Two Women-Owned Brands Turning Lived Experience Into Creative Practice

From the vibrant folk art of Latin America to a commitment to body neutrality, Nathalia Suizu and Lyndi Cohen draw on their personal histories to shape their brands, Natsui and Fearless Swimwear respectively. Both were among the emerging women-owned brands featured at F5 Collective’s La Femme – a one-day multisensory retail experience at Hawker Spaces that celebrated and supported female entrepreneurs.

“I was born in Brazil and have travelled extensively throughout Latin America, so the region is deeply woven into my culture and identity,” says Suizu. “I’m especially drawn to Latin American iconography and textile design, where Indigenous, European and African influences intertwine in a captivating fusion of pattern and vibrant colour.”

Meanwhile, Cohen brings her background in nutrition and dietetics – with a focus on helping women feel at home in their bodies – to her size-inclusive swim brand, creating the kind of label she had long been searching for.

Here Suizu and Cohen share the inspirations behind their businesses, the hurdles they faced early on, and the advice they’d give other women building something of their own. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What inspired you to launch your business?

Suizu: I’ve always had a creative disposition, but it was high school art class when I discovered my love for painting. Looking back over the past 20 years, I’ve consistently gravitated to my brushes whenever the urge to be expressive arose.

In 2017, following a year-long sabbatical from work and a transformative experience living in the Peruvian Andes, I fully stepped onto my artist path. At this crossroads, I affirmed my desire to spend less time on the nine-to-five grind and more time nurturing my own creative projects. I began sharing my work on Instagram, and the positive response quickly opened doors to exhibition opportunities.

Cohen: For years, I told myself I didn’t like the beach. The truth was, I just hated how I felt in a swimsuit. As a dietitian who helps women make peace with their bodies, I realised something: most swimwear wasn’t designed for real women’s bodies. It made so many of us feel excluded from moments we should be enjoying.

That’s what inspired Fearless. I wanted to create swimsuits that fit how women are actually shaped, not based on some outdated size chart. What started as a personal frustration has grown into a brand helping women feel comfortable and confident in the least amount of fabric they’ll wear in public.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in the initial stages?

Suizu: The early stages of my artist journey felt effortless – perhaps because I was determined to keep it fun and free of pressure. Now that things have gained more momentum, my biggest challenge has been managing my time and consciously scheduling rest.

Cohen: We’re designing for the 91 per cent of women who feel overlooked by the swim industry. The biggest challenge was rebuilding the design process. The traditional size charts used by most manufacturers didn’t represent real bodies, so we had to start again, gathering hundreds of real women’s measurements and testing our swimsuits on women of all different sizes, ages and shapes.

It took longer, cost more and required plenty of patience. That process is now the foundation of Fearless. Every style we make is tested and refined on real women, ensuring it fits and feels right in real life – not just on a mannequin.

Is there any resource or support system that helped you early on, or one that you wish you had?

Suizu: I found the Melbourne art community to be incredibly open and welcoming to me as a newcomer. I was blown away by how supportive and encouraging fellow creatives were, and I’m so grateful for all the exhibition opportunities and guidance that came my way. I’ve made so many new artist friends along the journey – there’s a wonderful sense of camaraderie and mutual support within the community. It’s very inspiring, quite frankly.

Cohen: Coming from a nutrition background, I had to learn the fashion and manufacturing world from scratch – and there’s no manual for that. The most valuable resource has been community. From other female founders who were generous with their advice, to the hundreds of women in our Fit Crew who volunteered their time (and bodies) to test our swimsuits and give honest feedback. I’ve also found that listening to podcasts featuring entrepreneurs who are also mothers gives me relevant and actionable advice.

What advice would you give to other women in your industry?

Suizu: Follow your bliss. Take it easy on yourself, sister – but keep going.

Cohen: So many of the best ideas come from frustration or a sense that “surely there’s a better way”. That’s where Fearless began. Trust your big idea, then get the right people on the bus to help you execute. You can’t do it all – that’s a damaging myth – so choose what you are happy to own and what to delegate. I don’t aspire to be excellent at housework, so in order to parent and run a business, I have to get help at home.

This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with F5 Collective.