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High end rash-ion: Aussie swimwear company Kin Swim makes rashies stylish

Headshot of Stephanie McKenna
Stephanie McKennaThe West Australian
Keghan Slijderink, left and Georgina Terrana model Kin Swim sunsmart beach wear at Port Beach.
Camera IconKeghan Slijderink, left and Georgina Terrana model Kin Swim sunsmart beach wear at Port Beach. Credit: Nic Ellis/The West Australian

Wearing a rashie to the beach no longer means you’re swimming against the tide of fashion.

In a sea of bikini bods Monique Bossie’s bright designs stand out from the crowd.

The New Zealand-born brains behind Kin Swim is just one of a growing number of brands reinventing the rashie to combat a problem all Aussies encounter — the harsh sun. “I want to change people’s behaviours in the sun,” Bossie said.

After relocating to Perth four years ago, she noticed there was a gap in the market for sun smart swimwear that didn’t compromise on style.

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“It seemed like no was really doing the rashie, so I thought it was a point of difference that I would explore,” she said.

So Bossie launched a range of rashies, as well as long-sleeve swimsuits and bikinis, that are ethically designed and made in WA using recycled, regenerated and natural fabrics that protect the wearer from UV rays.

“We have a long way to come,” she said. “If you look at the statistics it’s pretty terrifying, especially in young people. Sunburn can be damaging so I thought if I make swimwear more fun, maybe people will wear them.”

The response has been positive and Bossie hopes that more people will make the shift to fashion that is both good for us and the environment.

“The fashion industry is quite a big polluter, especially fast fashion, so I really wanted to make quality suits that people can wear for more than one season,” she said.

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