We Won. And I'm Still Pinching Myself 🏆
I don't quite know how to start this, so I'll just say it.
Aqua Zoi, our Australian brand built around 100% natural Mediterranean sea sponges, has been awarded the Breakout Brand Award at the Reed Gift Fair 2026.
And honestly? I'm still sitting here a little teary, a lot grateful, trying to find the words.
The Road to Reed
If you've been following our journey for a while, you'll know that nothing about building Aqua Zoi has been quick or easy.
Every decision, from the sea sponges we source in Greece, to the packaging we choose, to the way we talk about our products, has been made with care and intention.
So when we decided to take Aqua Zoi to the Reed Gift Fair for the very first time, it felt enormous. Exciting and terrifying in equal measure.
The preparation alone took months. Coaching calls. Strategy sessions. Late nights.
We created our very first professional catalogue and launched our new retail packaging, including our gift box and our signature net bag, which captures everything Aqua Zoi stands for: natural, simple and quietly luxurious.
Then we packed everything up, took a deep breath, and walked through those doors not entirely sure what to expect.
The Fair
Walking into Reed for the first time as an exhibitor is something I won't forget in a hurry.
We were nervous. Of course we were.
Putting Aqua Zoi in front of buyers, retailers and wellness professionals in a real, face-to-face way. There’s nowhere to hide at a trade fair. Your brand is right there on a stand for everyone to see, touch and question.
But something shifted almost immediately once we opened.
People stopped.
They picked up the sponges. They felt them, really felt them and you could see the moment it clicked.
That moment of “wait… this is completely natural?” and “it feels like this?” is my favourite thing in the world to witness. Because that's exactly why Aqua Zoi exists.
Most people have never encountered a real natural sea sponge before.
They don't know they've been hand-harvested from the Mediterranean for centuries.
They don't know how incredibly soft they become when wet, how beautifully they lather with soap, or that they're naturally antibacterial.
They don’t know that a quality sea sponge can last over twelve months with proper care, and that when it reaches the end of its life it simply returns to the earth because it is 100% biodegradable.
Watching people discover all of that for the first time, right there at our stand, will never get old.
We also met the most wonderful people, potential new stockists who genuinely understood the vision, fellow founders building thoughtful brands, and industry connections who we know will shape the next chapter of Aqua Zoi.
The Moment
When they announced the Breakthrough Brand Award, I didn't immediately register that it was us.
And then it was.
Breakthrough Brand. Aqua Zoi.
I think I said “are you serious" about seven times.
It's a little bit of a blur.
But what I remember most clearly is the feeling, this overwhelming rush of gratitude, relief and pride all at once.
Because behind that moment were months of preparation… and years of believing that something as simple as a natural sea sponge could change the way people think about their everyday bathing ritual.
And suddenly it was all recognised.
What It Means
Being recognised as Breakthrough Brand at Reed Gift Fair sends a powerful signal.
It tells us that natural, plastic-free bathing products truly have a place in the Australian market.
That people are ready to move away from synthetic shower puffs and plastic beauty tools toward something that actually comes from nature.
And that a small, passionate Australian brand can walk into a room full of established companies and hold its own.
That means everything to us.
A Little Thank You Gift 🎁
To celebrate this milestone with you, we wanted to say thank you.
For a limited time, every order over $50 will receive The Little Luxe Sponge as a complimentary gift, automatically added to your cart at checkout.
The Little Luxe is our petite natural honeycomb sea sponge, perfect for facial cleansing, baby bathing, travel or gentle intimate care.
Like all Aqua Zoi sponges it is:
• 100% natural
• hand-harvested in the Mediterranean
• ultra-soft and naturally antibacterial
• completely plastic-free and biodegradable
It’s one of the smallest sponges in our collection and one of the most loved.
A small thank you for being part of this journey.
What's Next
We came home from Reed Gift Fair in Sydney buzzing.
Full of ideas, new connections and a very clear sense of where Aqua Zoi is heading.
New products are already in development.
The range is growing.
And we have some beautiful things in the works that we can't wait to share with you soon.
Thank you for being here.
Truly.
With so much gratitude,
Melissa Xanthos
Founder, Aqua Zoi
Aqua Zoi is an Australian-owned natural bathing and body care brand built around 100% natural Mediterranean sea sponges hand-harvested in Greece. Plastic-free, biodegradable and ultra-gentle, for face, body, baby and beyond.
Interested in stocking Aqua Zoi?
If you are a retailer, spa or wellness business interested in carrying Aqua Zoi, we'd love to hear from you.
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