How Bondi Born launched a bikini empire by exporting first

Until recently Australian-made luxury swimwear label Bondi Born could only be found in upmarket retailers in Europe, America and the Caribbean.

With the launch last May of its ecommerce websites in Australia, the US and Europe, Australian women can now join the fashionably swim-suited by the pool or at the beach.

This unique approach to building the brand globally rather than locally has seen turnover of between $1 million and $2 million for 2017.

From finance to fashion

Businesswoman Dale McCarthy started Bondi Born in Sydney 2015. McCarthy's background is financial rather than fashion.

She was a founding partner of venture capital fund Foundry Group, chairman of Online Marketing Group and was head of strategy and mergers and acquisitions for Fairfax Digital.

Looking for a career change, McCarthy "wanted to work on something every day that I loved".

"I wanted to build a brand that I am passionate about," she says.

"Bondi is one of the world's most iconic beaches. My raison d'être was to take Bondi to the world by way of Australian-made upmarket swimwear using exclusive print fabrics, handmade hardware trims and soft-to-the-touch linings."

Working with a production team expert in swimwear, McCarthy's focus is changing the global perspective that "Australia is not often associated with luxury swimwear". Read more

Carol Saffer - Brisbane Times - 7 Jan 2018