We had the good fortune of connecting with Emmi & Olivia Cole and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emmi & Olivia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Our names are Emmi and Olivia Cole, and we started Turbulent Mind while living in Bali, Indonesia. At the time, we were working at a marine conservation where life and adventure happened daily. To make extra cash, we began designing tattoos for volunteers and tourists. People gave us creative freedom, and every customer walked away with a one-of-a-kind design from Bali.
When we weren’t working, we were surfing, diving, and exploring the island. During this time, we realized how difficult it was to find women’s surfwear and boardshorts that weren’t just cute, but also truly functional and flattering to the female body. This gap in the market stuck with us, and we began sketching ideas for pieces we wished existed.
Soon after, volunteers encouraged us to put our artwork on t-shirts and bring our swimwear designs to life. Curious, we connected with local sustainable manufacturers, and before long we were placing our first sample orders. That’s when we asked ourselves: What if we could build a brand that wasn’t just clothing, but a lifestyle?
We envisioned a brand that would support travelers, surfers, and risk-takers while highlighting the importance of sustainability and cultivating confidence in the midst of life’s chaos. From that vision, the Chaos Crew was born — a community of men and women that shows chaos can be transformed into creativity, resilience, and strength.
At its core, Turbulent Mind is about making sustainable surfwear accessible to all: soft to the touch, built for movement, and affordable. What began as a creative side project has grown into a mission-driven brand, fueled by our love for the ocean, our belief in resilience, and our passion for empowering others to live boldly. After all, we’re all just trying to find success amongst the chaos.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Turbulent Mind is a sustainable lifestyle brand that’s both affordable and surf-certified. What really sets us apart is our focus on women’s swimwear and men’s apparel. For women, we’ve designed boardshorts and swimwear that are actually tested and approved for surfing—something we always felt was missing. They blend that nostalgic 90s surf aesthetic with the functionality women have always deserved.
On the men’s side, we know how hard it is to replace a favorite shirt, so we set out to design custom t-shirts that maximize comfort, fit perfectly, and are soft to the touch—pieces meant to become everyday staples.
Getting here hasn’t been easy. Like any new business, there have been plenty of ups and downs, but we’ve always tried to find the open window when a door closes. Learning to take joy and lessons from challenges has been the driving force behind our growth.
And at its heart, Turbulent Mind is female-founded and run by twin sisters. We’ve been part of the surf and travel world for years, and this brand is our way of giving back on a bigger scale. Life can be chaotic, but it’s also beautiful—and Turbulent Mind was created to celebrate that balance.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When having friends visit, our main priority is always to share as much of the beach lifestyle as possible. We’ll surf at Doheny State Beach, tan at Strands, and head to Salt Creek for a picnic and to watch the sunset.
If we’re not at the beach, we’re usually sharing our favorite restaurants—JR’s for breakfast, Project Social for lunch or dinner, or Stillwater for live music and good vibes. When it comes to grabbing a drink, we like to keep it mellow at The Point or Turks. And if we’re just hanging out and enjoying the city, nothing beats picking up sandwiches from Beach Hut and relaxing at Capo Beach.
For us, Dana Point is the perfect place to show people what life in Southern California is truly like.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We would not be where we are today without our parents, Tina and Don Cole. Our mom gave us the creative eye that shapes so many of the beautiful details within Turbulent Mind—without her, the brand simply wouldn’t look the same. Our dad is the one constantly encouraging us to take the next step, always offering advice and guidance whenever it’s needed. They have been our biggest supporters from the very beginning, reminding us that every goal is only the start and inspiring us to keep reaching further. We also want to recognize the marine conservation community and all of the volunteers who encouraged us to take the leap and bring Turbulent Mind to life.

Website: https://Turbulentmind.com

Instagram: @Turbulentmind

Other: TikTok: @Turbulent.Mind

Image Credits
Noah Deer & Noah McPherson

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