Gold Coast Cadillac Cowboy fashion store sparked the success of Bec and Bridge
The support of a Gold Coast boutique sparked the success of a famous fashion label worn by Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and Hailey Bieber.
Gold Coast
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When fashion besties Becky Cooper and Bridget Yorston painted their name on a pair of distressed denim jeans, they opened a door to a whole new world.
The talented duo behind Australian fashion label Bec and Bridge come from humble beginnings – they loved sewing when they were little and met while studying fashion design at Sydney’s University of Technology in 2000.
In the cocoon of university they started a project on a whim and trusted in the magic of new beginnings.
“One day, one of our friends approached us with a pair of old jeans and asked if we could revamp them,” Becky says.
“We went to town — we spray painted, dyed and distressed them. He wore them out and then suddenly our revamped men’s jeans were in demand.
“Gold Coast fashion store Cadillac Cowboy rang us after seeing our jeans and ordered 120 pairs. We couldn’t believe it. It was the start of an incredible journey.”
At the age of 20, the girls graduated university with first-class honours and a thriving denim wholesale business.
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A year later, they shifted focus to women’s wear and trademarked their business Bec and Bridge, the affectionate pseudonym coined by friends for the inseparable duo.
Fast-forward 16 years, the label represents an exciting mainstay in the Australian fashion industry.
They have seven stores, a stockist of 250 boutiques in the United States and celebrity fans including Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, Miranda Kerr, Vanessa Hudgens, Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner and Ashley Benson.
“Our brand has grown organically for many years and we’ve had a lot of wins along the way,” Bridget says.
“Some highlights include seeing our designs walk down the runway at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia; leading fashion buyers placing orders for some of the country’s most premium stores, including our loyal, long standing retail partner David Jones; getting into the US market; working with international partners such as Harvey Nichols; opening our first store in Bondi Junction in 2016; and celebrities loving our brand before the world of Instagram.”
Becky and Bridget say their 2020 Spring/Summer Collection, Florale, is one of their favourites.
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The collection of around 120 pieces draws inspiration from artists in the 1920s Art Nouveau movement — an era where style was aimed at modernising design and making forms more fluid.
Their racks of flowing linen summer dresses, boxy blazers, sexy knits, easy separates and after-dark attire is inspired by nature, the soft sinuous curves of flowers and juxtaposed with geometric and bold linear lines.
The spring palette is filled with muted tones of brown, caramel, oat, orange, sage, ginger, pecans, azure blue, cotton candy, citrus lemons and neutrals.
The designers say their unbreakable friendship is the reason their label is successful.
“Our partnership wouldn’t work if we weren’t best friends,” Becky, 39, says.
“We volunteered as dressers at fashion week in our teens. Since then, we have created a lot of beautiful memories together.
“Now as mums, our friendship has evolved. At university, we were out every night of the week without fail but now our lives revolve around our beautiful kids and families.
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“We don’t spend as much time together now as our kids are at different schools and we live in different suburbs, but we are still as close as ever.”
Bridget says dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.
“I loved fashion from a very young age and I knew pretty early on that I wanted to work in the industry,” she says.
“If I could go back in time, I would’ve done more internships and I recommend aspiring designers to go out and get some experience.
“With the world of Instagram and all the options online, you can easily give it a go. Don’t be afraid. If you have something unique to offer, just do it.”
Originally published as Gold Coast Cadillac Cowboy fashion store sparked the success of Bec and Bridge