Gold Coast style icon Riley Hemson shakes up fashion industry with her swimwear line
Gold Coast style icon, plus-sized model Riley Hemson says she will shake up the city’s fashion industry with the release of her new swimwear label.
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Style crusader Riley Hemson wants to shake up the city’s fashion industry with the release of her new swimwear label.
Ms Hemson started Remmie by Riley in July 2020. It features athletic clothing made from recycled fabrics. Most importantly, it is made for everyone with sizes ranging from extra small to 6-extra large.
“I have always been a bigger girl and I struggle to find cool things that are in my size,” she said.
“When it would go into curvy size they would change all the patterns. I just wanted to wear what all the smaller girls were wearing, but in my size.”
Ms Hemson said she took her experience from Sydney Fashion Week in June to design her own runway so she could launch Remmie Swim.
“My agent and I went to Sydney Fashion Week and it was super disappointing.
“I had never been to a fashion week and I didn’t know what to expect. The first thing I went to was a panel speaking about diversity and thought ‘great, I am in for a treat and I am going to feel represented’.
“I went and there was no curve models.
“It really opened my eyes on how far we have to go in Australia.”
She said she hoped that people who watched her swim show felt represented.
“I want people to first of all be in love with the pieces but also feel like they can wear it and know what it will look like on their body.”
Ms Hemson said she had seen some improvements regarding diversity on the Gold Coast, but wanted.
“It is up to the brands because they are at the forefront of this change and have the capacity to increase sizing.
“You can’t show diversity if you don’t have the size.
“I have seen brands use people of different sizes in their marketing and then they don’t push through.”
The Remmie Swimwear release party/runway will be at Cali Beach Bar, Surfers Paradie on December 3.
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Originally published as Gold Coast style icon Riley Hemson shakes up fashion industry with her swimwear line
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