Bond-eye’s New Horizons

22 November 2024

Known for the unique stretch of its Authentic Crinkle designed to fit a size XS through to an L, Australian brand bond-eye is introducing two new fabrics as well as an underwire balconette bra. Together with its sister brands, Artesands and Sea Level, it

Which is currently bond-eye's biggest market?
The USA has always been our biggest market. This Miami Swim Week will be my 10th and it's where the US business all started.

Other shows we participate in are Bungalow in Huntington Beach which we have done for years. We very much feel a part of the SoCal swim community. We have forged some wonderful relationships over the years and we feel very connected to our account base and the local swim industry.

How is your progression into the European market proceeding?
We have turned a very significant focus to investing in Europe and the UK which is starting to pay dividends. As it stands presently, our brands are currently distributed in Italy, France, Germany, Greece, Benelux, Scandinavia, Poland and the Baltic States and the UK. We also work and build our footprint in the UAE. We are investing in these relationships and markets and part of that investment is Trade Shows.

Portrait Photo: Steve Philpott, CEO

Bond-eye is famous for its distinctive Crinkle fabric. Have there been any developments?
There are many tubular Crinkle copy fabrics and brands in the market but we are working in partnership with the Inventor of the Original and Authentic Tubular Crinkle. This original crinkle fabric is celebrating its 40th anniversary right now and this is a testament to just how amazing and still so relevant this original crinkle fabric is.

We are constantly looking to innovate and have introduced exclusive jacquards, lure yarns and lustres, multiple stripes and new sustainable fibres. We recently rolled out a new recycled fiber made from 100% recycled nylon with Lycra, which is used in all our exclusive Crinkle fabrics while maintaining a soft, luxe hand feel.

What about as regards new styles?
We have just released the Gracie balconette underwire top and it is the first Authentic Crinkle unsized underwire in the market. We spent a great deal of time perfecting the fit and getting this right. The Gracie has been received exceptionally well and we have struggled to keep up with demand.

What other new projects are you working on with bond-eye?
We have new product categories launching in October which include two new fabrics that we will be showing at Miami Swim Week, Splash Paris, NY Fashion Week, Wonderland in London and various regional shows as we move into ready to wear.

We have been asked for a long time by brand stakeholders to add these categories to our repertoire, we have listened and we have created something special. Every brand does a button through collar shirt and something simple like this as an extension to swim.

We made some shirts last season and felt they were too pedestrian so we developed a recycled stretch mesh to create a collection of RTW styles that complement the swimwear and take bond-eve from the beach to restaurant/cafe to the bar. The second fabric is Bare by bond eve fashioned from GRS-certified reccled nylon and elastane (see box below).

As concerns Sea Level in which direction are they headed?
Sea Level are excited to introduce innovative Beach Accessories to complement our elevated Swim and Resort Wear collections.

Available from Resort 2025 (October-December 2024), our beach accessories complete the vacation capsule. Sea Level is now the #1 independent Australian retailer swim brand in Australia and NZ. It is growing quickly in North America and we are also building our distribution in Europe now and the plan is to continue to invest in the structure to enable the very significant organic growth to continue. Sea Level appeals to a wide audience and since adding covers and apparel, the brand has grown beyond swimwear exponentially. We are investing significantly in this category off the back of sell through and demand that we are struggling to keep up with.

What about Artesands?
Our Curvy Plus Size brand is following in Sea Level's steps and building a North American retail base. A great deal of intellectual property in design and fit has gone into this brand and we are gaining loyalty swimsuit by swimsuit. The same design process has been applied to the Apparel and Covers category and this is a very significant area of growth for the brand.

What's next on your agenda and looking to the future?
We have some big things happening and a couple of important collaborations which will be revealed soon, though for the time being we want to keep an element of surprise. Further, we will continue as we have done from the start to develop our commitment to sustainability and to giving back through the women's charities we support.

Bare by bond eye Introducing bare by bond-eye, a revolutionary new fabric that redefines the boundaries between swimwear, athleisure, and ready-to-wear. Created in collaboration with an innovative boutique textile mill, each piece has been meticulously knitted and assembled in Australia, and fashioned from GRS-certified recycled nylon and elastane.

Redefining luxury and sustainability, our fabric has been made with a self-lining for impeccable structure and support, ensuring a sumptuously smooth feel against your skin.
We've also incorporated gentle, seamless edges, offering unparalleled comfort while wearing. Designed to adapt to different body types, our range spans from XS to XL, ensuring inclusivity and versatility.
This results in a range of hybrid-wear pieces that seamlessly transition from sandy shores to street-styling, embodying the bond-eye approach to life lived between the city and the sea.