INTERVIEW with Swimbarre || Brisbane Fashion Festival 2025 Designer (Hancock Prospecting Next Gen Group Show)
SD: Hi Swimbarre, for my readers who don’t know you yet, can you please introduce yourself?
S: Swimbarre began with a simple idea: to create sustainable luxury swimwear and activewear that moves with you, wherever you are. Born from a love of minimal design, movement, and the ocean, the brand was founded to offer something different — refined silhouettes, conscious production, and styling versatility that extends beyond the beach.
What started as a vision (watching a woman swimming laps with quiet strength in her modern active crop and bikini briefs at my childs swimming lesson!) quickly evolved into a commitment to sustainability, slow fashion, and effortless style - designed for modern women who live in motion.
SD: What kind of music do you like and how do you incorporate it into your fashion design?
S: I honestly like a variety of music and used to dance and now teach pilates so love a good playlist! Music is part of the creative language. I’ll often build playlists to match the collection’s energy, and that rhythm carries through to the styling, movement, and the final runway or photoshoot.
SD: What’s your creative routine like? Where do you start and how do you know when something’s finished?
S: It begins with intention - creating a theme, building a moodboard, sketching and sourcing fabrics, then refining. I focus on restraint - designing less, but adaptable styles that can move from studio to beach. I want every garment to feel essential and versatile, not seasonal or disposable. Sustainability guides every stage, from fabric selection to production volume.
SD: What would be your dream fashion gig right now?
S: I’d love to create an immersive runway experience in nature - by the ocean, in a rainforest, or somewhere raw and expansive Or even a capsule collaboration with a sustainable resort or wellness destination - a space where the pieces are truly lived in - swum in, lounged in, moved in.
SD: Describe your personal style of clothing?
S: Minimal, considered and effortless. I gravitate toward clean silhouettes, tonal layering, and garments that move - think wide-leg pants, open backs, oversized shirting, swimwear worn as bodysuits & sleek black bikinis under tailoring. I live in black, white, and earthy tones with a splash of colour, and I value pieces that feel versatile and elevated without trying too hard. It’s about dressing with intention and quiet confidence.
SD: Without giving too much details away, what should we expect from your collection for Brisbane Fashion Festival 2025?
S: We are featuring an edit from our modern classics through to our Solace collection.
Solace was inspired by tranquillity, movement, and effortless elegance - a reflection of calm coastal escapes, soft textures, and sustainable luxury. The collection embodies a sense of serenity and strength, designed for individuals who seek versatile, conscious fashion that flows seamlessly from the studio to the sea. Timeless, modern, and made to last.
See Swimbarre on the runway. Buy your tickets here
Brisbane Fashion Festival Website: https://brisbanefashionfestival.com/
Brisbane Fashion Festival Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrisbaneFashionFestival
Brisbane Fashion Festival Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brisbane.fashionfestival/
Swimbarre’s Social Media Presence:
Website: https://swimbarre.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swimbarre/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimbarre/
Photo Credits:
Photographer: Coops Classic
Model: Elle Bray
Stylist: Annette Martin