One Teaspoon owner Liz Roberts reveals what the brand is doing to revolutionise its denim shorts

They were the rock and roll designer denim shorts with purposefully frayed edges that Australians – and celebrities – couldn’t get enough of.

One Teaspoon’s founder Liz Roberts was as shocked as everyone else when her ‘Bandits’ denim received rockstar status a decade ago and allowed the brand to showcase the best of Aussie fashion on a world stage. 

‘We had already had enormous success here in Australia across our fashion categories, but the take up of the denim started in the US,’ Liz told FEMAIL from her home base in Manly.

‘The US girl really resonated with the roots of the brand which were firmly sprung from a fun-loving beach culture, a brand born in Sydney’s Northern Beaches. 

Every celebrity wanted a pair of One Teaspoon denim shorts (pictured: Beyonce, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber)

‘But it was more than that, in the sense that the clothing we created emanated from our lives. 

‘It reflected that transition from the beach to the bar, to parties, to festivals but to business meetings as well. And we needed apparel that would work and transition across those environments.’

Like many brands One Teaspoon’s genesis in 2000 came about as a solution to a problem: there just wasn’t denim or fashion around that Liz was drawn to already on the market.  

‘So in essence it wasn’t conceptual, it was pragmatic, One Teaspoon solved a problem,’ she said.

It would go on to become the go-to denim for celebrities like Beyonce, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Elle McPherson and Sophie Monk, which Liz feels ‘incredibly fortunate about’ all these years later (Kim Kardashian in One Teaspoon)

‘And over time, that solution became entwined with what would become the One Teaspoon ethos – it was rebellion, it was sexy, it was nostalgic, it was definitely fun and wholeheartedly rock ‘n’ roll.’ 

It would go on to become the go-to denim for celebrities like Beyonce, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Elle McPherson and Sophie Monk, which Liz feels ‘incredibly fortunate about’ all these years later.

But she also gets a kick out walking down the Manly Corso and seeing a young woman wearing a pair of Bandits or glancing across a cafe in Sydney and noticing one of her jumpsuits gliding past.

‘We craft our clothing to be worn by empowered women throughout the world, it doesn’t matter what’s in their bank account, or if they’re in Soho or Sydney,’ Liz said (Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid pictured)

‘We craft our clothing to be worn by empowered women throughout the world, it doesn’t matter what’s in their bank account, or if they’re in Soho or Sydney,’ she said.

Over the last two years of the pandemic fashion brands have struggled to keep their businesses afloat, and One Teaspoon has taken home some learnings just the same. 

‘We’re enormously privileged to have the loyal base of customers and fans – we try to reward that loyalty with our Bower VIP club online for example,’ Liz said.

‘A sign of any healthy business is retention but more so it’s an acknowledgment that we’re on the right track, that we’re doing the right things, that our fanbase continue to support us.’

Last year Liz launches OTS – or One Teaspoon Sport – which although it had been percolating behind the scenes for some time, was accepted by the community at large with enormous gratitude. 

‘OTS is a natural step in the development of One Teaspoon and it allows us to play in spaces that, while a natural fit for the brand, we wouldn’t traditionally have operated in,’ Liz said

‘OTS is a natural step in the development of One Teaspoon and it allows us to play in spaces that, while a natural fit for the brand, we wouldn’t traditionally have operated in,’ Liz said.

‘So the uptake of OTS has provided us with the opportunity to really take a long look at the enormous possibilities for the brand, and for the almost endless possibilities that we can create and pursue. 

‘It’s sometimes daunting but nevertheless we forge ahead, and we’re lucky to have such a strong brand and ethos and an incredible team to ensure the future is as rosy as we want it to be. The next capsule launches in-stores and online in May – so stay tuned!’