Seventh Wonderland

Bonnie Coumbe & Carlos Aviles

Growing up on the unconventional shores of the mid North coast of New South Wales, Bonnie Coumbe spent sun-soaked summers surrounded by forest, playing on secluded beaches and letting her imagination carry her away to far-off wonderlands.

Coumbes’ yen for design was born at a young age – she designed and made her first swimsuit at age 11, using vintage 70’s crushed black lycra that she sourced at the local op-shop. There was never any doubt that she would have creative leanings – her grandmother was a tailor, both parents are artists, and her brother Tristan an amazing costume designer, taught her to sew as a child.
She went on to study graphic design and textile design, and turned her hand to designing for print house Karolina York and then swimwear label Jets. After over 7 years creating prints and designing swimwear for other brands, Coumbe wanted to be free to execute her definitive creative vision.

With her co creator & partner Carlos Aviles, who also has an extensive background in fashion sales and marketing in Australia, the duo dreamed up the concept for Seventh Wonderland – a boutique swimwear label that would go beyond what was already on offer – with a unique combination of directional, wearable, stylish and distinctively Australian designs.
The two dove in headfirst, designing and producing the first collection, and they boldly debuted Seventh Wonderland at Miami Swim Fashion Week – the premier swimwear showcase in the world. Miami Swim Fashion Week usually requires labels to have been established for at least three or four seasons, but Seventh Wonderland was awarded a wildcard spot to exhibit at the event.

The label was lauded for its fresh approach, strong aesthetic, signature techniques, and the cutout detailing that has since become the label’s calling card. Seventh Wonderland designs meld function with fashion – solid construction, quality Italian fabrics and matchless support are the foundations for each unique piece. The label has since become renowned for its distinctive silhouettes, and designer Coumbe visits classic swim shapes and introduces new statement pieces every season.

The starting point for each collection is usually a print – hand created, one-off prints are married with new and ever-evolving techniques, and the Seventh Wonderland signature laser cutout technique features strongly.

Pioneering swimwear as outerwear in Australia, Seventh Wonderland swim garments are versatile with fashion relevance. Ducking commercial leanings, Seventh Wonderland consistently delivers refreshingly original collections, adhering to an ethos of creating original, eloquent garments that are designed to flatter and enhance the female form. Each piece of the range is approached like an artwork that is carefully constructed and made for the label’s muse – a stylish woman who celebrates unique beauty, and revels in music festivals, tropical escapes and balmy summer nights spent poolside with friends.

Coumbe and Aviles find inspiration for Seventh Wonderland outside the realm of fashion – the art deco era, and the iconic Biba store in London, the worlds of architecture, jewellery, exotic cultures, travel, music and art all lend their influence to each collection.

An escape to wonderland for swimwear connoisseurs, Seventh Wonderland swims alongside the finest of local and international talent, at stockists including Fat, Tuchuzy, Pretty Dog, Atlas, Aqueous and Bessie Head in Australia and overseas at American Rag, Lane Crawford, Saks, American Rag and I Heart in New York.

This is our Seventh Wonderland.