FAE Makes Sustainable Swimwear to Last a Lifetime

Learn how co-founders Adam and Bianca Bennetts turned a holiday romance into an eco-friendly swimwear brand that has taken the industry by storm.

The Galaxy campaign features Natasja Madsen and was shot by photographer Sam Dameshek on the Galaxy Super Yacht in Antigua.

FAE is an Australian-based swimwear brand proving that sustainability is sexy. Created by husband and wife, Adam and Bianca Benetts, the brand has become an all-time favorite of our’s here at SI Swimsuit while having also received the stamp of approval from many bikini-proficient celebs such as Bella Hadid, Sara Sampaio and Emily Ratajkowski.

The brand, known for its timeless silhouettes and luxurious fabrics, is rooted in making sustainable choices. The brand is focused on reducing the overall impact that the fashion industry has on the environment, with each collection being made of 100% sustainable materials, including ECONYL®, Carvico® and REPREVE®. These fabrics are made from recycled waste such as post-consumer plastic and fishing nets, minimizing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or, too often, our oceans. FAE also packages each swimsuit in plant-based cornstarch garment bags that are 100% compostable.

The Galaxy campaign features Natasja Madsen and was shot by photographer Sam Dameshek on the Galaxy Super Yacht in Antigua.

With the FAE’s most recent collection "Galaxy" released just earlier this month, we sat down with co-founder and designer, Bianca Bennets, to get the inside scoop on all things FAE: past, present and future.

Can you tell me about you and your husband’s background prior to launching FAE?

Of course! My husband Adam was a traveling professional surfer and a DJ when we met, and I was from a marketing and PR background. I had been floating the idea of starting my own brand for a long time before we met, but I really thrived on the encouragement and confidence Adam gave me to bring it to life.

How did the idea of FAE begin? Can you share a bit about the brand’s startup story?

Yes, I love this story! Fae started as a love story between Adam and I when we met in Bali in 2015. We started chatting about business plans over cocktails in the Bali sun. Adam shared his strong passion for sustainable practices and I shared my dream of starting a luxury fashion brand and that’s when FAE was born. I began designing bikinis in our villa in Bali which started as more of a hobby for personal wear. I designed our classic Vada bottoms which are still part of the collection today. The cut of this bikini was like nothing I had ever worn. Elongating the legs while sitting seamlessly high on the hips and lifting the booty. It was then I knew we were onto a special project worthy of taking to the world, and that’s when FAE was born.

The Galaxy campaign features Natasja Madsen and was shot by photographer Sam Dameshek on the Galaxy Super Yacht in Antigua.

What was the design inspiration behind the latest collection, “Galaxy”?

Understated sexiness and effortless cool are the words that come to mind! This collection is a natural evolution from the last, with a vibrant spectrum of colors that are enticing on the skin. Our story follows the beautiful Natasja Madsen and her zest for life in a luxurious world on the Galaxy super yacht. We wanted to reference the alluring 80’s glamour, influenced by the glitzy high life and late summer sun, where a bikini is all you need.

Are there any key pieces from the new collection that we should keep an eye out for?

All the pieces in this range are so special, and I wanted to make sure there was something in there for everyone! It’s hard to pick favorites but I would say our new luxurious lace pieces will be sure to make a statement this summer and are so unique to everything on the market. Our lace range is designed to take our FAE girl from beach to bar, and is water-safe.

How does sustainability play a role in the design process from start to finish?

At FAE, we understand the impact that fashion can have on the environment, and we are always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint at every step of the design process. Sustainability is a journey, not a destination and I am always looking for ways to improve and make our products more sustainable!

We use 100% sustainable fabrics to create every range. These fabrics are eco-friendly and made from recycled materials, such as fishing nets, industrial plastic and post-consumer plastic bottles which as a result minimizes the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and oceans.

We’re committed to designing, creating and delivering timeless, high-quality designs that’ll transcend seasons. In addition to using sustainable fabrics, our designs and products are produced with longevity in mind. We want our swimwear to last summer after summer, not one season!

Packaging is another important aspect of sustainability at FAE. Our suits are packed in biodegradable garment bags made from renewable and sustainable plant materials and are 100% home-compostable.

Promoting sustainability is not just a responsibility but a shared goal. We’ve realized we need to be here to educate as we too see value in becoming transparent across all aspects of the business.

The Galaxy campaign features Natasja Madsen and was shot by photographer Sam Dameshek on the Galaxy Super Yacht in Antigua.

How does your outlook on sustainability impact your own wardrobe and fashion purchases?

It impacts my decisions a lot. Since we started FAE, I have learned so much about the impact our fashion choices can have on the environment and I am still learning now. I try to minimize my fashion footprint by only purchasing from brands that use organic or recycled materials and purchasing second-hand or vintage clothing as often as possible.

Where do you see FAE going in the future?

I love the journey we are on right now. I see us continuing to grow globally whilst creating impact and spreading awareness not only of our brand but of the importance of sustainability in fashion as a whole. We have a very exciting collaboration in the works with an industry icon launching later in the year. We are really excited and cannot wait to share this with the world.

Do you have any tips for enjoying our oceans while still keeping them as clean as possible?

I like to use the term reduce, reuse and recycle. Reducing our waste any way we can is my best advice to keep our ocean and land clean. Small changes created by the masses can make such a huge impact. Making choices like buying a keep cup for our daily coffee, bringing our own shopping bags to buy our groceries, and saying no to plastic straws all make such a big difference.

Shop FAE’s latest collection "Galaxy" now.