Sortd’s Small Business Spotlight: Mon Été Swim
Dive into Mon Été Swim, the Aussie small business redefining luxe swimwear with timeless, flattering designs.
We're excited to feature Mon Eté Swim in this week’s Small Business Spotlight! Founded by the creative and passionate Paris, this brand is all about chic, sustainable swimwear that helps you feel your best. Paris opened up about her journey, challenges, and what drives her to create unique designs that stand out.
As a special treat, Mon Eté Swim is offering 15% off their beautiful collection exclusively for our readers! If you're on the hunt for some stylish swimwear, now’s the perfect time to shop. Use code sortd15 to shop now!
Tell me a bit about your background. How did you get started in owning a business?
“I have a degree in fashion business, so I've always wanted to work in the fashion industry. In Perth, though, opportunities for creative roles or marketing/PR jobs in brands are pretty limited. I have been lucky to find a part-time role with another brand, but I always knew it would be hard to find solid opportunities here. A lot of my friends have moved to Sydney or Melbourne for better chances. That was a big motivation for me to create a brand here in Perth. I love the idea of providing more opportunities for women, men, or anyone in the industry. I had to create my own opportunities, and that was a big part of starting my business.
I always knew I wanted to be my own boss and build my own brand, but I didn’t initially think design would be my passion. Now that I’ve been in it, I actually love the design process and how much it’s shaped my business. Once I have an idea, I’m set on making it happen and I am so proud I followed through with creating what is now Mon Ètè Swim.”
What Inspires You?
“I was a dancer growing up, so I've always been in a creative field. When I decided not to pursue dancing, I thought about what else I loved, and fashion was it. I’ve always loved dressing up and experimenting with style—it's another outlet for my creativity. So, yeah, creativity has always been at the core of who I am.”
What would you say your biggest challenge has been with owning a business?
“The financial side of things has definitely been the toughest. With the cost of living rising, it’s hard to balance business goals with personal goals, like buying a house or traveling. A lot of people don’t realise that a startup founder doesn’t make a large personal income, especially in the early stages. All my profit has been reinvested to grow Mon Ètè. I’ve had to put personal goals on hold and focus on growing the brand.”
Can you run me through your design process?
“Sure! Right now, I’m designing Spring/Summer 25, which means I’m thinking about the collection 6–8 months in advance. I find inspiration in all sorts of things— lately, it’s been a lot on Pinterest, and I’ve been following current fashion weeks, like Copenhagen Fashion Week.
I tend to pull inspiration from the places I’m visiting or the vibe I get from them. For example, when I did my European collection, I focused on the locations I was traveling to. The Bali collection was the same—I pulled from the energy of the place and how I feel there. My designs are also a big reflection of my own style which I feel is really notable as I started the brand at 18 when I was just starting to find my personal style. I feel like the brand and my design style have grown with me. It’s like my customers are growing with me, and if they resonate with my style, they’re growing with the brand too.”
What would you say your top two or three best-selling styles are, and do you know why?
“Definitely the Amy Bottoms. They’re our most custom design, and I hadn’t seen anything like them before. They have a very specific cut and unique details. The Amy Bottoms sell consistently, especially in black and white. Along with those, our black and white triangle tops are also best-sellers. I originally didn't bring out Black and White pieces because I thought every other brand already had. Although I’ve found people appreciate a really good, flattering, high-quality basic, so they’re a big hit.”
Is there a product or collection you’re particularly proud of and why?
“I’m proud of all of them for different reasons, but my most recent collection feels the most like me. I’m really designing for myself and thinking about what I love. That’s the most fulfilling part of the process. Even as I’m designing the next collection, I’m more confident in just doing what feels right for me. I don’t feel the pressure to necessarily follow trends.”
Do you enjoy the campaign side of it, like the photoshoots?
“Yes, I love it. I wish I could do it more often, but I usually only do one or two campaigns a year. I think a campaign is so special in the fashion industry - the design is one thing but how it is portrayed is another. It’s almost emotional when that first shot comes through. After all the hard work, seeing the design come to life on a model is incredible.”
How do you source or create your products?
“I manufacture in Bali with two manufacturers—one I've been working with since day one. I create my collection first, and then I work with the manufacturers to match their fabric options. For example, if they don’t have a certain colour in stock, I’ll design a print with the colour I'm after. I’ve stuck with the same sustainable fabric because it’s the best quality, and I don’t need to change that. It’s all about making the collection work with the available resources without having to deal with the crazy minimum order quantities that come with ordering new fabric.”
Do you plan on opening stores or wholesale with other brands?
“I’ve been thinking a lot about whether to go into wholesale or not. Right now, I prefer keeping the brand exclusive to my online store. That way, I can maintain a direct connection with my customers and manage the experience the way I want to. I would love to do pop-up stores, especially in vacation spots, to bring that unique, summery vibe to shopping. Pop-ups also create a sense of exclusivity, which makes it more exciting for my customers when they do happen. So for now, I’m focusing on keeping things online and planning for my own future store rather than wholesale.”
Are there any plans to expand your range beyond swimwear?
“I’ve started introducing some resort wear, but it hasn’t sold as well as swimwear. I’m still figuring out where I want to take that. While swimwear has been my strength, I don’t want to limit myself to just that. It may be time that I bring on a resort wear designer so I can keep my focus on swim without limiting my selection to customers.”
Who’s on your team? What roles do they play?
“At the moment, it’s just me. I had an intern over the summer, and I’ve had a few others throughout the years, mostly to help them get real-world experience while also supporting my business. I prefer working with contractors for specific needs, like graphic design, because I can get targeted help without having to commit to hiring full-time staff.”
What’s your favourite part of owning a business?
“Honestly, I love being a founder. I feel like I am growing my first child. From designing and running campaigns to packing orders and writing customer messages, I enjoy all aspects. I’ve built relationships with influencers I used to dream of connecting with. It’s amazing seeing it all come together, especially when I’ve done everything myself. I love being a founder and being able to say I did this, even though it’s stressful at times.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in your business journey?
“One of the best pieces of advice came from a conversation I had with the founders of Mountain and Moon, the incredible jewelry brand I work for part-time. They reminded me not to compare myself to other brands. Success doesn’t happen overnight, and growth takes time. I’ve learned not to rush the process or focus on what other people are doing. Everyone’s journey is different. This stands for life and business.”
Do you have a full-time job?
“I work part-time in PR and Media Partnerships for Mountain and Moon, a statement jewelry brand. I’m there three days a week It’s an exciting role, and it also gives me the chance to connect with a different side of the fashion industry. I also work casually in a high end fashion boutique. I'm obviously quite busy but I can manage it. It's part of juggling business growth and personal financial growth.”
And Since We’re a Wishlisting App—What’s One Thing on Your Wishlist Right Now?
“At the moment, I’m obsessed with Mode Mischief. Mia has done so well! Mode Mischief stands out in this competitive field due to the unique designs which I absolutely love.”
Sortd is the new home for all of your wishlists. As we return to our work and school routines, we know how scattered our brains can be, so why not do something that will make your life easier. With Sortd, you can organise and keep track of everything you want to buy in one place. No more thousands of screenshots or open tabs. Keep your online shopping organised with Sortd. 🧡
For fashion and lifestyle tips and curated lists, dive into the Sortd blog. Whether looking for Workwear Essentials or Aesthetic Wedding Guest dresses, we’ve got you Sortd.
Published 19 February 2025
