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Kooey Australia teams with reigning Miss Universe Australia on new swimwear collection

Australian swimwear label, Kooey Australia launched two new collections at their Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia show in Perth last week. The new collections include a collaborative project with the current Miss Universe Australia, Scherri-Lee Biggs and Kooey's first full men's collection.

Kooey's first collaborative collection – Scherri-Lee for Kooey – was inspired by the Australian summer and all things fun and girly. Styles in the collection include five bikinis, 2 one-pieces, a monokini and a tankini in a soft colour palette with braiding and tie details. Also included in the collection is assorted resortwear. “I love summer, so having the chance to design my own swimwear range has been such a fun opportunity” said Biggs. “Working with Kooey on this collection has been a really amazing experience. I loved learning about the design process first-hand and seeing how a collection comes together.” Scherri-Lee for Kooey will also be seen at the Miss Universe Australia finals and the Miss USA live global telecast in June. Biggs was also featured in Kooey's campaign shoot which took place in the Margaret River, Western Australia, with the faces of Kooey, Emily Cattermole and James O'Halloran.

The 2012/13 summer season will also mark the first year Kooey has designed a full men's collection. The collection includes men's swimsuits, trunks and boardshorts made with cutting edge technical fabrics, as well as resortwear. Previously Kooey has included only select men's pieces to complement the women's collection. “We really wanted to offer men a new unique look with this collection, we wanted to design a fashion-forward range in the same way that we do for women” said Kooey Australia Designer Nikki Silverthorne. “Men are increasingly looking towards stylish designer clothes rather than the standard mass-produced surf-wear and this range addresses that.”

Photos by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images

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kooey, australia, miss universe australia, scherri-lee biggs, emily cattermole, james o'halloran, nikki silverthorne

Sneak peek at Kooey Australia's swimsuit photo shoot

Australian swimwear label, Kooey Australia has just sent Bikini.com a sneak peek of select images from their 2012 campaign. The campaign was recently shot in Margaret River, Western Australia with the faces of Kooey, Emily Cattermole and James O'Halloran, who were joined this year by Miss Universe Australia 2011, Scherri-Lee Biggs and model Adam Erceg. The shoot was produced by Kooey designers, Nikki Silverthorne and Charlene Harmer. Creating and mythical and whimsical look, the shoot plays out like a good vs. evil modern day fairytale.

"The 2012 campaign is very different to last years which was shot in the Australian desert” says Silverthorne. “We developed more of a story this year and were going for something a little more make-believe. We pulled references from traditional fairytales like Snow White and added a modern twist.”

Inspired by the luminous colors and delicate details of Australia’s native birds, Kooey’s 2012 Birds of a Feather collection encompasses their mystic spirit and movement with sleek styles and custom-designed prints. The collection includes bikinis, separates and one-piece swimwear as well as resortwear, including kaftans and cover-ups. 2012 also marks the first season that Kooey has designed a full men's collection. The men's collection will be launched and seen for the first time at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia in early May 2012.

If you're a Kooey fan, stay tuned -- Bikini.com will soon be unveiling our video of the 2012 Kooey collection featuring a special interview with Nikki Silverthorne.

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kooey, australia, swimwear, margaret river, emily cattermole, james o'halloran, miss universe australia, scherri-lee biggs, adam erceg, nikki silverthorne, charlene harmer

Indigenous Australian culture inspires Kooey Swimwear

Designed and made in Western Australia, Kooey is an entirely Australian owned and operated swimwear label. Fully 'home grown', the label is also inspired by Australia and its collections pick up the colors and shapes of Australia's spectacular landscapes. Instantly recognizable by their distinctive designs, each Kooey print is specifically created to represent the area of Australia that the collection is inspired by, captured in the striking artwork of Australian Indigenous artist, Anne Hanning. An Arrernte artist from Central Australia, Anne has created a unique contemporary signature style which echoes her interpretation of the Australian country and culture.

Kooey's fashion-forward suits are created by a design team with very different artistic backgrounds. The formula: an Indigenous artist, a graphic designer, a makeup artist, and a fashion designer with over 10 years of swimwear experience.“The collections are striking, fun and functional,” says Kooey Director, Nikki Silverthorne. “The brand has been really well received – people love the unique patterns and bright colours, but also that the product is 100% Australian.”

From the inspiration to the designing, Kooey is Australian right down to the brand name. Distinctly Australian, Kooey is a phonetic derivation of the well known Australian call to attract attention over long distances – ‘cooee’. Fitting for a swimwear label originating from one of the most geographically isolated cities on the map.

Kooey’s patterns, prints and styles stand apart from the mainstream, branding their wearer – wherever they are – as belonging to the unique spirit of Australia.