A swimwear designer who counts Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian as fans is now worth $35million and one of the richest Australian women under 40.
At 34, Erin Deering, the co-founder of Triangl swimwear, has made the Australian Financial Review’s rich list following a hugely successful seven years in business.
At number six, she sits alongside the likes of Kayla Itsines (worth $486 million), Miranda Kerr (worth $52 million) and Margot Robbie (worth $35 million), who also feature in the top 10.
At 34, Erin Deering (pictured), the co-founder of Triangl swimwear, has made the Australian Financial Review’s rich list following a hugely successful seven years in business
At number six, she sits alongside the likes of Kayla Itsines (worth $486 million), Miranda Kerr (worth $52 million) and Margot Robbie (worth $35 million), who also feature in the top 10
A swimwear designer worth $35million – who counts Hailey Bieber (right), Kylie Jenner (left) and Kim Kardashian as fans – is one of the 10 richest Australians under the age of 40
Originally from Melbourne, the 34-year-old started Triangl alongside her ex-fiance and father of her two children, Craig Ellis, in 2012.
The pair said the idea came about on their second date, which was at the beach, when Miss Deering said she struggled to find a swimsuit that was reasonably priced, stylish and well made.
After spending three hours on the shoreline talking about the inconvenient lack of tw opieces, the pair decided to sell their belongings and move to Hong Kong to launch a swimwear company.
Originally from Melbourne the 34-year-old started Triangl alongside her ex-fiance and father of her two children, Craig Ellis, in 2012 (both pictured)
Then to now: Miss Deering now creates bikinis of all styles and shapes, including velvet (left) and nylon (right)
‘It was tough at the start,’ Mr Ellis, 44, told FEMAIL in 2016.
‘We had to sell all our stuff and borrow money from some friends to get by.’
Eating tinned food on the floor of their tiny flat and trying to sell one bikini a day, they eventually stumbled on a style that was selling: the black binded neoprene number.
‘We used social media to get the message out there because we couldn’t afford billboards, PR agents and advertising. Similarly, we went with neoprene instead of nylon or prints, which we also experimented with, because it seemed to be selling,’ Mr Ellis said.
Neoprene naturally curves around a human shape with ease, which Mr Ellis suspects is why it was so revolutionary at the time.
It became so popular that model Kendall Jenner stumbled on pictures of it and asked for a pair herself.
Since 2013 the duo have become regulars on the rich list and estimate they sell more than 45,000 bikinis a month around the world
Sadly Miss Deering and Mr Ellis – who purchased a plush $5million pad on Bondi Beach in 2018 – split at the start of the year, with Erin moving on with fellow Aussie Zachary Keane
Erin is pictured with current boyfriend Zachary Keane
This saw the sales of Triangl skyrocket in the United States, which is still one of their biggest markets today.
‘The celeb endorsement has really helped,’ says Mr Ellis.
‘But I think people can tell when that comes about organically and naturally, rather than us just pushing our product on people who we want to wear it.
‘Plus the price point, which is under $150AUD, is the sweet spot. It’s reasonable, but expensive enough to be good quality.’
Since 2013 the duo have become regulars on the rich list and estimate they sell more than 45,000 bikinis a month around the world.
Miss Deering and Mr Ellis – who purchased a plush $5million pad on Bondi Beach in 2018 – split at the start of the year, with Erin moving on with fellow Aussie Zachary Keane.
From being ‘flat broke’ to sporting designer brands like Balenciaga on a night out with friends, Miss Deering and Mr Ellis often can’t believe just how far they’ve come
Triangl is still exclusively online with no plans as yet to build a brick and mortar store
Their Instagram photos feature holidays to Hawaii and Europe, with plenty of Triangl bikini snaps in between – hinting at the life of luxury Miss Deering now leads.
From being ‘flat broke’ to sporting designer brands like Balenciaga on a night out with friends, Miss Deering and Mr Ellis often can’t believe just how far they’ve come.
They now sell bikinis in a multitude of fabrics and styles, leading the charge in well-priced pieces.
Triangl is still exclusively online with no plans as yet to build a brick and mortar store.