rebecca kroon
Meet Rebecca, Founder of Robe.
Robe was created in 2018 to fill a gap in the market for functional but luxurious resort wear, but to also make women feel empowered and confident when by the water.
A former lawyer, Bec swapped the corporate life to follow her love for fashion and passion to create, this culminated into World of Robe.
A mum of two human children - Oscar and Sophia - and two fur babies - Pepa and Harry and married to a busy Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Bec doesn't have a lot of down time.
When she does, you will find her running, snow skiing, wake boarding or just lazing around with friends at the beach or pool, champagne in hand. OK hand on heart, sometimes you will see her by the pool with her laptop, but champagne too!
We spoke to Rebecca about her experience in shaping Robe and her creative life.
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan
Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images
TELL US ABOUT yourself?
My absolute favourite thing in the whole world to do is spend time with my family at the beach. Not even necessarily on the beach, but somewhere near the beach or the water. I feel like I need that to properly relax.
Being a serious A Type personality, I find it difficult to relax without feeling the need to get up and be productive in some way. Or I feel guilt when I am not being ‘productive’ in some way.
Over the years, I have learnt that relaxing and spending quality time with my family is ‘productive’. It is meaningful and has great purpose for me. So the beach and spending time with my family is non-negotiable.
WHAT DO YOUR DESIGNS MEAN TO YOU?
I design garments that make me want to be at the beach, or feel like I am by the water – they evoke that feeling of relaxation, calm and luxury, even if I’m in my office!
More and more, women, including myself, are finding true flexibility in our workplaces. Don’t get me wrong – we still have a long way to go on this front, but it is starting to happen. Women can work from home, from the day bed next to the pool, while keeping one eye on the kids at a fabulous resort somewhere or anywhere really.
Our designs enable women the practicality to work this way while at the same time looking and feeling sexy, confident and beautiful. We aim to empower women to wear what they want, when and how they want. When I’m by the water, I want to feel beautiful and feminine. Our designs are created to bring that feeling to every woman.
The Robe Woman.
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan | Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan
Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images
How did it all begin for robe?
Naturally, it all began by the pool at my home! I was playing with my children when the door bell rang and I had to jump out of the pool to answer it. I really didn’t want to answer the door in my bikini so my only options were the cover-up I had been wearing before I got into the pool, which was silk, or a Turkish towel. I didn’t want to ruin the silk so of course I grabbed the towel, tied it awkwardly and (somewhat predictably) it fell down as I answered the door.
I was irrationally upset and decided right then I had to find a hybrid between a silk garment and a Turkish towel. After much googling and not being able to find anything close to what I wanted, I decided to create it. And if I needed it, I suspected many other women needed it too.
I have always loved silk but, as we all know silk does not love the water. Seriously – they are not friends. When I created Robe, the idea was to produce a garment that looked, behaved and felt like silk, but was truly functional, reliable and wouldn’t be ruined when wet.
We then spent 18 months in development and created three amazing fabrics, but now predominantly use our signature 30% silk / 70% cotton fabric for our designs.
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan
Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images
What is a stand out moment in shaping THE ROBE brand?
This year my primary focus has been on forming my team - the right team.
I think we have an amazing product and we are gaining momentum every day. Now I need the right people working with me to really bring it to life. I have a Marketing and PR Executive and a new Brand Strategist working with me now – they are seriously smart and cool and I love what they are doing with the brand.
It may not sound all that ‘stand out’ to some, but for me my team is everything. The ability to engage two people to work with me and have Robe benefit and grow from their talent and ideas is just incredible.
What creative work has you excited right now?
I have been working on some really exciting things for our next collection – ‘Cocktails at Sunset’. In particular, I have been working with local artist, Penelope Bell on two new and incredibly beautiful prints.
One print is very much inspired by Japan as I spent time there earlier this year. The other print is really romantic and soft, which is not something we have done before. Getting to work with creatives is so inspiring – it’s amazing just how much talent is out there. I love it!
WHAT DO YOU SEE AHEAD FOR YOURSELF AND ROBE?
Last year was a big year of reflection for me - both personally and professionally. I went through a really big change when I decided to stop practicing law after 15 years in the game. Since the age of six, all I ever wanted to be was a lawyer.
I don’t think I realised or anticipated the impact closing that door would have on how I felt about myself and my values. So much of my identity was tied up in being a lawyer. I have spent a lot of time thinking about my true self, what makes me really happy and what value I can bring to the world through what I do now. I am really excited about putting that into practice and continuing to grow and develop both personally and professionally with Robe. It’s an very exciting time for our brand!
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan
Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan
Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images
What do you love to do to relax and recharge?
Lazy weekends down the coast with my family and friends – we eat, drink, paddle board, swim, read and talk. I just love it.
What advice do you have for emerging designers?
I think emerging designers need to be really savvy in the way they think – it’s not just about design anymore, it’s about understanding your markets’ needs before they do. I also think designers need to look beyond a brand.
I created Robe as a commercial venture with a heart. For me, it is about building a values based business that interacts and enhances the community within which it operates. For me, it’s never been just about the money.
It’s Always Summer Somewhere Collection:
Styling by Jenni Sellan
Photography by Grace Elizabeth Images