HomeCommunityTribe Tropical expands to the United States

Tribe Tropical expands to the United States

Tribe Tropical Founder Emily Gradon
Tribe Tropical Founder Emily Gradon in the Gaga Galah range.

Since launching local swimwear company Tribe Tropical, Emily Gradon has been working on growing her business and in just two years she has already cracked the overseas market.

The Bundaberg-based entrepreneur said not only was her brand available for purchase throughout Australia, Tribe Tropical had also recently been launched in Hawaii.

Credited to networking through LinkedIn and Instagram, Emily said persistence was a key factor in her mission to expand the business.

“To be stocked in the United States only two years after launching is an achievement that I’m really proud of as it really takes a lot of hard work and tonnes of time to get to this point,” she said.

“There really is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of a business that is trying to grow, it’s quite crazy and as a start-up it’s even more challenging, but hopefully with time all the hard work will pay off.”

With a commitment to the environment through a range of sustainability initiatives, Emily explained that despite now stocking internationally, her goals remained the same.

“From 2021, I am using five times less plastic in my business by way of a reduction in the number of polybags used,” she said.

“Instead of receiving each individual swimsuit and hat in its own polybag I have asked my supplier to send five pieces per polybag.”

The designs on the swimwear include Bundaberg Region inspired patterns from areas such as Mon Repos and Bargara.

Next month, Tribe Tropical is taking part in a world-record breaking attempt on the Gold Coast to raise funds for koala conservation at the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital.

Along with five other Queensland fashion brands, they will be part of the Gold Coast Beach Parade at Burleigh Beach on 16 May.

You can find out more about the attempt here.

Tribe Tropical was born from a love of tropical Australia and a desire to enjoy time in the sun without the consequence of prolonged sun exposure.

Read more: Tribe Tropical launches turtle inspired swimmers

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