Wellington label Astroprincess’ handmade bikinis are one part sexy, one part circus freak
PHOTOGRAPHY BY FELIX JACKSON
WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT
“You don’t have to conform to mainstream beauty standards to feel hot in a bikini.”
For many, the prospect of donning swimwear is daunting. This was the case for New Zealand designer and fashion graduate, Kristen Meaclem, who had always struggled to find bikinis that made her feel good about herself. Instead, she was left feeling uncomfortable in swimwear, faced with “either super girly or minimalist styles”.
It’s a story we’ve heard many times before – when Kristen couldn’t find the pieces she was looking for, she decided to make them herself. Inspired by bright colours, unexpected materials and “carnivalesque” details, Kristen began handmaking a small collection of bikinis from her Wellington/Pōneke studio.
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“I continued creating bikinis and photographed them with friends,” Kristen says. “Demand slowly grew until it became less of a hobby and more of an all-consuming obsession.” Her label, Astroprincess, now has its own community of followers and customers wanting unconventional swimwear that makes them feel “hot as hell”. Below, Kristen speaks on the Astroprincess journey so far.
Tell us about you. What’s your fashion background?
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I fell in love with the idea of being able to sew my own clothes as a teen, and then completed my Bachelor of Design in Fashion at Massey University in 2016. When I look back at what I created at uni, it’s clear that the building blocks for my design aesthetic were all there – bright colours, eccentricity, an interest in the carnivalesque – and I always seemed to find a way to incorporate swimwear into my projects.
I struggled a bit to find my design rhythm post-uni. I ran my own made-to-measure dressmaking business for a few years until I decided that if I was going to continue working in fashion, I wanted to be bringing my own designs to life.
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How did the label get started? Talk us through the process and the challenges.
I made a few bikinis to be used in a photo shoot with a friend and when I posted the photos on Instagram, people wanted to buy them. I continued creating bikinis and photographed them with friends… demand slowly grew until it became less of a hobby and more of an all-consuming obsession.
Unless you have external funding, I think the only way to feasibly run a small business is to be obsessed [with] and passionate about what you do. There is so much unpaid work involved – I juggle two other part-time jobs so I can cover living costs. The fashion industry is so unpredictable and I’ve learnt that I’m able to enjoy Astroprincess a lot more if I don’t have to worry about whether someone will buy a bikini this week so I can pay rent.
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What were you trying to achieve from the project at the time? How has this evolved and what are you trying to communicate through the brand now?
I [had] never felt good in any bikinis I owned. When I got started, I could only find either super girly or minimalist styles, and those never felt like me. I always thought that if I wore a bikini that was different and fun, people would be focused on that and not my body… I wanted to create bikinis that made people like me excited to go to the beach.
I think Astroprincess has become exactly what I wanted when I began – and then some. What I continue to try and communicate is that anyone can and should be able to feel hot as hell! You don’t have to conform to mainstream beauty standards to feel hot in a bikini.
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Where did the name come from?
I was at iD Fashion Week with my grad collection as part of the emerging designers’ section where one of the judges told me I had to walk the runway in one of my looks because I was an “Astro princess!”. At the time, I had blue hair and the collection was super spacey-looking – it was made from entirely upcycled materials, including sequins punched out of aluminium drink cans (the textiles were designed by my amazing collaborative partner, Olivia Balle). I changed my Instagram handle to Astroprincess and the name stuck.
How would you describe Astro Princess to someone who’s never seen it before?
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Playboy Magazine meets circus freak.
What are you most proud of in your work on your brand?
I’m proud of giving confidence to people who’ve never felt comfortable in a bikini before. The messages I receive from people, telling me about how incredible their Astroprincess bikinis have made them feel, are truly what keep me going.
What do you wish you knew when you started?
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That success isn’t about having a large social media following. Instagram success is all a façade and true happiness as a designer comes from real social interactions and collaborations.
Who do you think is most exciting in the Australian/NZ fashion scene right now?
I’m obsessed with both Rose Pure’s styling, as well as her aptly-named label Pure Obsession. I love the aesthetic and resourcefulness of up-cycling… Rose Pure just does it so well! Her styling work is out of this world and never fails to excite me.
What about the Australian/NZ fashion scene needs to change?
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I would like to see more conversations between the fashion industry and consumers regarding the cost of local and independent clothing manufacturing, and how that translates into the price an item ends up being sold for. I’ll often hear complaints about how my bikinis are too expensive, but that’s because we’ve become accustomed to the prices set by fast fashion giants who exploit their workers and [mass] produce… to keep their prices ridiculously low.
All of my bikinis are handmade by me, so lately, I have been trying to document and share more of my making process on social media so my followers are able to see the time, labour, and passion that goes into each item. The kinds of fashion retailers who are out there selling bikinis at $30 a pop aren’t going to show the conditions their garments are made in, because they know they’re not something to be proud of.
Dream Australian/NZ collaborators?
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I would love to collaborate with some tattoo artists to create some rad prints. Tattooing is a beloved part of my life and no one knows how art sits on the body quite like a great tattoo artist. I’m hoping to work on something with my friend Juju next year, so watch this space. I’d also really love to team up with Koko and Sailor Fairy!
How can we buy one of your pieces?
Directly from my website and I also stock at Bizarre Bazaar in Pōneke, NZ.
For more Astroprincess, head here.
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