Local Chick – Rachel Disalvo from Bondi

By James Hutton on November 8, 2016 in People

Bondi convert Rachel Disalvo launched her eponymous swimwear label last year, and she’s just released her second collection of black and white bathers. Rachel shares her local favourites with The Beast…

How long have you lived here? I grew up in South Coogee and never thought I’d be a Bondi girl, but now I totally get it about ‘the bubble’.

What’s your favourite thing about the area? The obvious would have to be that I’m walking distance to the beach, and close to lots of food and drink places and tonnes of friends.

What’s your favourite eatery? There are a few. I can’t go past Raw Bar, I love Trio, if I’m feeling fatty I’ll go to Bondi Tony’s or Hurricane’s, and if I’m feeling healthy it’s North Bondi Fish. Oh, and the new Marcelleria is great. I feel like a carnivore whenever I go there!

Where do you like to have a drink? The ever so trendy Luis Tan’s, of course. Or if I’m feeling a bit more fancy, Icebergs.

Do you have a favourite sporting team? I don’t really follow sport that much, but if I had to pick a team, I’d pick the Rabbitohs.

What music are you into? I’m an all-rounder when it comes to music. I love Chet Faker, Beyonce, Hilltop Hoods, Ziggy Alberts and I can’t go past old school RnB – Ashanti, Ja Rule, Alicia Keys.

Who is your favourite person? At the moment it would have to be my nephew, Alby.

What do you get up to on the weekends? Some weekends I hibernate and only come out for coffee and food, some weekends I to party and drop it low on the D-floor, and some weekends I travel up the coast for a little getaway with the boyf.

What do you do for work? I launched a swimwear label, Rachel Disalvo, last December. I just launched my second collection in October this year. The brand has a variety of bikinis and one-pieces, all designed to mix and match. My colour palette for the brand is solely black and white, which I think is kind of cool and no one has done before.

What’s your favourite thing about work? I received an email the other day from a customer who purchased some swimwear and she said that she had lost confidence in her body image, but after purchasing my swimwear she got back her ‘inner spark’. Knowing that I can made a change like that in someone’s life is pretty amazing.

Do you have a favourite quote? I’m not really a ‘quotey’ person. My friend sends me essay quotes all the time and I just read the first word.

Any other words of wisdom for readers of The Beast? Never give up, and don’t be afraid.