The Zimmermann sisters: 'The free spirit and nature of Australia in our creations'

True, only 27 million people live in Australia, about 0.33% of the world's population. On the other hand, there are more than 150 million sheep, national pride and unwitting purveyors of the prized Merino wool to everyone on the planet. It is worth remembering, however - as the American writer Bill Bryson has often done in his curious books - that Australia is the world's sixth largest nation and its largest island. Not only that: it is also the only island that is also a continent and the only continent that is a nation.

The most famous is perhaps Ugg, specialised in warm suede boots, founded - Australians never cease to amaze - by a surfer with a passion for sheepskin. As in the case of Zimmermann, born instead in 1991 in Sydney, Ugg has spent some fifteen years growing in its own country, before beginning development abroad. Interesting paths, combining consolidation of roots and identity with an ambition - patient, reasoned, we might say - to make a name for himself outside the island.

Da sinistra, Simone e Nicky Zimmermann

"Each collection is inspired by my homeland and memories of what I experienced, often related to nature, as well as outdoor experiences and the fascination that all of us Australians have with surfing and the ocean," says Nicky Zimmermann, who 33 years ago, together with her sister Simone, founded the brand in Sydney. The collection for spring-summer 2025, which has just been on show at Paris Fashion Week, where it has been present since 2022, is confirmation of the imagery that Nicky draws on: "With the style department we were inspired by the beautiful 1970s surfing film by Albe Falzon, Morning of the Earth," says the designer, who has been living for a few years between Australia, Europe and the United States. The film is a celebration of the free spirit of surfers and their passion for nature and is visually stunning: the way it captures the golden morning light and colours of nature is pure magic. I grew up near the beach in southern Sydney, where in the late 70s and 80s you could see so many surf films, but this one by Albe Falzon has something special, which I have never forgotten, perhaps because of the interplay between the colours of the sand, the images of the surfers and the golden sunlight.

Dettagli di un look della collezione PE 2025

Another peculiarity of Zimmermann, which 20 years after its birth, in 2011, began opening shops outside Australia, starting in Los Angeles, is the partnership between the founding sisters: 'I could never have built what we have today without Simone,' says Nicky, to whom we owe the initial idea for the brand, but who immediately asked her sister to join her in the adventure. In these 33 years the fashion industry has changed and fashion itself has changed, Simone on the other hand has remained a point of reference not only emotionally, but also in terms of reasoning. We complement each other and as sisters we have the privilege of being able to confront each other in total sincerity. It may happen that we disagree, perhaps we have confrontations with a hint of bitterness, but we always manage to understand each other's reasons, reconcile them and look beyond, without grudges or regrets, also because the love we have for the brand and the pride for what we have done is identical'.

La boutique di Firenze

The retail expansion in Italy started from Capri and today there are monobrand stores in Milan, Rome, Florence and Forte dei Marmi and the next stop will be Venice. To date, Zimmermann only offers women's clothing and accessories, with only one foray into the male universe, swimwear. "Perhaps I should also mention pyjamas," says an amused Nicky, "which are increasingly becoming a unisex category and have had something of a second life since they are even used outside the home. We don't rule out anything, especially now that we are extending the accessories category, knowing how much men have approached, for example, the handbag universe. However, we remain focused on the women's side, we feel a special, emotional connection with all the customers who choose us'.