Hi Krista, tell us about yourself, where you’re from and your brand Guava Babe!

 

Hello! I'm originally from Manchester, UK but I am currently living in Bondi, AU. 

Guava Babe is a luxe sustainable swimwear brand. Taking inspiration from the 80s swimsuit style, where curves were embraced and swimwear was designed to be flattering on the body. We combine these sexy styles with fun prints and bold colours.

 

Guava Babe doesn't take itself too seriously, it's just about being happy in your skin and feeling confident.

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What inspired you to create your own brand based around sustainable swimwear?

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I have always loved holidays and travelling (who doesn't?!) and swimwear symbolises the essence of holiday for me. Happiness, positivity and tropical vibes - this is what I want to celebrate and promote!

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I studied textile design for fashion at university and did lots of research on sustainability within the textile industry during this time. So I always knew that if I were to create my own brand it would have a core focus on sustainable practices, both ethically and environmentally.

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Can you tell us about the fabrics you use in your collection? 

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We predominantly use the fabrication Amni Soul Eco® which is a groundbreaking textile designed to have less of an impact on the environment than traditional fabrics. Once disposed of in landfill, Amni Soul Eco® can decompose in less than 5 years, whereas it takes other fabrics decades to completely disappear. This build up of excess fabrics in landfill is causing much pain to our environment and ecosystem. 

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Why is sublimation textile printing more beneficial than other printing methods for the environment?

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Sublimation textile printing uses heat activated dyes and results in zero waste. Unlike many other dyeing processes which waste large amounts of water, sublimation printing requires no water and uses safe dye-based inks. 

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How does your brand use ethical and sustainable practices within the making and transporting of your clothes?

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Guava Babe is dedicated to ethically producing all of our garments. We chose to have all of our products handmade with love in Brazil. Our manufacturer exclusively sources our high quality, luxury fabrics from a local family run supplier. This means that the production of all Guava Babe styles is done locally in one region and we can trace the source of all fabrics and finishes.

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We are committed to using compostable, biodegradable and natural packaging throughout our supply chain. We use 100% natural fibre drawstring bags to package our swimwear. These are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic polybags. 

 

By swapping to compostable and biodegradable packaging, we save thousands of single-use plastic bags from entering the environment. We have chosen to partner with Hero Packaging, a supplier of zero-waste mailers made of cornstarch and cassava roots which leave no waste or toxins behind!

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Who/ what are your sustainable influences? They can be people, brands, etc.

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I'm really inspired by people and brands that are paving their own way and creating new sustainable and innovative practices. I love Nimble Activewear, Spell & The Gypsy Collective and Hansen and Gretel (to name a few!) Also I'm obsessed with Milk makeup and Lime Crime for vegan, cruelty free cosmetics. 

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