PEDALLING WITH PURPOSE:
The Brisbane brand reshaping ridewear for every body
When Barbara Spooner couldn’t find cycling gear that suited her needs, she created her own – and launched a movement in the process.
From a bustling studio in Brisbane’s Annerley Arcade, she now leads two purpose-driven businesses: Birds on Bikes, a cycling apparel brand designed for curvy, plus-size women, and Ethical Edge Collective, a manufacturing hub helping other local businesses bring their ideas to life.
Barbara’s business journey began with a simple frustration – and an obvious gap in the market. “I’d started riding a bike,” she remembers, “and I couldn’t find anything to wear. I’d go into shops and they’d say, ‘No, we haven’t got anything like that – but lots of people are asking.’ So I thought, well, how hard can this be? And I created a brand.”
Backed by her skills as a graphic designer and home sewer, Barbara set out in 2017 to design clothing that didn’t just fit, but flattered. Today, Birds on Bikes is an inclusive brand proudly offering sizes 6 to 24, with garments made entirely in-house at their Brisbane studio.
From fit-tested cycling knicks to performance wear that moves with the body, every piece is designed to help women ride with confidence. “There are so many women – not just in cycling – who are left out of fashion altogether,” Barbara says. “Curvy women are often overlooked because they’re not seen as glamorous or photogenic. I wanted to help change that.”
Manufacturing with meaning
From day one, ethical manufacturing has been central to the Birds on Bikes mission. Every garment is made locally, in-house at their Annerley Arcade studio – a commitment that has earned the brand Ethical Clothing Australia accreditation.
“Being Australian-made has always been part of my ethos,” Barbara says. “I looked at offshore options a few times, but it never sat right with me. It’s also important that we don’t make hundreds of garments at a time – we produce to demand, so we’re not sitting on dead stock or throwing things away.”
The decision to keep production local also laid the foundation for a second business. In 2023, Barbara launched Ethical Edge Collective, a manufacturing arm that now shares the Annerley Arcade studio. Ethical Edge helps other independent and emerging brands produce garments locally, offering flexible runs, patternmaking, sampling and hands-on support.
“I created Ethical Edge as a way to support smaller brands,” Barbara says. “I don’t believe in competition – I think we all need to collaborate.”
Ethical Edge partners with TAFE to host work experience students and employ graduate machinists. They’ve also launched industry events to foster collaboration across the sector. “There’s so much happening in Brisbane,” Barbara says. “We want to bring people together and make sure they’re communicating.”
A common thread
Community has been a constant theme in Barbara’s growth as a business owner. In 2021, she was part of the first wave of businesses to receive the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant, which helped her invest in specialised sewing equipment for stretchwear.
“That grant came at a critical moment,” she says. “I was questioning everything – I was asking myself why I was working these long hours, seven days a week. When I received the grant, it wasn’t just about the money. It was the recognition that really mattered. It made me feel like someone else could see value in what I was doing.”
The grant also introduced Barbara to the Brisbane Business Hub, which she credits with helping her build momentum and resilience. “The team at the Brisbane Business Hub are generous, supportive and always there to help,” she says. “I go to a lot of their events and workshops – they keep you motivated. You walk out feeling uplifted.”
In particular, Barbara has been impressed by how accessible the Brisbane Business Hub’s support has been. “You think, ‘Really? Is that workshop actually free?’ And it is. There’s not much worthwhile that’s free these days – but they’re offering real guidance and mentoring at no cost.”
For Barbara, those programs and workshops have offered not just practical tools, but a sense of encouragement and connection that’s kept her going during tougher times. “If you’re struggling, ask for help,” she says. “The people who seem like the experts – at the end of the day, they’re just people. And they genuinely want to help.”
Barbara has also formed lasting connections through the Women in Business community. “A group of us from the first grant round still catch up and support each other,” she says. “It can be lonely being in business, but that network helps you realise you’re not alone.”
She has also returned to the Lord Mayor’s Women in Business Grant program as a judge, reviewing new applications from Brisbane’s next generation of women-led ventures. “There are so many great women doing meaningful things in business here,” she says.
“If you’re thinking about applying, just do it. Even if you don’t get it, there’s a whole community waiting to support you. And the process itself helps you reflect on your business – where you are now, and where you want to go next.”
Sew far, sew good
The growth of the business since its inception in 2017 has been steady and significant – from a solo operation at home to a growing team, two thriving brands and a fully equipped studio, which she moved into in 2024.
“The biggest milestone for me so far has been moving the business out of home and into a proper space,” she says. “People always said it would change things, and they were right. It shifts how you see yourself, and how others see you. You’re taken more seriously. Being here has also allowed us to hire more people and grow the business.”
Birds on Bikes is also expanding its product range, and in a major win for the brand, Rebel Sport New Zealand reached out to stock their gear online via drop shipping – a partnership that has helped introduce the label to a broader international audience.
“I’m determined to prove that we can scale manufacturing here,” Barbara says. “I want to prove that ethical, local production is possible, and that it’s something we can be proud of.”
It’s an ambitious vision, but Barbara is no stranger to persistence. “I’ve learned I’m stubborn,” she says. “You need tenacity. You’ve got to be willing to get knocked down and get back up again – and I’m good at that.”
Inspired by Barbara’s journey? Discover how the Brisbane Business Hub can support your business aspirations. From complimentary workshops and events to one-on-one mentoring sessions with industry leaders, the Brisbane Business Hub offers a wealth of resources to help you grow and connect within Brisbane's vibrant business community.
