Style Q&A With Monday Swim Founders, Natasha Oakley & Devin Brugman

Ava: How would you describe the Monday girl?

Tash & Dev: This might sound a little cliché, but we genuinely believe anyone can be a Monday girl. We've seen women come in who might not feel entirely comfortable in swimwear, and watched that completely change when they find a piece that fits them beautifully and makes them feel good. Seeing that shift is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

There isn't one particular age, body type or personal style that defines a Monday girl, and that's what we love so much about our community. We have women of all ages wearing Monday, each bringing their own style to the pieces. We've recently introduced Monday Mini, so even our littlest beach lovers can be part of the Monday girl community. It's been so lovely to open the brand up to a whole new generation.

Our tagline has always been swimwear that takes you somewhere, and that's really the feeling we want to capture. Whether you're on vacation somewhere beautiful, spending a day at your local beach or simply dreaming of your next getaway, it's about that love of the sun, the water and everything that comes with it.

Ava: You both grew up in different places. How did you draw inspiration from them and how do they show up in Monday's designs?

Tash & Dev: We're both born beach girls! Tash grew up on the beaches of Sydney and Devin grew up in Maui, so both places have always been a huge part of who we are and naturally influence the way we approach swimwear. We wanted MONDAY to capture that effortless, everyday beach lifestyle we both grew up with, creating pieces you can feel comfortable and confident in, whether you're spending the day at the beach or by the pool.

That connection is also woven into the collections through the names of our pieces, with every style named after a place. Some of our most-loved designs are little nods to our own stories. Our Maui Top is named after where Devin grew up and where we first met, and remains one of our most popular underwire styles. The Clovelly, one of the first tops we ever designed, is named after Clovelly Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, where Tash grew up. It has since evolved into a one-piece, too.

Beyond the inspiration, our own experiences growing up in swimwear shaped the way we design. We both used to save our money to buy bikinis, but could never quite find pieces that fitted us perfectly. Devin especially struggled to find the right support for a larger bust. That experience really informed our approach to design, with considered fits, adjustable details and different levels of support at the heart of what we do.

Ava: How do you keep Monday part of someone's life in places where swim season only lasts a few months?

Tash & Dev: From the beginning, we always saw Monday as being more than just a swimwear brand. We wanted to create a whole wardrobe around that vacation lifestyle, so you weren't just shopping for a bikini, but everything you'd want to wear on a getaway. We started with resortwear, introducing linen pieces, sarongs, knits and accessories, and over time that has continued to evolve into activewear and loungewear, too.

We're always looking at how we can expand the collections and give our customers more ways to wear Monday. We're actually about to launch a tracksuit set, which is really exciting for us. We love that the brand has grown to offer everything from swimwear to pieces you can wear travelling, at home, to the gym or out and about. It's about creating a wardrobe that works beyond the beach, while still capturing that relaxed, vacation feeling that has always been at the heart of Monday.

Ava: What's one thing you're working on right now that you're most excited for people to see?

Tash & Dev: We're always thinking about what's next for Monday and how we can continue to evolve the brand beyond swimwear. We're exploring some new categories and ideas that we're really excited about, and maybe even something for your boyfriend, husband, brother or the men in your life! We can't share too much just yet, but there are definitely some new things on the horizon.

We never want to stand still, and it's important to us that the brand continues to grow in a way that feels natural while staying true to what Monday has always been about. There are lots of exciting things in the works, and 2027 is going to be a big year for us!

As someone with very ambitious friends, I’ve always been obsessed with best-friend business duos. Tash & Dev left me with a sense of possibility, and maybe the urge to text my best friend a business idea. I always get giddy hearing from founders who build brands that truly resonate with women, and Monday does exactly that.