The Australians have hit the US swimwear market in a big way. New look books and line sheets from down under are continually making their way to my desk. Most of it is pretty cute, some of the styles are down right innovative. I have to admit, it can be difficult for an American to deal with a swimsuit manufacturer who caters to the summer crowd in December and has no idea just how important it is to make deliveries before Memorial Day weekend.
One Aussie swimwear company that has figured out the logistics is Zimmermann Swimwear. Nicky and Simone Zimmermann, two sisters who started their fashion label fifteen years ago with modest means, have grown their company into a successful, international affair. Their beachwear and clothing lines, with their unique styling and fresh approach, have been a huge hit everywhere they are shown. I found them about 3 years ago and put a few Zimmermann bikinis and smashing cover-ups in our store. The positive reaction from our customers was immediate and these days, we can barely keep them in stock.Another Aussie swimwear line that I'm quite interested in is Kooey Swimwear . They recently showed their latest wares at RAFW, Australian Fashion Week, this month. Their colors fresh and their styling full of interesting approaches. This is a young line with definite room for growth and improvement, but I think that they may be able to take it to a higher level. Hopefully, they will have the business platform to do so.
Another Aussie swimwear line worth mentioning is Glamorous Life Swimwear. There new looks are just coming out, so we'll just have to wait and see what they have going on. If nothing else, it's a great name!
And so, 2011 appears to be shaping up to be the year of Ozzzz....we shall see.
~ C.
