Malia Mua Efferding
BY KYLANI
I was born in Salelologa, Savaii, and raised in the villages of Sapapalii and Satupaitea before moving to American Samoa at the age of ten. Designing has always been my passion, and after high school, that passion started to take shape in a small sewing shop.
I was surrounded by skilled seamstresses and vibrant fabrics, with designs that came to life on the bodies of our Samoan women. That was the beginning. My late grandmother and mother have always been my greatest inspirations for their quiet royalty and grace. Their strength, dignity, and deep sense of self shaped how I see beauty and continue to guide my work today. At 25, I moved to the U.S.
Life took its turns, but the dream never left me. Twelve years later, I launched an online fitness wear store. That experience gave me the foundation and confidence to create By Kylani, a brand designed for Polynesian women of all shapes and sizes.
Our mission is simple: to design clothing that honors our curves and celebrates the strength, grace, and beauty we carry, not just in how we look, but in who we are.
By Kylani links below: