As Seen in Grazia
By Rebekah Clark
After 13 years of providing sustainable swimwear across the globe, White Sands returns home.
After 13 years at the helm of beloved swimwear brand, White Sands, designer and founder Leah Madden revealed Spring/Summer 2021 to an influencer-fuelled guest list at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week. Within the cold halls of Carriageworks, White Sands brought the heat with a showcase of beach-ready ensembles.
High-cut bottoms, velvet and sunny colourways formed much of the swimwear styles while oriental-inspired coverups rounded out the collection.
“What makes this collection different is our focus on resortwear with an extensive range of elegant, effortless pieces designed to transition you from pool-to-bar,” Madden tells GRAZIA. “Matched back to the themes of the swimwear, think relaxed silhouettes and shades that come to life under the sun. This year the collection uses recycled fabrics predominantly, which is something I’ve been doing since 2013.”
According to Madden, SS21 was an ode to Australia as borders to the rest of the world remain closed. She recalls memories of past holidays and our relaxed beach culture as the foundation of building the styles.
“As I usually travel a lot, I find inspiration from the places I visit,” Madden said. “However this past year allowed me to focus on ‘home’, Australia, we are one of the most beautiful, diverse countries in the world. This collection is a very much a personal one, as it reflects my lifetime of exploring Australia in all its splendour. From weekends spent barefoot in Byron Bay, to days spent on the harbour in Sydney, it is a celebration of Australian beach culture in all its variations.
Established in 2008, White Sands rose to prominence through its A-list cameo of celebrities including Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, Georgia Fowler and Miranda Kerr. The brand first operated out of a tiny patio in Bondi Beach so it’s only fitting for the label to not only survive COVID-19 but reemerge with its home country in mind.