Seafolly vs Zimmermann: Australia's Swimwear Giants

Jun 4, 2026 / Oct 5, 2026 · 6 min read · togs swimwear au nz ·

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Two Sydney labels, two different businesses

Seafolly was born on Bondi Beach in 1975; Zimmermann began at the Paddington markets in 1991. The choice between them depends on what you want the togs to do. Both labels started in Sydney and both are known around the world, but they are different kinds of business. Seafolly is a swimwear specialist that sells through thousands of stores. Zimmermann is a fashion house whose swimwear sits beside dresses, separates and accessories.

This comparison uses each brand's own pages, checked on 5 October 2026. Prices change with the season and the sales, so treat the figures as a guide.

Where each brand came from

Seafolly. Its About page says "We were born on Bondi Beach in 1975, and our towel has been there ever since." Its homepage describes the brand's aim as "innovative swimwear that heroes fit above all else."

Zimmermann. According to its own story, sisters "Nicky and Simone Zimmermann founded their namesake label in 1991." It began with Nicky designing dresses in her parents' garage during the week and selling them at the Paddington markets in Sydney at weekends. Two pages of editorial in Australian Vogue brought orders from boutiques around the country, and she soon opened a small boutique in Darlinghurst.

Nicky credits her sister as central to the business. Simone joined in 1991, and Nicky is quoted on the brand's page: "I could never have achieved what we have without Simone."

Zimmermann describes swimwear as an early step rather than its starting point: "Early in its evolution, ZIMMERMANN took the bold step of fusing fashion with swimwear." It says its "bold original prints, beautifully made one-pieces and sculptural bikinis created a new point of reference" in swimwear, and that its Swim and Resort collections have become "the third wardrobe" of its customers.

How big each one is

	Seafolly	Zimmermann
Founded	1975, Bondi Beach	1991, Sydney
Core business	Swimwear	Fashion, with swim and resort lines
Own stores	More than 30, across Australia, Singapore and the US	Stand-alone boutiques across Australia
Wider reach	Sold in over 2,100 locations in 50 countries	Showrooms in New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, Sydney and Shanghai

Sources: Seafolly's About page; Zimmermann's Our Story page.

The reach tells you how easy each is to try on. Seafolly is stocked by "major retailers and online sites" as well as its own stores. Zimmermann is mainly sold through its own boutiques and showrooms.

Price

The price gap is the clearest difference between the two.

Seafolly. On its Australian one-pieces page, the full-price one-pieces we checked sat between AUD $180 and $200. Examples included the Horizons Scoop Neck Tie Back One Piece at $180 and the Bandwave Zip Front One Piece at $200. Seafolly offers free standard shipping on Australian orders over $150 and free express shipping over $300. Its Beach Club loyalty scheme gives a $20 reward for signing up, and the site lists a Final Sale section, so the full price is not the only price.

Zimmermann. Its swimwear sits alongside clothing priced well into the hundreds and thousands. On its US site, for example, the Aster Scarf Tie Bikini was listed at US$295, while dresses from the same collection ran from about US$625 to over US$1,600.

The broad pattern holds whatever the season: Seafolly is premium high-street swimwear, and Zimmermann is luxury fashion that includes swimwear.

Fit and sizing

Seafolly makes fit its selling point. Its size guide maps underbust measurements against bust sizes from A cup through to G cup, and asks you to measure four points: bust, underbust, waist and hip. It also offers a "Speak to a Fit Specialist" service. The bust guidance is direct: "Measure across the fullest part of your bust and straight around the back to determine your cup size," and measure directly under it for your numeric size.

Zimmermann's appeal is design rather than a wide fit range. Its story talks about "clever colour combinations and delicate original prints" and "flattering, sexy and stylish swimwear."

Swimwear sizing rarely carries across brands, so use each label's own guide.

Seafolly's site also sorts its swimwear by need, not just style. Its menu includes a Fuller Bust (D+) range, Maternity, Rash Vests and an Extra Coverage edit.

Coverage and the Australian sun

If you will spend long days at the beach, coverage is worth weighing alongside style. Cancer Council Australia advises clothing "that covers as much skin as possible", and notes that a garment must cover at least "the torso and ¾ of the upper arms and / or the lower body" to carry a UPF sun-protection rating at all. A bikini, however beautiful, cannot qualify. That is a practical point in Seafolly's favour for an all-day beach, with its rash vests and extra-coverage styles, while a Zimmermann bikini is better suited to a resort pool with shade.

Design

Seafolly runs named collections. When we checked, its site listed Retro Reef, Horizons, Seafolly Collective, Beach Bound and Sea Dive. Its one-pieces ranged from scoop-neck and tie-back styles to zip-front and belted tank suits.

Zimmermann's swimwear follows its fashion collections. In the US listing we checked, the bikini sat in the same Aster collection and print as the dresses, skirts and blouses around it. That is the point of buying it: the swimsuit matches a holiday wardrobe.

Which to choose

Swimming regularly, or replacing togs most summers: Seafolly. It is easier to find, easier to try on, and designed around fit.
A wide cup range: Seafolly, with sizes from A to G cup in its guide.
A statement piece for a holiday: Zimmermann, where the swimsuit is part of a matching wardrobe.
Budget: Seafolly, by a wide margin.
All-day sun: Seafolly, for its rash vests and extra-coverage styles.

Many shoppers will never weigh one against the other, because they are aimed at different budgets and occasions. If you are comparing, decide first whether you want swimwear to swim in or a resort outfit, and the choice usually makes itself.

Returns

Swimwear returns come with hygiene conditions. Seafolly's returns page allows returns within 30 days, provided items are "in their original condition, with tags and hygiene stickers still attached." It does not accept change-of-mind returns or exchanges on Final Sale items unless they are faulty. For Australian online orders, it offers instant refunds through a service called Refundid. Check Zimmermann's own terms before buying, especially for sale pieces.

Zimmermann's range now goes well beyond swimwear. Its story lists "ZIMMERMANN Swim, Separates, Kids, Footwear and Accessories" as label extensions.

Where to buy

Seafolly sells through its own Australian website, more than 30 of its own stores, and over 2,100 other retail locations. Zimmermann sells through its own boutiques and its website.

For more Australian labels, see our guide to Australian swimwear brands, and for discounts, our guide to swimwear sales at the beach chains. For the New Zealand labels many shoppers compare with these, see NZ swimwear brands. And if the word "togs" brought you here, what does togs mean explains the Australian usage.