Lisa Blue Swimwear 2011
The Lisa Blue 2011 swimwear collection was presented during the final group show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami. The collection opened with aboriginal themes with the indigenous model Tamara Flanagan and transitioned to Baroque and Renaissance art printed on swimwear, seemingly intended for a separate collection.
ALEX - This is Alex from FutureClaw, and we're here with Lisa Burke from Lisa Blue. Your show was absolutely incredible.
LISA - Thank you.
ALEX - I know a lot of swimwear we saw this week have been inspired by native American designs..
LISA - No, aboriginal. Australian aboriginal.
ALEX - Yours I was going to say.
LISA - The feather pieces look like that, but it's actually aboriginal.
ALEX - Absolutely, and you're australian, right?
LISA - Yes.
ALEX - When did you become involved with your conflict with the whales?
LISA - Several years ago I went to Tonga, to swim with the humpback whales, and I was very fortunate that I came this close to a mother and baby. Mommy was like 20 meters, 40 tons, and the baby came right up to me, and in that moment, they were looking into my eyes, I burst into tears, and I made a promise that I would do what I could to help save the whales and the dolphins. Then I put together my love for surfing, and bikinis, and designing, and created Lisa Blue, which as you know gives 25% to help save the whales and the dolphins.
ALEX - That's wonderful. We heard this is your US launch. Have you had a long career in Australia?
LISA - Yes, this is our third season, so we've had two launches in Australia, yes.
ALEX - And you look like a model, are you also a model?
LISA - I've done bits here and there in my life, but I did things like live in India and went off the beaten track. It's amazing to be able to do some modeling at 40.
ALEX - Well you look amazing, I never would have guessed.
LISA - Thank you.
ALEX - We also have some renaissance art inspired pieces. You actually have my favorite painting, the Gérard Cupid and Psyche.
LISA - Oh wow!
ALEX - I've never seen that anywhere else.
LISA - Oh how cool!
ALEX - How did you end up combining these two inspirations, the aboriginal and renaissance?
LISA - Honestly, there's no answer to that, it just came to me. I wanted to have something completely different to the tribal, to appeal to more women, so it's a very feminine story, and I'm glad you like that painting.
ALEX - Oh I love it. It's so romantic.
LISA - Thank you.
ALEX - I was so moved when I saw it.
LISA - Aww.
ALEX - And I saw you had the little whale-tails on the bikinis as well, so you were able to bring that in..
LISA - Yes, and they're, well they're on nearly all of the bikinis, and they're detachable, so girls can put them on bracelets, necklaces, and it represents helping save the whales.
ALEX - Right of course. It's an amazing cause. Thank you so much.
