Clothing should empower, not restrict
Marielle Collins
Sydney’s golden shores have always been a major inspiration for designer Marielle Collins. Growing up along Australia’s coast, she was immersed in a lifestyle defined by freedom, movement, and a certain effortless elegance.
But the more time she spent on the beach, the more she noticed something: traditional sarongs just weren’t cutting it. They were clumsy, impractical, and constantly slipping, which made them hard to wear without constant readjustments. And that frustration led to something bigger. Marielle didn’t just want to change a garment, she wanted to redefine it.
And so, SKARONG was born. This new take on the sarong is stylish, practical, and sustainable. With its sleek design and thoughtful features, like the centre-front seam that eliminates the need for constant readjusting, SKARONG is the answer to the problem that’s been plaguing beachgoers for years. It’s not just a sarong, it’s a new kind of piece that moves easily from the beach to the resort to an evening out. SKARONG is as versatile as it is chic, blending the beauty of a sarong with the practicality of a skirt.
“Clothing should empower, not restrict,” Marielle says, and this design captures that idea perfectly.
Inspired by the coast
From its inception, SKARONG has been about more than just a new fashion piece. Born from the frustration with traditional sarongs, which were often awkward and difficult to wear, the center-front seam eliminates the need for constant readjusting, making it not just a sarong but a versatile garment that effortlessly transitions from the beach to the resort and even to an evening out.
At the core of SKARONG is a deep commitment to ethical manufacturing. Each piece is designed and produced in Australia, crafted with double-turned seams for exceptional quality and longevity. Collins rejects the throwaway culture of fast fashion, which she believes is responsible for generating enormous amounts of textile waste.
In response, SKARONG prioritizes mindful consumption, repurposing, recycling, or donating any excess fabric. Even the packaging is eco-friendly, with recycled tissue paper and sustainable swing tags replacing traditional plastic options. As Collins explains,
“We didn’t want to contribute to fast fashion’s environmental toll, we wanted to create something sustainable.”
The brand’s dedication to the planet goes beyond just reducing waste. One of SKARONG’s standout features is the ECO Mesh design, which uses REPREVE yarn made from 92% recycled ocean-bound plastic bottles. Collins calls the ocean her muse, and SKARONG’s eco-friendly materials help divert plastic from the sea, protecting the waters that have inspired her throughout her life.
“The beauty of nature remains untouched for generations to come,” she adds, aligning the brand with a larger mission of environmental preservation.
Community and compassion
We didn’t just want to make a SKARONG. We wanted to create something beautiful while being kind to the environment and giving back at the same time
Beyond fashion, SKARONG is driven by community impact. In addition to offering stylish, practical designs, SKARONG manufactures free turbans for individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
These turbans, designed to provide comfort, dignity, and confidence during chemotherapy, are part of Collins’ plan to expand the brand’s outreach. She hopes to have them available in hospitals, giving a sense of warmth and support to those in need. Additionally, SKARONG donates a portion of its profits to environmental causes, ensuring that every purchase contributes to meaningful change. “We didn’t just want to make a SKARONG. We wanted to create something beautiful while being kind to the environment and giving back at the same time,” she reflects. This mindset is woven into every design, redefining the very essence of fashion, one piece at a time.
Lessons to be learned
SKARONG’s approach offers practical insights for other businesses, especially in fashion and retail. By solving a consumer problem, sarongs that slip and require readjustment, with an innovative centre-front seam design, SKARONG shows how SMEs can differentiate products in crowded markets. Its ethical production, with all pieces made in Australia, aligns with consumer demand for transparency, offering SMEs a model to build trust through local manufacturing or certifications like Ethical Clothing Australia (ECA).
SKARONG’s use of REPREVE yarn and eco-friendly packaging demonstrates how SMEs can adopt sustainable materials and practices to reduce waste and appeal to eco-conscious consumers. Its slow fashion model, emphasizing durable designs, helps SMEs avoid overproduction, addressing the environmental impact of fast fashion’s textile waste.
Community initiatives, like free turbans and profit donations, provide a blueprint for SMEs to enhance brand loyalty through low-cost social responsibility programs. Finally, SKARONG’s storytelling, rooted in Collins’ coastal inspiration, shows how SMEs can craft authentic narratives to connect emotionally with customers, strengthening brand identity.
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