About the Fishing Dress

Prior to the dress design.

Jewfish off Dundee
Mackerel off Darwin
Mackerel off Dundee
Barra off Wildman
Tuskfish love
Barra at Shady Camp

The start

Here I am, a woman with a ‘fishing dress’ idea, changing the way it’s done.

Hello, I am Danielle, the woman behind the brand that is credited with
designing and creating the very first female fishing dress. I am Northern Tide
Apparel. Proudly based in the Northern Territory where the sun is strong and
the fishing insane.

Fishing and the great outdoors have always been a love of mine yet I have struggled to
find cute women’s fishing gear or, for that matter, any appropriate women’s
fishing gear. Usually, the only choice when out on the water was to wear an
oversized male fishing shirt or be over exposed to the sun. My desire was not only to be comfortable but also to feel more feminine and this was how the concept for the Jersey Fishing Dress came about. No more baggy shirts, instead a functional yet flattering dress designed for ease of movement, practicality and style – and the Jersey Fishing Dress was conceived and Northern Tide Apparel was born.

Designed by a female, specifically for females, the fishing dress has really
taken off for those who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle and want sun protection, comfort
and versatility. Northern Tide fishing dresses have been developed to be the perfect combination of functionality, performance and style, enabling women of all shapes and sizes to look good and feel amazing while enjoying all types of outdoor activities!

Background to the fishing dress

The concept of a fishing dress was first considered in 2017, when I designed and made my first prototype of the dress. Since then, it has been designed, redesigned and ‘tweaked’ several times in sample format and hundreds of times in my head. I began by sketching dress designs at the kitchen table, then sewing templates at a small machine in my bedroom and working at a computer desk tucked away in the corner of the living room. Family and work commitments, along with a busy lifestyle meant the initial development of ideas took some time to come to fruition, but in April 2021 the first Northern Tide Fishing Dress was officially launched! It has been an exciting (and exhausting) ride, but it was well worth the journey. Northern Tide Apparels’ Jersey Fishing Dress is the original female fishing dress, designed for those who want something a little different whilst enjoying the Australian way of life and the great outdoors! The addition of the Shirt Dress and our Young Crew Range has given even more choice to women whilst keeping in line with our initial concept.

Home-grown s

Northern Tide is certainly an authentically ‘home-grown’ Australian business
dedicated to creating sun protective, flattering styles for all women. It was
my aim to bring a truly unique item to the female fishing and outdoor world,
while at the same time providing women with variety, choice and sizing options.
Specifically designed with the utmost care and attention to detail, to be both
functional and stylish, the fishing dress is proof that strength and femininity
are not mutually exclusive. A concept I want to reflect in all my designs.

Ambition

I am extremely proud and excited to be the innovator of the original fishing
dress. Northern Tide’s mission is to encourage, support and inspire women. We
aim to challenge unrealistic body image standards by creating practical styles that suit most body types. We strive to empower women to feel good and look amazing
whilst enjoying the outdoor activity they love. Committed to delivering high
quality UPF50+ ARPANSA certified fabrics and we will remain impact aware on our
journey.

Northern Tide Apparel is a female owned and operated Australian registered business.
Trademark rights are in place.

Northern Tide Apparel, Northern Territory, Australia.