Tennis Fans Accessories $10 and up
- Beachwear for men $35
Contact Info:
- Instagram: bravat.sportswear
- Facebook: Bravat Sportswear
