Boutique Australian swimwear brand Full Bums Swimwear has marked a milestone as it has been invited to showcase its unique range of swimwear and accessories at this month’s Miami Swim Week.
The Gold Coast-based business is the only Australian designer chosen to take part in the Flying Solo Miami Swim Week event, and the only brand dedicated to a full bum coverage.
“I’m one of 50 designers taking part in this specific event, and I think I’m going to stand out with my full coverage. A lot of the models won’t be wearing a lot!” Founder Ashya McDonald said. “I’m polar opposite to the other brands but I am so excited to have been accepted and show something different.”
Full Bums showcased eight looks at Perez Art Museum in Miami on July 2, including bikinis, one-pieces, kimonos, towels, hats and other swimwear accessories.
McDonald has collaborated with Australian artist Erin Reinboth, whose original artwork appear on the swimwear.
The brand offers sizes from size 6 AU to size 22 AU and has actively pushed to see more inclusive sizing and models on the catwalk.
“When I asked the Miami Swim Week event organisers what sizes they needed for the models, they said just sizes 4-6 Australian. I said, ‘no sorry, that’s not going to work. It’s 2024 and not every woman is a size 6’,” McDonald said. “So I am really proud to be representing diversity with our show. At least half of my models will be sizes 12, 14 and 16.”
McDonald shared that the business idea started as a joke when she moved to the Gold Coast from New South Wales.
“I was at the beach one day and I noticed there was a different style of swimwear trend. I just made this offhand comment, ‘one day I’m going to start a swimwear brand and I’m going to call it Full Bums’,”she said. “About a year later, a friend said, ‘you should actually do that’. I laughed and said ‘no I don’t have time for that. I’m just mucking around’. But the more I started thinking about it, I thought there was a gap in the market.”
Full Bums launched in September 2021 as a side hustle and has managed to double its revenue year on year and has expanded internationally to the US, UK, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, and Thailand.
“There are a lot of women worldwide who feel like there isn’t swimwear catered for them. A lot of women still want some extra coverage on their bottom while still looking and feeling sexy,” McDonald said. “To have eyes on my brand at Miami Swim Week is an incredible opportunity to boost brand awareness, put myself out there and hopefully land some stockist opportunities.”
