“Value Ourselves, Each Other & the Planet.” GEORGI SWIMMS debuts sustainable collection

“Value Ourselves, Value Each Other, Value the Planet.” are the core values of sustainable Australian swimwear brand GEORGI SWIMMS.

Shocked by witnessing an off shore production in China as a young fashion student the founder of the brand, Mere Thompson, knew that she would go a different way with her own label. Each GEORGI SWIMMS piece is ethical crafted in Sydney, Australia from Italian Lycra crafted from discarded ocean plastics and is not only incredibly comfortable for all shapes and sizes but has built in SPF+ to keep you protected. The young brand also expresses Mere´s belief of what fashion is and should be: “A BOLD self-expression not limited to ‘the perfect woman’ but an offer extended to every woman, inclusive and celebratory of all comfort levels, ethnicity’s and shapes and sizes.”

We talked to the designer about how she found the focus for her vision again, sustainable fashion, her debut collection, and her big and small dreams.

So what made you start the brand GEORGI SWIMMS?

Fun fact I actually started GEORGI SWIMMS a year earlier than when it actually launched. I’t ended up falling flat as I was just incredibly unmotivated and my vision was really all over the place. Another year of working in the industry, travelling overseas is what I needed to really hone into what I was looking to achieve and what angle GEORGI SWIMMS would take into creating a brand that was true to myself and to what I wanted to do creatively. From there things started falling into place a little more gracefully.

Each GEORGI SWIMMS piece is handmade from Italian Lycra crafted from discarded ocean plastics. How did you get involved with sustainable fashion?

My interest in sustainable fashion started to grow when I was in fashion college. We were really challenged to look into processes off shore and on shore, to make up our own minds on what we thought “sustainable fashion” mean’t. I was lucky to witness off shore production in China in my 2nd Year where I was taken back with what I witnessed. What I would find as a young designer was quite shocking; Nothing ethical, no respect for workers, no safe working guidelines or fair pay systems, fabrications being treated with pesticides that have multi-generational effects on overseas communities such as India and China, water pollution from unsafe fabrication and yarn dyes – honestly the list doesn’t stop. The people who I met would start their day at 7am and finish until they were satisfied with how many pieces they had made that day as that would equate to what sum they would take home to there families. This isn’t to say all brands that manufacture offshore are like this, many brands are taking much needed action to better the system but the places we visited were quite shocking and something I will never forget.

I knew from that experience that it was something I never wanted to put my own label/name to something like that. That experience has shaped the very foundation of GEORGI SWIMMS, with our core values of the brand being “Value Ourselves, Value Each Other, Value the Planet” this mean’t that whatever GEORGI SWIMMS would create we would be determined to not make it to the detriment of our planet.

“I love playing with colours and using unique motifs but then I also love classic timeless designs, you really can’t go wrong with a classic black swimsuit.”

What is your debut limited collection influenced by?

My Debut Collection was inspired by many things. My travels overseas have really helped shape the Luxury, European design of the brand, that high end feel that pours out of European brands is something I wanted to encapsulate through GEORGI SWIMMS. I love playing with colours and using unique motifs to set GEORGI SWIMMS but then I also love classic timeless designs, you really can’t go wrong with a classic black swimsuit.

How did you chose your production place, I read that you produce in Australia, but how did you find the place and people you wanted to collaborate with?

I chose Australia because I want to try and keep production onshore for as long as I can especially for swimwear, we are such a blessed country surrounded by the best beaches it only makes sense. I am heading to the states next year as we are looking to launch GEORGI SWIMMS Resort collection and are looking to potentially produce in Los Angeles as a gateway to try and tap into the American Market.

How I found the places and people I wanted to collaborate with is actually by luck or extensive hounding. Everyone I have come into contact with whether they are my manufacturer or pattern maker or my models have really helped shape my brand in ways they probably don’t realise. They are the people that work endlessly behind the scenes to make my vision become a reality – they do it so gracefully with an outpour of advice.

“Living a sustainable life whether it’s in one aspect of your life or carrying out practices through all aspects requires so much sacrifice.”

It´s not a new topic – I think we know for a long time about how our clothes are produced. Why do you think it is still so difficult for most of us to refrain from buying cheaply produced clothes?

It’s so hard because it’s so accessible. We are in an era where “we deserve it”, “it’s only 20 bucks”, “I’ll put it on the credit card”. Knowing you get something that you will like for $20 has always been something that’s hard to pass up because “it’s only 20 bucks”. Unfortunately it’s not just “20 bucks”, it’s minimum wage, fabrics that are treated with pesticides and have effected communities livelihoods causing both defects for generations to come, polluted our oceans, animals being killed due to their environment being completely disregarded.

Living a sustainable life whether it’s in one aspect of your life or carrying out practices through all aspects requires so much sacrifice. It’s a lot harder and takes time, dedication and sacrifice.

Who is your muse, your inspiration?

I have far too many, there are too many brilliant minded humans out there. I love that we are in this time period where artistic minds are beyond celebrated. My all time muses are: Rihanna, Sofia Richie, Hailey Bieber, Serena Williams, Meghan Markle, Mia Freedman, My Mum. Greta Thunberg is currently someone I stand in awe of, she is a climate change/ethical/eco friendly warrior who is outstanding.

“There is a big reality to having your own small business, it’s hard work but every little win makes the long hours, incredibly hard days all worth it.”

Favorite place?

My Home – I love it, it´s where my creativity flows best, I can talk to myself about all my crazy ideas that go through my mind without looking mental. Oh and Paris, I’m hopelessly in love. I always feel a creative buzz when I’m there and the things you find are always amazing.

Favorite colour?

A soft pink. I’m also really loving greens at the moment.

Favorite beach?

This is so hard. Every beach in NSW is pretty amazing, we are incredibly lucky in Australia.

What are your goals and dreams for GEORGI SWIMMS and yourself in the future?

BIG BIG DREAM; I want GEORGI SWIMMS to be on the forefront of luxury brands. Something that people feel inspired and empowered by not only when they wear it but also when they don’t. I want GEORGI SWIMMS to be a leader in Sustainability pushing brands to challenge the status quo.

SMALL DREAM; To keep waking up in the morning and just keep working and pushing GEORGI SWIMMS to where I want it to be, even though there are many many days I want to quit and sleep in. There is a big reality to having your own small business, it’s hard work but every little win makes the long hours, incredibly hard days all worth it.

Shop here: www.georgiswimms.com.au

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