3Beaches Textiles co-founders Sonya Romeo and Niamh Brennan, two Australian interior and textile designers, share their design journey from a classroom problem to the superyacht market.
3Beaches Textiles was co-founded by Sonya Romeo and Niamh Brennan, two visionary Australian interior and textile designers who first crossed paths at the Australian Institute of Creative Design. We sat down with the dynamic duo to discuss their design journey.
When did you decide the Coast Collection idea was worth turning into an actual business?
We saw a problem that couldn’t be solved. At the time, Sonya was teaching interior design and Niamh was one of her students, working on her own property development project. As she searched for outdoor fabrics, she quickly discovered there were very few options that could genuinely withstand Australia’s harsh climate, there was a real need for luxury outdoor textiles that combined exceptional durability with sophisticated design. That shared realisation became the foundation of the Coast Collection, and ultimately, the beginning of 3Beaches.
You both had established careers before this. What made you take the leap together, and why was a business partnership the right structure rather than going it alone?
It came down to having a shared vision and complementary strengths. Our partnership has always been built on trust, respect and a clear understanding of what each person brings to the business.
How has the split of responsibilities between the two of you evolved as the business has grown, has it changed since the early days?
The foundations have remained remarkably consistent, Sonya leads the operational side of the business and oversees the technical development of our collections, ensuring every product performs as beautifully as it looks. Niamh focuses on creative direction, branding and the overall vision of the company.
Partnering with a global leader like Sunbrella was clearly a turning point. How did that relationship come about, and how has it shaped your ability to scale?
We knew we wanted to create products that combined exceptional design with uncompromising performance. Sunbrella shared that philosophy, making the partnership a natural fit.
Working with one of the world’s most respected performance textile manufacturers has allowed us to offer clients the confidence that comes with globally recognised technical performance, while still designing collections that reflect our own Australian perspective.
You’ve expanded from textiles into wallpaper, umbrellas, bedding, leather, and a full interior design service. Was that diversification a deliberate strategy, or did it happen more organically in response to client demand?
Today, we operate across two complementary divisions: 3Beaches Textiles, our premium textile brand supplying performance fabrics and lifestyle products to the residential, hospitality and marine industries, and The Textile & Design Studio, our interior design practice, providing complete design and specification services for luxury residential, hospitality and commercial projects.
The growth of both businesses has been a combination of strategic planning and responding to the evolving needs of our clients.
What first drew 3Beaches into the marine space, and how significant has the superyacht and marine market become to your business today?
The marine industry was a natural extension of what we were already doing. Our focus has always been on creating beautiful performance textiles that can withstand Australia’s harsh outdoor conditions, and those same qualities are essential in the marine environment.
We began collaborating with leading boat builders, marine upholsterers, designers and shipyards who were looking for premium materials that delivered both exceptional performance and refined aesthetics. Today, the marine sector has become an important part of our business, with our textiles specified across luxury motor yachts, superyachts, marinas and waterfront developments throughout Australia and internationally. It’s an industry that values quality, longevity and craftsmanship.
Marine interiors have to survive a genuinely brutal environment with sun, salt, moisture. How has designing for boats specifically pushed your product development in ways residential work hasn’t?
The marine environment is one of the most demanding applications for any performance textile. Constant UV exposure, salt, moisture and heavy use create conditions that quickly expose the strengths or weaknesses of a fabric.
Working within this sector has provided the ultimate real-world case study for our collections, if a textile can withstand life aboard a superyacht, it’s more than capable of performing in luxury residential, hospitality and commercial settings.
What’s on the horizon for 3Beaches and TT|DS? Any new collections, markets, or partnerships you’re able to share?
We’re entering an exciting new chapter for both businesses. We are growing our international footprint, with a strong focus on the United States, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, while continuing to strengthen our presence within the luxury marine and hospitality sectors.
We are most excited to share the upcoming opening of 3Beaches Boutique in Main Beach on the Gold Coast. This will become a second showroom destination alongside our existing showroom at The Boat Works, North Yard, offering clients another opportunity to experience the 3Beaches brand in a beautifully curated setting.
Across both businesses, our focus remains the same: creating timeless, beautifully considered products, spaces and experiences that inspire exceptional design. This next chapter isn’t simply about growth, it’s about creating more meaningful ways for people to experience the 3Beaches brand and continuing to build on the lifestyle that has always been at the heart of what we do.
We’re entering an exciting new chapter for both businesses.
Sonya Romeo and Niamh Brennan, Co-Founders, 3Beaches
For other designers or makers thinking about turning a side project into a real brand, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give based on your own journey?
Build something that genuinely solves a problem rather than chasing a trend. The Coast Collection wasn’t created because we wanted to start a business, it was created because we couldn’t find a product that met the standard we were looking for.
We also learnt that building a brand takes patience. Growth rarely happens overnight, and success comes from consistently delivering quality, listening to your clients and staying true to your original vision. If you focus on creating something with purpose and continue refining it over time, the opportunities will follow.
Featured in Superyacht Australia Magazine
Featured in Superyacht Australia Magazine Issue 14. Explore the full digital edition for more destination guides, industry news and interviews from across the Asia Pacific superyacht sector: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/197365019/
