Today we’d like to introduce you to Angelina Rennell.
Hi Angelina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Beklina got its start in 2006 as one of the very first online “eco-boutiques.” The brand was founded by Angelina Rennell in La Selva Beach, California, and its origin story is rooted in a mix of motherhood, tech background, and a personal quest for sustainable high quality textiles.
Today, Beklina has transitioned from a curated hobby into an influential, independent fashion line and shop. It is highly regarded for its “native-modern” aesthetic and its coveted, ethically handmade clogs and knits produced by family-run operations in Peru, Nepal, and the USA.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road for Beklina was an entirely custom-built path. By rejecting fast-fashion timelines and sticking to a fiercely independent vision for two decades, the brand’s struggles are exactly what gave it its enduring soul.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Beklina has crossed its two-decade milestone. In an industry notoriously brutal to independent designers, Rennell has sustained a thriving, globally respected brand while remaining entirely family-run and independent.
Furthermore, she has accomplished this while prioritizing mental and emotional health over corporate scaling. Rennell has been candid about her personal struggles with anxiety and her deep dislike for traditional, commercial “shopping malls.” She should be immensely proud of building a business that acts as an antidote to fast fashion—one that protects her own peace, respects its artisans, and honors the environment.
In the fashion world, Rennell is incredibly famous for her line of Beklina clogs (specifically her signature ribbed clogs and boot clogs). Featuring hand-carved wooden bases produced by a small family factory in Peru, they have earned a massive cult following for balancing high design with actual, everyday comfort.
In an industry that often defaults to minimal neutrals for sustainability, Rennell is known for “eating images for breakfast.” Her work is instantly recognizable for its rich, unusual color palettes, geometric rhythms, and bold patterns.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Keep your pace intentional, choose quality over chaos, and give yourself the grace to build things slowly and comfortably so that your unique, authentic marks actually have the room to grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beklina.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beklinawoman
