CLEVER AUSSIES Q&A TINA ISHAK
A Bondi-based swimwear designer taps into our collective love of sun, sand and sea while striving to produce a product that is kind to the environment at the same time. We talk all things Baythe Swim.
What was your inspiration for launching Baythe Swim?
The idea first came to me a couple of years ago while sitting on a beautiful beach in the Greek Islands. I was searching for swimwear that was both minimal in design and easy to wear. I wanted enough coverage in all the right places without all the deep extreme cuts – something that I knew would stay put and still look flattering after a swim in the ocean. I remember thinking about how dissatisfied I was, not only with the market overseas but also within Australia, which seemed to have higher price points and poorer quality fabrics. The shapes also didn’t seem to work for my body type, being either too highly cut or sitting too low on the hips, cutting off my legs and barely covering my behind.
How would you describe the Baythe Swim aesthetic?
Baythe Swim is all about minimalist and easily wearable swimwear designs that focus on quality fabrics but are affordable and, of course, look and feel good on the body.
You have set your brand apart from the start with the use of recycled fabrics.
I have a strong desire to create something with Baythe that shows respect to our planet. By being mindful in regards to the manufacturing process, choice of fabrics and minimal/reusable packaging, Baythe’s objective is to make people feel positive about their choice to purchase this product. Increasingly we are becoming aware of the broader impact that poor quality and mass-produced fashion is having on our environment and I didn’t want to put something out there that only contributed to more of this. I was personally searching for swimwear that met these criteria and couldn’t find the right mix of these elements so I decided to produce my own line. I live by the beach so it’s an everyday part of my life and I wanted to create something that was true to that.
How hard is it to find fabric that fitS with your creative vision?
The use of recycled fabrics is definitely an emerging area in fashion and you can see that with things like Future Tech Lab, pioneered by Miroslava Duma, with a board of key industry leaders investing in innovation including fabrics. In saying that, there’s not a huge amount of option or access at this time and when I was meeting with manufacturers I came across one fabric that stood out for me due to a number of qualities including the sustainability factor, [that it was suitable for use as both] swim and activewear with four-way stretch, and its UV protection, moisture wicking and water resistance. My vision is to get more out of a product [in order to prolong] its lifespan and therefore move away from fast fashion, so it seemed to be the perfect fit but also the only option; I disregarded everything else.
what are your favourite Australian beaches?
[In Sydney] I love Bondi Beach and Icebergs pool in the early morning before the crowds get in. Whale Beach is just a special place with all the seaside rocks and Wategos Beach in Byron Bay for its very chilled vibe.
What next for baythe swim?
Expansion is on the cards. After launching Baythe Swim in November last year and then having my first child following that in December, a children’s swim range could be on the horizon so watch this space!