Myraswim Celebrates 10 Years Of Elevated Summer Style

2023 sees Myraswim, the Australian swimwear brand known for its timeless aesthetics and unparalleled quality and fit, celebrate its 10th year as a leading player in the industry. Founded by Bianca Elouise Anstiss at her home after the ex professional surfer couldn’t find anything in the market that fitted her body, Myraswim famously quadrupled in sales within 12 months at the start of the pandemic, and is now one of millennial and Gen Z’s favorite swimwear label, counting Emily Ratajkowski, Kylie Jenner and J Lo as loyal fans.

“For someone who never studied design and business, the past 10 years have been a learning curve in itself,” says Anstiss, when asked how she evolved since 2014 as a founder/entrepreneur. “My design and creativity were organic and self-taught, so it was mostly instinct with my vision which evolved and changed over the years with my taste and age.”

Anstiss was only 23 when she first started the brand named after her grandmother. She credits her growth — personal or career-wise — to the many trials and error over the years. “It made me such a confident person as I figured things out on my own rather than being guided.” The Forbes 30-under-30 alumni tells me that she enjoyed the path of no experience and puzzle-solving: “It’s more rewarding in my eyes: to look back and say wow I did that all by myself!”

There weren’t many brands specialized in swimwear in the industry when Myraswim first came to the market. The label’s 90s-driven, minimalistic yet chic style, combined with its unwavering focus on cut and fit, was a winning formula, gathering its first crowd of international cult following organically. Today, Anstiss takes pride in her brand’s highly recognizable silhouettes — “the core of Myraswim” as she puts it — and comments on the trends in swimwear of the past decade: “Just like all fashion trends, they come and go. My vision and ethos have always been 90s swim fashion. Season color palletes change with seasonal trends, but I’ve always kept true to our identity and put my Myra touch on shades that were popular each year.”

One trend resonates with Anstiss notably: “I feel like the biggest trend over the years from when I started was bringing back high-waisted swimwear and one-pieces. I mean, you can’t go wrong with either — this particular trend returned, and stayed, in my eyes.”

Myraswim’s new seasonal collection for 2023, featuring soft, muted palettes and sleek, fluid lines signature to the brand, reflects Anstiss’ take on this particular trend. With daring slits, geometric cutouts, and high-wasted designs that allows for maximum exposure of healthy skin, the new pieces have become an instant classic. Anstiss, as well as her brand, have always championed female empowerment, advocating the real feminine shapes — curves or otherwise — in long-lasting styles.

“Sustainability is something I’ve had to become highly conscious of. I’ve always focused on creating garments that are timeless and wearable throughout each season, being able to re-style and even pair with other brands. That’s sustainable to me.” In addition to taking all the steps she can to become more of a sustainable brand (cutting back all plastics in the HQ, shipping in biodegradable packaging, and offering reusable garment bags, you name it), Anstiss says everyone has a different outlook on what “sustainable fashion” is.

“A trend-based garment can become disposable faster, I believe.” The founder adds.

Consistency, mental health, and being in nature with animals were some of the topics that came up when I first spoke to Anstiss over two years ago, all of which form part of her journey to becoming the sole owner and CEO of the business empire that Myraswim is today. Does she have further thoughts to share on what’s key to fill such big titles?

“Something I hold crucial is my space away from my business. Surfing and staying active but also experiencing and enjoying life. Staying inspired and motivated is one of the biggest obstacles in fashion/design.” Anstiss has started to enjoy long-haul, international travel again, after a long hiatus due to Australia’s strict Covid policy. “It’s easy to get lost in the operations of a business, especially when my role is multifaceted, not just creative. So, my goal this year was to visit some new places, surf more and just let my mind flow a little clearer. It motivates me so much to create when I’m less stressed.”

Following on our previous discussion on how most businesses lack transparency on what goes on behind close doors, Anstiss emphasizes again the importance of mental health. “I do weekly therapy, which is always essential for me to maintain a healthy mindset. The ocean has always been the biggest escape for me. I take my mental health very seriously; nothing is worth jeopardizing your peace of mind. I’ve learnt that the hard way.”

When asked what were the milestones over the past ten years, Anstiss doesn’t hesitate to say that from a career and industry recognition perspective, making Forbes 30 under 30 list and having her design placed on a Vogue cover are thus far the biggest moments to remember. From an investment and financial point of view, she has also taken an interest in real estate — “I’m hoping to grow my property portfolio in the future.”

But there’s another milestone the young founder holds close to her heart: “Personally, giving my parents a job and letting them live more of a relaxed lifestyle outside their previous stressful careers is something so special to me. They gave me the most special upbringing and worked so hard to do so; to return that favor now they’re older makes me so happy every day.”

So after a decade, what’s next for Myraswim?

“I’ve been working on expanding my resort wear side of Myra. Launching more beachwear, bodywear and casual wear and exploring more ready-to-wear. It’s something I’ve been working on for a while, but obviously, perfecting it is something I want to do before launching.” Anstiss says of her future plans: “I want to collaborate more with my favorite brands, especially streetwear brands. This is something I’m trying to navigate and negotiate at the moment and thinking outside the square of normal swimwear projects and pushing myself to work with brands that would turn people’s heads.”

Myraswim’s new seasonal designs are available at www.myraswim.com.