Bikinis by Bridget has stunned on runways in fashion capitals from Milan to Miami, and have even been featured in British Vogue, Red Hot Monde, and the New York Post. And yet, founder Bridget McCluckie always returns to her humble beginnings in the Township of North Kawartha, one of eight townships in Peterborough County, where she found her success.
Learning from her grandmother, McCluckie began sewing as a child, making clothes for her dolls and designing her own prom dress. But she also caught the entrepreneurial bug from a young age, as, throughout high school, she would make clothing in her school colours to sell to classmates to wear to sports games and she began making custom-made swimsuits for friends. When more and more friends sought out her swimwear, she officially launched Bikinis by Bridget.
As a first-generation Canadian, McCluckie’s designs take inspiration from the florals and vibrant hues found on the streets of Mexico, which helps her stay connected to her family and heritage.
After competing as the only female entrepreneur in a university pitch competition, McCluckie was awarded a grant and opportunities that allowed her to take Bikinis by Bridget to the next level, selling online and sponsoring sororities across Canada while she still made every piece by hand.
In summer 2020, she and her sister Victoria McCluckie opened HERmanas (meaning “sisters” in Spanish), a boutique in Apsley where they cottaged during the pandemic. The Highway 28 storefront is stocked with exclusive clothing, accessories, and lifestyle products from high-end European brands purchased through Canadian distributors. Tailoring, hemming, and adjustments are also offered at HERmanas.
To meet the demand, Bikinis by Bridget products are now made by a manufacturer in Brazil that uses high-quality recycled fabrics, with all textile scraps going towards making dog beds for local shelters.
However, McCluckie still does all the designing herself from Apsley and also makes custom orders using materials from Ann’s Fabric Shop, a Hamilton family-run business that’s been operating for more than 50 years and from which McCluckie has been sourcing since her earliest projects. These Canadian-sourced fabrics are used in the runway collections.
While she continues to grow her business, with her current goal to get Bikinis by Bridget into boutiques across Canada, McCluckie remains dedicated to uplifting the community where her business first began to make waves.
At HERmanas in Apsley, the McCluckie sisters regularly host events that are led by residents and local small business owners, including permanent jewelry popups from Eternal Verity Co., and candle painting workshops by Shoreline Furniture Co. Coming up in June, HERmanas will host a bouquet-making workshop led by Sue Rankin of Fresh Flowers Friday by Sue and using locally grown flowers. Every event hosted in store is catered by Apsley’s The Grape and Wedge.
“It really is so important in a small town to build that community and that’s something that we’re so grateful for,” says McCluckie. “Without our community, we wouldn’t have what we have, and I think that’s what makes our story just a little bit more special.”
You can see the latest Bikinis by Bridget collection, “Verano in Mexico,” at bikinisbybridget.com. To browse what’s available at HERmanas, visit shophermanas.ca.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
