Meet the Founder of Australian Bikini Label, O Niki
Where are you from?
I was born in Bangalore, India but moved to Sydney, Australia to complete my masters degree in communications. Since then I have lived most of my life between Australia and New Zealand.
Describe yourself in 3 words
Optimistic, Curious, Respectful
What are you passionate about?
Travel and Fashion. I love discovering new ideas and places. I have lived in Australia (Sydney), Singapore, Spain, New Zealand, Vanuatu and now in Melbourne. I’ve visited xx cities and towns around the world and counting.
What inspired you to start O Niki?
It really just came down to the fact that I couldn’t find any bikinis that I liked or that looked good on me, and that was a serious issue for me because I spend every free moment at the beach. Traveling full time for two years and visiting many beach destinations was definitely the deciding factor. I started developing the idea of adapting Indian prints on swimwear fabric and here we are now. The key factors I took into consideration were that I wanted:
Bikinis that were enhancing and sexy
Bikinis that would fit and lift my natural curves
Bikinis that were elegant and had a unique print
Bikinis that were high quality, sustainable and looked classy
And so O Niki was born!
What’s different about O Niki?
Our original prints are inspired from bandhani fabric (A type of tie-dye Indian textile decorated by plucking the cloth with the fingernails into many tiny bindings that form a figurative design). The bikini ties are unique to our brand - Indian inspired ties as seen in a choli (Traditional Indian top).
Our bikini tops are adjustable so that women can find their perfect fit regardless of cup/waist size, and this also means you can undo them for the best tan! All of the styles are simple, providing comfortable enhancing fits. We use the highest quality eco-friendly sustainable fabrics.
Who is O Niki Bikinis for?
O Niki bikinis are designed especially for the stylish girl who is minimalistic, confident, and carefree. Whether she’s lying on the beach in the tropics soaking up the sun, sitting poolside with her friends, or swimming in the ocean, she’s happy and glowing because she feels comfortable and confident in her own skin.
How did you make the decision to go eco-friendly?
According to an analysis by Business Insider, fashion production comprises 10% of total global carbon emissions, as much as the European Union. It dries up water sources and pollutes rivers and streams, while 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year.
Slow fashion is the widespread reaction to fast fashion and its environmental impact, the argument for hitting the brakes on excessive production, overcomplicated supply chains, and mindless consumption. It advocates for manufacturing that respects people, the environment and animals.
At O Niki we make a limited number of bikinis with love for our customers and pay our respects to mother earth. Also the sustainable fabric we use is very high quality which makes our bikinis durable. We manufacture small batches ethically in a factory in Indonesia.