For Your Hours Spent Near The Water
Get Salty with the mother and daughter team of Gunes Collective.
Please tell me I’m not the only girl who obsessed over the show H2O?! First of all, I still drool over Phoebe Tonkin to this day…and second, there was something so magical and ethereal about the idea of being a mermaid. Not only could you swim underwater (which is clearly the biggest plus of them all) but it felt like mermaids represented the undeniable and ever-present beauty of the ocean, one that couldn’t be replicated on land. From ancient stories of sirens luring men to their deaths (we love to see it), to shows like H2O, I’ve always found myself being infatuated by the ocean and the beauty that represents it (mythical or not). And like the mystical sirens look for their prey, I’m always on the hunt for what makes me feel most beautiful for the days I find myself lucky enough to be near the water. That said, being picky when looking for the perfect bikini is certainly my calling. So, we’ve dug into the sea of social media to find ourselves a one of a kind bikini brand that represented our love affair with the ocean.
Introducing Güneş Collective, an Australian label that prides itself in making bikinis and clothing that hugs our bodies in all the right places, oh and they’re kind to the planet too. We’re totally here for it. Inspired by the natural products that were created by artisans in the places they travelled, Güneş Collective is a mother and daughter team whose focus is on deconstructing society’s idea of beauty. “We wanted to encourage all women to embrace their beauty inside and out and be confident and stylish no matter their shape or age. We also wanted to create a brand of our own that encouraged minimal waste, by creating the ultimate minimalist wardrobe to mix and match with. Our craft has been passed down from generations of women in our family, having this strong foundation of creative women always inspires.” Kim and Sheree tell HOKU. In a world where it feels as though we are constantly being bombarded with brands who tell us how we should feel in their pieces, it’s refreshing to find brands that are focused on how they make their customers feel while also being conscious of their footprint.
Thoughtfully designed in Australia and sustainably made by family run businesses in Bali, Turkey and Australia, Güneş Collective is the perfect example of a brand that emulates the raw beauty of the ocean— transparent and magical. When we talked to the Kim and Sheree, the dove into their priority to work with local / family owned businesses to produce their incredible selection of pieces. “We work with a very small family owned and female-led business in Bali who help produce our range – they are so small that our small curated collections still make us one of their biggest clients. The organic Turkish towel collection we had was also made in a small family run business and the same can be said of our popular shopper bags that are created by a female-led business in India. All of our crochet pieces are handmade in Australia. All of the materials we work with are ethically and sustainably sourced and we are always looking to work with innovative materials that lighten our footprint as a brand.” Not only are they constantly looking for ways to improve sustainably, but it seems as though each collection only gets better and better— classic and transcendent designs inspired by our favorite periods of time. Oh and there is something for everyone. Güneş Collective features a selection of pieces ranging from women’s and men’s swim to effortless accessories that can be rocked on and off the beach.
So, when you feel like getting a little salty near the sea or just casually listening to Island in the Sun alone in your room, a Güneş Collective set is sure to leave you feeling beautiful and more connected to yourself than every before. Trust us. xo
Photos from this edit were shot with a combination of digital and film cameras.
Words: Kiana Kanoa
Model: @greeent
Photos: Kiana Kanoa