TALENT

Crazy About Curves

Being Neighbourly x Cherisse Kofod, Cherry Bobbins

Author/ Being Neighbourly
26 March 2025

I have many plans for this brand,” says Cherisse Kofod, Founder of Cherry Bobbins, Kofod’s nickname from when she was 18 years old.

“First and foremost is to continue building brand awareness whilst listening to customer feedback to continuously improve our designs. Our customers’ needs are at the forefront of what we do,” she adds.

According to Kofod, she had long dreamt of having her own fashion label, and had been working towards that goal for the last 20 years, opening the fashion label only in May of last year.

Armed with 10 years of experience of living in Hong Kong, valuable skills in marketing, and a mission to advocate and cater for the 50% of women excluded by a size-ist industry, her label is garnering attention for all the right reasons.

First, there’s the playful aesthetic: the liberal use of polka dots in a seeming throwback to 1950s glamour and a simpler way of life; the loud fabrics in bold colours and prints that scream, ‘I’m here’, and the humorous accessories like the balloon bag in gold or silver that looks like, well, a balloon.

But underlying the carefree air, there are important conversations to be had about quality of life and size. “It’s important to have representation that is inclusive, in every aspect, because the fashion industry still excludes people,” she says. “Despite all the progress we have made, there are still not enough brands designing clothing that is suitable for a wide range of people.”

Being curvy herself, Kofod, who can be seen modelling many of the designs on her website, says she’s always found it difficult to dress. “When I was imagining what this brand would be, I knew it had to involve more size-inclusive designs. Everyone finds it shocking that clothing today is only suitable for approximately 50% of women. The other 50% have to make do with whatever is available, even if it doesn’t fit them. I’m a part of the other 50% and want to create more stylish designs for this category. It’s really what has driven the launch of Cherry Bobbins,” she says.

So strongly does Kofod feel about this, that she has previously turned down runway events, which only had one size of model participating, as it did not align to her brand values; but the label recently participated in a runway show on 2nd March for the Melbourne Fashion Festival in her native Australia; and presumably there will be many more to follow if the circumstances align with brand values.

“Cherry Bobbins is made for a wide range of shapes and sizes from 6-24 AU. For this reason, we will always advocate to have a diverse range of models. This is a very important aspect and something we strongly believe in,” she says.

“At the moment we only do womenswear…,” she trails off. Is the future, menswear? We’d love to see Central’s bankers outfitted in polka dot suits.

What’s the best work advice you have received?

“The best piece of advice I was ever given was just before I graduated from University,” says Cherisse Kofod, Founder of Cherry Bobbins.

“I was told to go to work for a small company to gain the most exposure to different areas of a business,”

“It really stuck with me because it was true and I believe it was this choice that enabled me to pivot into so many areas and continue enhancing my skills, before I started my own business.”

Cherry Bobbins
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