Tammy Schmidt and Kylie Thomasz are the faces behind Skye + Lach co. – that is, if you can see past their huge oversized sunglasses. The two Melbourne sisters are the cofounders of the Aussie designer sunglasses start up that is revolutionising the accessories industry with their trendy yet affordable looks. Their emerald colour ‘Jewel’ style sunglasses launched as part of their Winter 2022 look book and sold out within four days, while their top selling ‘Havana’ sunnies have become their best seller, with over 5,000 pairs sold.
Starting from scratch
“We started the business from scratch with no prior knowledge of e-commerce, IT, manufacturing, social media, fashion or design, social media or importing. What we did have, however, was an obsession with oversized sunglasses and a real knack at trend forecasting,” Thomasz said.
“So while we do take our inspiration from the high end fashion shows, it does take a special knack to pinpoint which style is the next ‘it’ look for the next season and I believe we’ve got that special something.
“Oversized sunglasses are a truly unique look. Unlike other shapes of sunglasses like aviators or the cat eye look, oversized sunglasses go with any face shape and look great on anybody. We believe that affordable yet trendy accessories should be made accessible for everyone, no matter what your budget is, so all of our sunnies are priced below $100, but you are getting top quality and top service.
“While we focused on affordable style, we surrounded ourselves with good people and learned fast to ensure that our business was sustainable, scalable and founded on good operating practices, and this has paid off as we have grown significantly within a short period of time.”
Building the brand
“Starting up a business in a market that is already arguably saturated was hard, but we are very passionate about accessories fashion, and we design sunglasses that we ourselves would wear. It sets us apart from other companies because we would never put anything out unless it is something that we would wear and that we are proud of,” Schmidt said.
“I’ve always been more creative, so I work with our manufacturers, suppliers and marketing. Kylie is more business driven, so she takes care of the financials, wholesaling and customer service. As sisters, we have always shared a great bond, and it has extended to becoming business partners.
“It has been an amazing adventure for the both of us and our families, and it is really important for us to be great role models for our kids, so that they can see that if you put your mind to it and are not afraid of hard work, you can do anything.
“We are so grateful for the past six years that we have been in the business, taking our vision and making it a reality has had some real ups and downs. The pandemic was a stumbling block initially but it very quickly turned into an opportunity. It helped to drive more sales as people adopted online shopping and ventured outdoors to socialise and exercise.
“We made it through the first few tough couple of years and now we are flying. We had to make some really tough decisions, and change some of our strategies, but we made it through stronger than ever. We have started working in wholesale now and we already have our products stocked at many eyewear retailers around Australia.
“We have an amazing social media following, particularly with Instagram and Facebook, and we were really thrilled that Sophie Monk is a fan of our sunglasses! Our dream is to see JLo wearing our sunglasses!”
Forecasting the future
“The accessories industry moves very rapidly and it is very competitive, so we always have to be at the top of our game, watching the trends, coming up with ideas and innovating. The great thing about Skye + Lach co. sunglasses is that they’re affordable yet trendy, so you can easily afford to change up your look and really express who you are through your fashion choices,” Thomasz said.
“Fashion and accessories are important to women because it is a form of creative self expression. It is about creating a look that represents who you are. We have always been passionate about making luxury fashion affordable because top fashion should not come with a top price tag.
“When you are scrolling through Instagram and you see a great look that you know would look great on you, you should be able to go and get it. It should not be firewalled behind a luxury goods price tag. Skye + Lach co. bridges that gap and brings the look you want to you, at a price you want.
“With projected turnover of $5 million next year, we are excited for the future and our growth as an Aussie sister business.”
About Skye + Lach co.
Founded by Melbourne sisters Tammy Schmidt and Kylie Thomasz, Skye + Lach co. is an Australian designer sunglasses company that draws its inspiration from the world’s latest runway looks. With an emphasis of affordability and quality, the company focuses solely on oversized sunglasses because they suit all face shapes and sizes. Skye + Lach co. also carries a range of accessories for sunglasses. Find their sunglasses at selected stockists around Australia and online.
For more check out: https://skyeandlach.com.au/
