Cudgen designer set to impress

Beach beauty: Jamie Allen.

CUDGEN swimwear designer Jamie Allen is hoping to make a splash when her new collection launches later this month.

The 20-year-old dipped into the swimwear industry last season, releasing her first full collection under her label Jaymes Swimwear.

“I've been making my own swimmers since I was 16 for friends and girls on Myspace,” Miss Allen said.

“My first collection almost sold out, there are only a few pieces left.”

Miss Allen said while growing up she was always at the beach.

“I wore swimwear more than I wore clothes. I hated buying swimmers that everyone else had,” she said. “I originally started making little bags and clothes for myself and I thought ‘Why not do swimmers?'.

“I just found I wanted something different and unique.”

And that's precisely what you can expect from a Jaymes piece.

“Last season my grandma and I hand-sewed a lot of the pieces,” Miss Allen said. “This season I haven't done that as much because it's a lot of time and it costs a lot.”

But you can still look forward to intricate lacework this year.

“I just love lace. I think it's really sexy and I just like to bring something different to swimwear,” she said. “This year I collaborated with Brisbane artist Emma Sheldrake. She paints these beautiful faces and I'm inspired by her artwork.”

Miss Sheldrake's artwork will be on display when Jaymes Swimwear's 2010 Summer/Spring Collection is launched at Kommune Resort in Coolangatta on September 16 at 6pm.