Plastic fantastic bikini range to feature in festival - 2nd May 2016

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Stephanie Gabriel’s label OceanZen swimwear will feature in the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival.

by Roxanne McCarty-O'Kane

THE Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival is about to take on a sustainable twist.

OceanZen will debut a bikini range made with fabrics manufactured from plastic bottles and fishing nets at the ninth annual festival in Caloundra later this year.

Designer Steph Gabriel created the label in 2014 as part of her desire to build a support network for ocean lovers, fans of the humble bikini and conservationists.

When preparing the design phase in 2013, Steph discovered a newly designed fabric made from recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets from the ocean, which excited the passionate marine advocate.

But, it came at a cost and being a small start-up business at the time, she had to wait until she could financially afford it.

After a long wait of two years, the final products will be on show for all to see when the fashion festival comes to the Caloundra Events Centre and the Rumba Resort on October 22.

"The fabric is super soft, sustainable and completely mind-blowing," Steph said.

"What happens is they... collect plastic bottles from the ocean, and fishing nets, shred it, clean it (and) turn it into a yarn."

This yarn is combined with Lycra to make a final product that's 78% recycled plastic.

OceanZen is just one of the local, national and international labels involved in this year's internationally recognised fashion event.

The line-up includes Australian household names Nicola Finetti, Myer and Secrets Shhh plus the most widely sold swimwear label in the world Sunflair (Germany) which shows exclusively in Australia at the Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival every year.

Established in 2008, the event has gone from strength to strength incorporating catwalk shows, a Trade Lounge (pop-up spaces with brands selling wholesale,) an industry Q&A, plus the Sunshine Coast Style Awards, and the Sunshine Coast Design Awards and Hall of Fame.

The Sunshine Coast Fashion Festival supports charitable foundation LIVIN' in 2016 with a portion of ticket sales going directly to the their cause #it's not weak to speak.

For more information, visit www.sunshinecoastfashionfestival.com.