Budgy Smuggler, Australian for Swimwear.

Why do you make swimwear in Australia?

We ask Chief Smuggler, Linny.

"Since we started, nearly 20 years ago… every pair of Budgy Smuggler swimwear has been proudly made in Sydney, Australia.

It’s made in the same factory of some great Australian brands before us like Zimmerman, Jets and of course Speedo itself when it was Australian owned. Most or all of those brands have shipped manufacturing totally offshore in search of understandably higher margins but also with less control on the manufacturing cycle, environmental impact & labour standards.

People often ask why we also don't move to a cheaper manufacturing base...they ask if you can save $5-$10 a pair and you make half a million garments...couldn't you make $5M more? In our minds, that's not how it works.

There's two things that are crucial in our minds at Budgy Smuggler. The first, quality and the second is the feeling you get when you put on a pair of Smugglers."

"On the quality front, it's hard to beat being able to track your production through every step. We want it to be quality you can be proud of and that people in our home country, Australia, are proud of.

The second is the feeling that you have when you put on a pair of Smugglers. We want you to literally feel like you're putting on a piece of Australia, to a brand that cares about its home country, about its manufacturing eco-system and that doesn't want to mass produce like pretty much everyone else.

It's also the right call for the environment.

While it's true we could save $5-$10 a pair if we made overseas, nearly 1/3 of what's made overseas ends up in land fill or discounted to below cost...so what's the true cost?

And lastly, there’s something we really love about seeing our swimwear being crafted. Our factory is run by our original cutter, Wayne, who has been with us for 2 x decades!

He's got no plans of stopping any time soon and neither do we."

Comments (13 comments)

May 19, 2026

CRISTIANA R Fernandes

Hi,

I hope you are well.

We are currently organising a Trivia Night fundraiser for Manly Selective Campus, taking place on 20 August, and we would love your support. This is our major fundraising event for the year, with all proceeds going directly to the Parents’ Association to support the school’s outstanding music program, library resources, and small improvement projects around the campus.

Manly Selective Campus, part of the NBSC in Brookvale, is a public school that relies on both government funding and the support of its parent community. Our families are spread across a wide area — from Mosman to Palm Beach, and across to Frenchs Forest and Chatswood — with some students travelling even further to attend the school.

As a parent of two boys at the school, I’ve seen firsthand how valuable community support is.

Our 3 children used to go Kamaroi (kindy-year6). Our family has always been actively involved in supporting Kamaroi, and we are now committed to helping the Manly Selective community.

We would be incredibly grateful if your business could donate a prize, voucher, product, or service for our Trivia Night raffle or auction. In return, your business will be promoted to families across the Northern Beaches and surrounding areas through our event communications and on the night itself.

Thank you so much for considering supporting our school community. Any contribution, big or small, would be greatly appreciated.

Warm regards,

Cris

(on behalf of the Manly Selective Campus Parents’ Association)

September 12, 2025

Sally

I got my first Budgy Smuggler when I was visiting my niece & nephew in Manley beach. When I first wore it to my pool in the States people went crazy, they all wanted one! I told them they had to go to Australia to get one! Now, when my niece visits the states later this month, she’s bringing me my second design! Can’t wait! Thanks for making my swim workouts so much more fun.

July 9, 2025

Stuart Levett

NRL Maroons and Broncos

June 25, 2025

Emma

Love Budgy especially that it’s Aussie made!
True Blue!

January 22, 2025

Geoff Stainton

I have 4 pairs of smugglers, I proudly wear some of these when I holiday in Thailand. I asked about you making cotton budgie underpants. You already have the templates so it should be easy, I would buy them if you made them!