Swim to sustainability with this Australian bikini brand that ticks all the boxes.
First stepping into the fashion game back in 2013, today, 32-year-old Rebecca Klodisnky, designer and director of Australian swimwear brand IIXIIST, is proud that women can feel good knowing that their bikini does more than just look good on.
Whilst many businesses have been suffering tremendously from financial backlash thanks to the dramatic changes brought about in 2020, thankfully the Australian designer was able to use COVID-19 to her advantage – resetting, realigning and recycling the manufacturing process of her already thriving bikini brand IIXIIST.
They say that goodbyes are always the hardest; but for Klodinsky, after learning about Australia’s throwaway culture of fast fashion, she knew exactly what she had to do – and that was saying so long to unsustainable production.
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- IIXIIST Mili Top Crinkle and Mili Bottom Crinkle. Image supplied
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- IIXIIST Prestwick Top Crinkle and G3 Bottom Crinkle. Image supplied
On average, Australians purchase 27-kilograms of textiles each year (including leather and homewares), while discarding a whopping 23-kilograms as well – most of which are synthetic fibres. All in all, Australians consume annually double the global average of 13-kilograms a person. Just let that sink in for a second.
Fast fashion describes clothing businesses which use low-cost and unsustainable methods to create high volumes of trend-driven clothing. And, while this remains a staple for many brands’ current success, Rebecca knew that she had to make a change to help set an example for her fellow fashion fiends and designers. That change was to ensure that fashion (whether that be swimwear, loungewear or anything in between) is produced to have the longevity that it deserves.
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- Rebecca Klodisnky IIXIIST. Image supplied.
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- Rebecca Klodisnky IIXIIST. Image supplied.
Putting aside baking, Netflix bingeing and whipping up dalogna coffees, Rebecca saw the opportunity that a break caused by COVID-19 might offer, and began to completely redesign the production line of her brand. She has relaunched with a collection that is 100% sustainable, ethically sourced and produced in child-free environments; all whilst inside an AFL isolation hub, alongside her partner’s (Lachie Henderson, Geelong Football Club) training and AFL game schedule and toddler in tow.
The sensational new collection is constructed using only 100% recycled lycra, made from repurposed fabrications and ocean-waste; IIXIIST’s yarn is derived from pre- and post-industrial waste such as discarded fishing nets, carpet fluff (the top part of nylon carpets) and tulle.
Having built her multimillion-dollar swimwear brand from the ground up twice – from Frankie to Frankii Swim and then to IIXIIST – Rebecca looks back on the past seven years and pays tribute to the thriving transition her label has endured.
To learn more about IIXIIST and shop the latest collection, head to the IIXIIST website.
Just in time for summer and before you head on out into the sun, why not invest in one of these 10 sustainabLE and eco-friendly sunscreen brands for summer? Or, for some more conscious and ethically-minded clothing, perform your absolute best in these Australian made sustainable and ethical activewear brands.
