The story behind our Malibu campaign

When I started dreaming up the Malibu collection, I had one very specific image in my head.

I could picture a vintage Kombi parked beside the ocean, surrounded by sunshine, colour and that carefree feeling of driving to the beach with nowhere else to be. It was inspired by the '70s, endless summers and everything I wanted this collection to feel like.

The funny thing was... finding that location turned out to be much harder than I expected.

I spent weeks driving around the Sunshine Coast searching for the perfect spot. Every road that looked promising had parked cars lining it, trees blocking the view, or sand dunes hiding the ocean. I knew exactly what I wanted, but I just couldn't seem to find it.

Then, completely by chance, everything changed.

I was sitting at The Ginger Factory with some friends when I picked up a local magazine to flick through. There was a feature celebrating Alsahwa Estate's first birthday, with the most beautiful photo of the property. I remember looking at it and instantly thinking, that's it.

As luck would have it, their birthday celebration was happening that very day. We packed ourselves up, drove straight over, and the moment I arrived I knew I'd found the place I'd been imagining all along.

Not only was it absolutely beautiful, but the team at Alsahwa Estate were so incredibly welcoming. When shoot day came around, they couldn't have been more generous or accommodating, and I honestly can't imagine Malibu being photographed anywhere else. Sometimes the perfect location finds you when you stop trying so hard to look for it.

What I love most about this collection is that it slowly became something much bigger than designing a new range of wetsuits.

It became a celebration of the Sunshine Coast and the incredibly talented people who call it home.

The campaign was photographed by the amazing Hannah Prewitt, whose eye for light and storytelling brought every image to life. The beautiful handcrafted surfboard was made by Anna Constable from She Creative Army, the vintage Kombi was generously loaned by a local Volkswagen specialist, and our gorgeous model, Alyssa King, grew up right here on the Sunshine Coast.

Without ever setting out to, we ended up bringing together an incredible group of Sunshine Coast creatives, makers and local businesses, all of whom poured their talent, generosity and creativity into bringing the Malibu story to life.

What started as a photoshoot quickly became a celebration of the community around us, and I think that's what makes this collection even more special.

Yes, Malibu is full of colourful wetsuits and bikinis, but behind every photograph is a story of community, generosity and people saying "yes" to helping bring an idea to life.

As someone who only recently made the move to the Sunshine Coast, I feel incredibly grateful to have been welcomed into such a supportive creative community. This collection will always remind me of my first year here and the people who helped make it happen.

So when you wear Malibu, I hope you feel a little bit of that too.

A little more colour. A little more confidence. And a reminder that sometimes the most beautiful things come together in ways you never expected.

Thank you to everyone who played a part in bringing this collection to life. 

Love,

Gemma xx