Today we’d like to introduce you to Cameron Sykes.
Hi Cameron, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Only Ohana was born during the COVID 19 pandemic. Like a lot of people, I suddenly had something I had not had much of before, time. Instead of letting it go to waste, I decided to teach myself how to sew. I started buying sweatpants from Walmart and tailoring them by hand, turning simple basics into something that felt unique. Those first pairs sold surprisingly well, and that gave me confidence that I might be onto something bigger.
The name “Only Ohana” actually goes back much further than the business itself. In middle school, my friends and I called ourselves “Ohana,” which means family. We always talked about creating clothes that were just for us, pieces that represented our group and could not be found anywhere else. Years later, when it came time to build a brand, that memory stuck with me. Only Ohana became a way to honor those friendships while creating something that could bring people together through fashion.
After launching the website and consistently posting online, things slowly started gaining traction. One of the biggest turning points came when I connected with social media influencer Carlos Harris Jr. Although he was from Texas, he spent time in New Jersey, New York, and frequently traveled to Los Angeles. He genuinely believed in the brand, shared it with his audience, and we completely sold out. That exposure opened doors into some of the biggest fashion markets in the country and showed me just how much potential the brand had.
As the business grew, I realized I needed to understand marketing just as much as product creation, so I taught myself how to run paid advertising. After launching a baby blue sweatpants collection, the campaign took off and became a viral success, generating well into six figures in sales. That experience completely changed the trajectory of the business and taught me the value of combining creativity with data driven marketing.
Today, Only Ohana has grown into something much larger than a clothing brand. Alongside it, we launched Only Ohana Studios, the manufacturing side of the business. Through the studio, we offer DTG printing, wholesale blanks, custom apparel production, and manufacturing services for other brands and businesses. Our vision is to have both companies work hand in hand. Only Ohana serves as proof of what we are capable of building, while Only Ohana Studios helps bring other brands’ ideas to life. In many ways, we have come full circle. What started as a dream between friends to create clothing for our own “family” has evolved into a business that is helping build communities and brands for others as well.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most growing businesses, we definitely experienced growing pains. Looking back, one of our biggest challenges was expanding too quickly without having the capital to support that growth.
At one point, we had between 50 and 70 products that customers consistently wanted, but we did not have enough inventory capital to keep every style and size fully stocked. We tried to be everything to everyone, and instead of focusing on our best sellers, we spread ourselves too thin. That strategy ended up creating more problems than opportunities and taught us the importance of growing strategically instead of simply growing quickly.
Another major challenge was trying to delegate our marketing as the business expanded. I wanted to free up my time so I could focus on other areas of the company, so I hired and worked with marketing agencies from the West Coast, overseas, locally, and even friends. While each experience taught me something valuable, none of them truly understood the vision behind the brand the way I did. It became clear that if I wanted to maintain the quality and consistency of our marketing, I needed to build those capabilities in house.
That realization ultimately led to the creation of Only Ohana Studios. What started as a solution to improve our own brand has evolved into an entirely new side of the business. Today, we not only create and market for Only Ohana, but we also help other brands through manufacturing, DTG printing, wholesale blanks, and production services. Some of our biggest struggles ended up becoming the foundation for our next chapter, and that has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have always been a creative person. Growing up, I enjoyed building things, creating ideas, and connecting with people. I also consider myself a genuine person, so interacting with others and exploring life has always brought me more fulfillment than sitting behind a desk. That is what naturally led me to entrepreneurship.
Today, through Only Ohana and Only Ohana Studios, I get to combine creativity with business every day. We specialize in creating apparel, manufacturing products for brands, DTG printing, wholesale blanks, and helping businesses bring their ideas to life. Whether we are building our own collections or producing products for someone else’s vision, our goal is always the same: create something people are proud to wear and represent.
What I am most proud of is that I built this from an idea into two businesses that work together. Every challenge, every lesson, and every success has helped shape where we are today. Seeing our own brand grow while helping other entrepreneurs launch theirs is incredibly rewarding.
What sets us apart is that we understand both sides of the industry. We are not just a manufacturer, and we are not just a clothing brand. We actively build our own brand while helping others build theirs, so we understand the challenges that come with both. That perspective allows us to serve our customers in a much more meaningful way.
At the end of the day, this has never been just about making money. Of course, every business needs to be profitable, but what truly drives me is the opportunity to create, connect with people, and build something that lasts. Only Ohana has become more than a business. It is a lifestyle that reflects who I am, the relationships I have built, and the impact I hope to leave on others. That is what fulfills me the most.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I honestly do not have one specific book or podcast that I recommend because I am constantly learning from a variety of sources. I spend a lot of my free time listening to podcasts and what I jokingly call “YouTube University.” I enjoy finding interviews, business conversations, and mindset content from entrepreneurs and creatives who have already walked the path I’m trying to build.
I have always believed that investing in your mindset is just as important as investing in your business. I am constantly looking for knowledge that can help me become a better entrepreneur, a better leader, and a better person. I think staying curious and never feeling like you know it all is one of the biggest reasons I have continued to grow. There is always something new to learn, and I try to carry that mindset into every part of my life and business.
Contact Info:
- Website: Onlyohana.com and onlyohanastudios.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/onlyohanabrand
