Waverley Wrap Wrashie

Having spent much of my life without sun protection, I started to realise (mostly too late!) that I needed that to change. I have always hating pulling wet rashies over my head, and zips are also not my friend. Plus - so many rash vests are just not very stylish or cool; I had many friends tell me that they don’t wear rashies because they don’t like how they look, or they're not size inclusive or sustainable. I started to think that a wrap rashie seemed like such a unique solution - and so I embarked on the Waverley journey.

It took 12 months of designing, perfecting and testing. Given my background in sustainable fashion (as the founder of Peppermint magazine), creating it as a slow, sustainable, inclusive and ethical garment was important. It hasn’t been easy, as clothing production in Australia is tricky to navigate. I worked with the talented Thuy Nguyen of Fashion360 to create the pattern and find local makers, and focused on getting the fit right and the best sustainable fabric. We didn’t just grade up like many brands do - we changed the fit so bigger bodies were properly catered to and weren't just an afterthought.

The range is made in small quantities to avoid overproduction and excess stock, with extremely high quality standards - they are designed to fit beautifully and for longevity. Our fabric is made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon, made from reclaimed fishing nets from the aquaculture and fishing industry, discarded ghost nets and discarded carpets, and has certifications from OEKO-TEX®, Global Recycled Standard and The Higg Index. Our inclusive sizing spans 6-24, and the original wrap design helps make it more flexible for different sizes, shapes and disabilities.

Talking about sun safety is never sexy. But the importance of protecting ourselves from the sun is not something that should be overlooked. Australia and New Zealand hold the unenviable title of having the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. According to SunSmart - two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 and about 2,000 Australians will die from skin cancer each year. That’s 2000 too many. Our Wrashie has a UV rating of UPF50+ and helps to minimise your sun exposure, in a stylish, sustainable way. All care has been taken with our precious environment in mind, from sourcing fabrics and local production to packaging and postage. All orders are shipped via Carbon Neutral delivery company Sendle in plastic-free, recycled cardboard, compostable packaging created for us by noissue through their Eco-Alliance initiative. We’ve even ditched unnecessary swing tags and safety pins. We’re also super proud to be a Stripe Climate Member; contributing 0.5% of revenue to carbon removal projects. The unique wrap design can also be tied in several ways, depending on your mood or look (you do you!). The Waverley Wrashie has stylish, sustainable sun safety all wrapped up!