ZIMMERMANN – New York Fashion Week September 11th 2017
Sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann founded their namesake brand in Sydney in 1991. Early in its evolution, ZIMMERMANN took the bold step of fusing fashion with swimwear and presented it to the world. It immediately found its following with the fashion elite, creating a new point of reference in flattering, feminine and stylish swimwear. ZIMMERMANN began literally and creatively in Sydney, with Nicky focusing designing dresses and selling them at Paddington markets. The markets were an opportunity for Nicky to refine her aesthetic and to see first-hand how women responded to fashion. “While working the markets, I had two pages of editorial in Australian Vogue. That was a significant moment because I suddenly started to receive orders from boutiques around Australia and I could feel some real momentum. Soon after I opened a small store in Darlinghurst.” In 1991, Nicky’s sister Simone joined the growing ZIMMERMANN. Nicky’s relationship with Simone has been the cornerstone to ZIMMERMANN’s longevity and success. “We could never have achieved what we have without Simone. While the business has evolved and fashion has changed, Simone has been a voice of reason and a constant.” Early in its evolution, ZIMMERMANN took the bold step of fusing fashion with swimwear and presented it to the world. It soon found its footing with the fashion elite. Here was a quintessentially Australian fashion label and as the Sydney Morning Herald so nicely put it, “If Sydney was personified, she’d be bronzed, brazen and…wearing a ZIMMERMANN bikini, so synonymous has the sunny label become with Australian style.” ZIMMERMANN present their ready-to-wear collections each year in both Australia and the USA at New York Fashion Week. They maintain showrooms in Sydney, London, Paris, New York and Los Angeles. In Australia and abroad, the label receives extensive and enthusiastic editorial coverage and has graced the pages of magazines including: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, W, Glamour, Nylon and Marie Claire. The collections are stocked in stores internationally. Stockists include the iconic Barney’s, Saks 5th Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Harrods and Harvey Nichols. ZIMMERMANN is also featured on the world’s premier online stores such as Net-A-Porter. In Australia, ZIMMERMANN maintains a collection of stand-alone stores across the country and in 2008 ZIMMERMANN also launched its successful online boutique at zimmermannwear.com Demand from its growing international clients has seen the opening of ZIMMERMANN stores in the United States. In 2011, ZIMMERMANN opened its first US store on Robertson Boulevard, Beverly Hills California. The Brand now has five US stores located on Mercer Street in New York City, East Hampton, Americana Manhasset, Mayfair London, Bal Harbour Miami and in 2015, launched a new Los Angeles flagship on Melrose Place. In September 2017, ZIMMERMANN will open Hudson Street in New York. ZIMMERMANN have been the recipient of multiple fashion awards including AFI Best Swimwear Designer, Prix de Marie Claire Best Swimwear Brand and Prix de Marie Claire Best Australian Designer, to name a few. In 2014, ZIMMERMANN was the recipient of the Australian Fashion Laureate award. Nicky has been a member of the Australian Fashion Week Advisory Board and was previously the fashion mentor for the Qantas Spirit of Australia Youth Awards. Nicky was a founding board member of the Australian Fashion Chamber.
