Surf Star Beachley Teams Up with Funkita

Funkita and Layne Beachley teamed up to create two exclusive prints.

We are very proud to announce that we have teamed up with seven time World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley to create two exclusive prints - Surf Star and Beach Dreams. 10% of profit from sales of these prints will go to towards Layne's foundation 'Aim for the Stars'. You may not know Layne's story, and how it motivated her to start her foundation, but it is truly inspirational. Read below to learn how Layne's own personal story inspired her to help young women reach their potential.

On the ASP tour, there was no one like Layne Beachley. The first and only woman to win seven World Championships, Beachley dominated the sport for over a decade mastering the big waves of Hawaii, California and the barrels of Ours in Sydney. Kelly Slater once said her surfing talents were equal to others he had seen, but he didn't know anyone "even close to the determination she has". It was a defining characteristic of Layne's professional career, but also her personal life away from the water. Financial hardship, illness, and personal tragedy were struggles that Beachley overcame throughout her life and inspired her to establish the Aim for the Stars Foundation, which has become her most passionate work to date.

"We want to enable and empower young women to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams so that they can become beacons of inspiration within their families, communities and organisations. Ultimately we are cultivating courage and self-belief in future female achievers through mentoring and financial assistance," says Layne.

It was inspirational to work with legendary seven-time World Surfing Champion Layne.

In 1996 as her career was taking off, Layne hit rock bottom. Struck down with chronic fatigue syndrome, she was forced out of the water as she slept for fourteen hours of the day and struggled to function normally while awake. She became depressed and battled to regain the motivation and determination that had carried her through her teenage years when she had dreamed of one day being the world's best surfer.

Searching for a treatment, Layne chose to attend a re-birthing session which dragged up painful memories from her childhood. Given up at birth by her mother, Layne was adopted by Neil and Valerie Beachley, who died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage when Layne was just six years old. It led Layne to develop a deep-seated fear of abandonment which she had suppressed for years. The intensely emotional grieving that Layne experienced, instilled a new belief in herself that fundamentally changed her own sense of self-worth. Instead of fear she learnt that she was resilient and worthy of love and affection. It was the turning point in her life that set her up for the success that would follow.

Layne won her first World Championship in 1998 and dominated the tour winning consecutively for the next five seasons. It was after her sixth World Championship win that Layne's thoughts turned to other young women hoping to fulfil their dream.

"I reflected on some of the challenges I had overcome which had almost caused me to quit and give up on my dream of becoming a world champion. Fortunately I always had reassurance and positive guidance in a mentor, friend or empathetic employer who had invested in me and told me they believed in me, which fuelled my confidence and provided me with the means to commit to achieving my dreams," says Layne.

Aim for the Stars Scholarship recipients Danielle Prince and Mikayla George catch up with Layne .

She wanted to ensure other young women had the same level of support she had received from people around them that believed in their dreams. It was the beginning of Aim for the Stars which has gifted over 400 grants to women pursuing a multitude of different careers and challenges since its inception in 2003. It also led to the chance meeting between Layne and the team at Funkita to work on a swimwear collaboration to support Aim for the Stars.

"I'm a fan of Funkita due to their awesome quality, colourful styles and all day comfort. I had a red and white gingham Funkita bikini and surfed and competed in it for years. One day I noticed one of the straps was holding on by a thread so Kirk (husband and INXS guitarist) grabbed a needle and some red cotton and sewed it back together for me. Good as new!" exclaims Layne.

Layne visited the Funkita office and the collaboration was put into motion with a print designed to represent Layne's career and the ideals of Aim for the Stars. Proceeds from the sale of the bikinis and one piece swimsuits are donated to the foundation.

"It fills me with an immense sense of pride and satisfaction to inspire a Funkita swimwear design and help young women to believe in themselves and achieve their dreams. It motivates me to get up every day and maintain my own relentless pursuit of personal and professional improvement," says Layne.

Finally, Layne's message to young women is unequivocal.

"You have to have self-belief. Success in life starts with a clarity of vision. What do you want to achieve? What does success look like? You have to be able to articulate what you want, surround yourself with a team of people who believe in you and your dream and wholeheartedly support it. You must also be resilient because life will always throw you curve balls."

There's no doubt that Layne Beachley has had her fair share of curve balls along the way.

Check out the amazing prints we teamed up with Layne to create!

Jordana wears Beach Dreams in the Criss Cross Sports Top and Bibi Banded Brief.

Blair Evans wears Beach Dreams in the Tri Top and Hipster Brief.

Blair Evans wears Surf Star in the Tie Down Bikini Top and Hipster Brief (left) and Diamond Back one piece (right).

Jump straight to the Layne Beachley products by clicking below: