DESIGNER PROFILE - Renay Wells

What should everyone know about you?
RW: I am passionate about creating designer swimsuits with attitude! Combining 18 years of retail and wholesale fashion experience, I thrive on using my expertise in all areas to benefit other brands, both existing and new fashion/swim & surf brands. Whether that be in brand consulting for the initial conception, design to pattern making new collections and styles, to production specifications and technical documentation for local and offshore manufacturing.

How would you describe what you do?
RW: CREATE! From start to finish! I design my own yardage prints, patterns, push boundaries & I LOVE every minute of it!

Why did you choose to be a designer?
RW: I didn’t every really choose to be a designer. As cliché as it sounds swimwear designing found me! 2004 I was a top finalist in the National Retail Awards (in Australia) for my student entry in the theme of: Retro to Futurism. I created silver foil 50’s inspired swimsuits. Making the TOP 8.

What steps did you take to become a designer?
RW: Starting in a buying office for a major retail chain, I always wanted to be a Buyer. Without any qualifications this couldn’t happen, so I studied my Degree in Textiles, Clothing and Footwear. 2004 I started working as a Swimwear Designer for an Australian based brand, who also developed for various retail chains in-house labels.

Best/Most Challenging part of your job?
RW: Working ahead of seasons & being obsessed with the newest collection you are creating. Then having to put out to the world something you created 6+ months ago 🙂

If you weren’t a designer what would you be?
RW: A Fine Artist, I need to be creative. Or a fashion photographer

How did you get started in design?
RW: Finishing High School in 1992, I went straight to study Commercial Art & Illustration, followed by a Bachelor of Fine Art. Fashion became a natural progression in 1998.

What do you like about what you do?
RW: I LOVE every single process! From the textile design aspect in creating a print. To drafting my own patterns. I love to receive my samples back from sewing & beading or creating unique ties or details.

What’s a common misconception people have about what you do?
RW: That it is EASY!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
RW: Traveling, creating, doing/being/achieving all while working on my laptop by the beach!

What sparked your interest in design?
RW: Baywatch circa 1992

How has your work evolved since you began your career?
RW: MAJORLY! I went from formula driven commercial swimsuits for children, Juniors & Women. To global financial crisis (GFC) hitting in 2008 & returning from my job in Los Angeles (Fashion District) to working from home on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The days of fast fashion are here! Celebrity endorsement & social media driven content.

Are there any types of clothing/footwear/accessories that you avoid wearing?
RW: As big as the trend is, I cannot stand high waisted swimsuits, high cut 80’s style Brazilian cut….that’s my style!

What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work?
RW: Dye sublimation & digital printing…my GO TO printing method! But right now I am all about the suede & tassels!

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your career?
RW: Not to take everything so personally! Sometimes you need a thick skin, especially in this technology social media driven era.

What advice would you give to young designers?
RW: Find their passion, learn & grow!

What would you like to achieve before the end of the year?
RW: To be recognized as being one of the stand out designer swimsuit + boutique bikini brands within the marketplace

Are you superstitious or do you have any rules you live by?
RW: Spiritual not superstitious. To put your creations out to the world & then let go of the outcome! People will see your passion & LOVE the brand for what it is!

What’s your motto?
RW: PERSONALLY: #dowhatilove + #lovewhatido

FOR THE BRAND: #lovetheskinyourein + #globaldomination

Renay Wells IS Miss Maneater:

Not only the designer behind the styles, but add in the job of being THE pattern making genius to create the BEST FITTING designer swimsuits and boutique bikinis.

Renay has created all our very own DIGITAL prints, single handedly cuts out each order individually, so you can be guaranteed that your Miss Maneater designer swimsuit or boutique bikini is made especially for YOU!

Without our dedicated team of sewing machinists, we would NOT have the high quality make that Miss Maneater is known for.

We are NOT mass produced, we are AUSTRALIAN MADE! & we are PROUD of it!

Renay’s job isn’t finished there….any time you receive a Miss Maneater order in the mail, you will find her signature, any time you see a post on social media from the brand….that’s Renay! If there is any 1 person that is Miss Maneater! That’s HER!

This isn’t just a hobby for Renay, she has lived & breathed the swim/surf industry since August 1998 (thats 18YEARS!!!!) , working for a national surf retail brand, but always wanting to be a FASHION BUYER, she quit her job and went & studied her Diploma of Textiles, Clothing & Footwear.

Touching a sewing machine for the first time at 27yrs old (just quietly that will be the ONLY time I touch a sewing machine 😉

After completing her studies, Renay worked for 2 swimsuit brands, both on the international stage, before returning to the surf industry to live & work in Shanghai, China & Los Angeles. Before the GFC hit in 2008, Renay had a very HIGH profile role for an international surf brand.

Returning to the Gold Coast at the end of 2008, she became a beach bum, before thinking “OK what NOW?!?”

2009 is when ‘maneater swimwear’ was conceived! <3

MY personal THANKS to YOU our supporters!

It is the 6th year of our brand & I cannot thank you enough for your support! Everyday I AM grateful to be doing what I LOVE & LOVING what I do!

Creating swimsuits that cannot be found anywhere else! #designerswimsuits with ATTITUDE! I LOVE my job! I LOVE my brand! I LOVE my business!

I have made some mistakes, I have created some SHIT HOT styles, I LOVE every single model that has ever been shot in Miss Maneater, as they are the epitome of the brand. It is NOT often that I like to be in front of the camera…..so behold below!

From the original REBEL! From me to you! A whole lot of GRATITUDE!

<3 Renay x