When one woman discovered how a bright yellow hammock could make strangers smile, she turned that joy into a global business that supports women artisans around the world.
Challenge
It all started with a hammock.
In the early 2000s, Stephanie Z. was living in Washington, D.C., freshly returned from working in Africa. She loved to relax in a bright yellow-and-orange hammock she’d bought abroad, often stringing it up outside her Capitol Hill apartment on sunny days.
While she swayed and read, busy professionals in suits and heels would rush past — faces buried in their BlackBerrys — until they noticed her. One by one, people stopped, smiled, and even struck up conversations.
Stephanie noticed something: a hammock had the power to slow people down. It made them happy, if only for a moment.
She mentioned this to a friend and joked, “We should make our own hammocks and sell them.” So they tried.
After weeks of experimenting with fabric and sewing patterns, they finally finished one. It looked great — but when they did the math, it was clear they couldn’t sell it for a price that made sense. The project quietly faded into the “someday” pile.
At least, for a while.
Action
Two years later, Stephanie’s life had changed completely. She had taken a new job with a humanitarian organization in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where she worked directly with women artisans.
One day at a local market, she spotted a pile of bright nylon fabric — the exact kind she had once dreamed of using. She bought a few meters, found a local seamstress, and sketched the hammock design from memory.
The next day, the seamstress handed her a finished piece — vibrant, strong, and beautifully made. That’s when Stephanie realized she could finally bring her idea to life.
She called two friends back in the U.S. and said, “Remember that hammock idea? I think I just figured out how to make it work — and we can do it in a way that supports women here in Cambodia.”
The three friends joined forces and launched Color Cloud Hammocks — a business built on happiness, craftsmanship, and purpose.
Stephanie worked with Cambodian women to produce the first batch of hammocks, while her partners in the U.S. handled design, marketing, and logistics. They created lightweight, travel-friendly hammocks with unique touches like built-in iPhone pockets and colorful stuff sacks.
Their first challenge came quickly: shipping. Sending each hammock to the U.S. cost $11, cutting deeply into their margins. On top of that, supply consistency was tough — getting the same quality fabric in Cambodia wasn’t always possible.
Despite these obstacles, they kept going. They improved their website, told their story online, and found creative ways to spread the word. Soon, Color Cloud Hammocks became a hit among travelers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts who loved their mix of quality and social impact.
When the cost and logistics of production in Cambodia became too difficult, Stephanie moved manufacturing to Ethiopia — keeping her commitment to employing and empowering women in local communities.
Result
Over time, Color Cloud Hammocks grew into a sustainable business. The team began shipping over 1,000 hammocks a year and eventually reached 5,000 sales worldwide.
Their products now appear in gift shops, garden stores, and online marketplaces across the U.S. They even design custom-branded hammocks for companies, breweries, and events — including the World Domination Summit, where the bright fabrics became iconic.
Although the founders could have boosted profits by switching to cheaper manufacturing in China, they refused to compromise their values. Supporting women artisans remained at the heart of their mission.
As Stephanie explains, “Some companies focus on giving back after they make a profit. We invest directly in the people who make our products — that’s where real impact happens.”
Lesson
Stephanie and her friends built Color Cloud Hammocks around one simple idea: joy. What began as a bright yellow hammock on a front porch evolved into a mission-driven company that empowers women and makes people smile around the world.
Their journey shows that the best business ideas don’t just solve problems — they share positivity. And sometimes, the most powerful movements start with something as simple as a place to rest.
Inspired by a true story originally featured on Side Hustle School by Chris Guillebeau. This rewritten version is independently produced and fully original.