About Us

Meet Our Founders: Jeremy and Elizabeth

Swim Shady was born from a mission to redefine beach days with innovative, stylish solutions—starting with The Swim Shady, a compact, lightweight beach shade designed for effortless sun protection.

Jeremy, Co-Founder and Company Director of Swim Shady, grew up on the iconic beaches of Sydney. With a background in the world of sports, he brings a fresh perspective to beach life, driven by a passion for creating innovative and practical solutions that enhance the coastal experience.

Elizabeth, Co-Founder and the strategic powerhouse behind Swim Shady, brings a sharp, analytical mindset from her background in finance. Her keen understanding of Australia’s alarming skin cancer rates and dedication to sun-safe living became key motivators behind the development of the brand.

Their journey began in the summer of 2021 during a beachside date that turned frustrating due to a cumbersome and dated beach umbrella. Determined to create a better solution, they developed The Swim Shady - an innovative, lightweight product designed for modern beach lovers. Featuring an intuitive, tool-free setup, adjustable canopy, UPF 50+ protection, and a compact design, The Swim Shady strikes the perfect balance of practicality, portability and style.

Today, Jeremy and Elizabeth share a passion for effortless beach experiences. Together, they continue to enhance outdoor adventures, making them safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

The Swim Shady Experience - By Jeremy

In my previous career as a sports administrator, I had the unique opportunity to study fan experience closely. We surveyed thousands of attendees to understand what made their day at the stadium memorable. 

Surprisingly, the most valued aspects of their experience were not the game results, the entertainment, or the price of food and beverage but the journey to the venue and the ease of leaving it. From the moment fans left home, finding parking, and arriving at their seats to the process of leaving smoothly afterward—these were the moments that shaped their overall experience - and it was surprising to learn. 

We realised that the beach experience is no different and it was these insights that helped us conceptualise and develop Swim Shady.

A beach day isn’t just about the hours in the sun—it starts the moment you leave home and continues until you return. For many people, particularly those going to the beach solo; bulky, heavy and inconvenient shade options meant they simply chose to go without. Swim Shady is committed to making every step as seamless, enjoyable and sun safe as possible.