Ripe

Ripe Maternity Wear is an Australian owned company that was established in February 1996, by Kate Beaconsfield and Lisa Balakas.

Kate was a physiotherapist running several busy clinics and Lisa was a trained Interior Designer. After having three children Lisa was frustrated by the lack of fashionable maternity wear that was available to pregnant women and thought it was time things changed. She had the design background but needed the business skills to start up and run a label. Kate was contemplating a career change so the timing was perfect. They teamed up, pooled resources and have never looked back.

The label allows women to maintain their own personal style during their pregnancy and not have to take on the persona of a ‘sailor in a nautical theme’ or a ‘carpenter complete with over-alls’ or the styling of a ‘pre-schooler in a cute baby doll dress’. The Ripe style is contemporary and fresh. Parts of it are fun and funky, and parts of it are simple and adaptable. Basic essential items and fashion items come together to offer a broad collection that encompasses sleepwear, swim and active wear, casual and evening wear as well as suiting and co ordinates for the working mum-to-be.