Australian fashion designer Pip Edwards has reportedly stepped away from her position at the cult streetwear label Ksubi, as she continues to grapple with the aftermath of the traumatic Bondi Beach terror attack.
A Decision Driven by Trauma
According to a report in The Sunday Telegraph, the founder of activewear brand P.E Nation is taking a significant period away from her professional commitments to prioritise her mental health and wellbeing. This follows the horrific events she witnessed during a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney's Bondi Beach last weekend, which she has described as the most traumatic day of her life.
The attack, which unfolded on Sunday afternoon, resulted in at least 15 fatalities and dozens more injuries after two gunmen opened fire with military-grade weapons on crowds gathered for the 'Chanukah by the Sea' event. The assailants, named by authorities as 24-year-old Naveed Akram and his 50-year-old father Sajid Akram, fired from a pedestrian footbridge, plunging the iconic tourist destination into chaos.
Hiding Under a Van as Gunmen Circled
Pip Edwards was caught directly in the violence. In a lengthy and harrowing Instagram post shared on Monday, the designer recounted how she and a friend were leaving the beach when the shooting began mere metres behind them. "We immediately ducked between two parked vans as the shots continued to fire incessantly, and quite literally as close as two metres away," she wrote.
The situation escalated rapidly, forcing the pair to take refuge underneath one of the vans. Edwards described a terrifying 15-minute ordeal where they lay frozen, watching the feet of the armed attackers circle their hiding spot.
"We had to immediately take refuge under a van and watched the gunman's feet with his gun pace in front of the van right at our heads, using the van as his post," she revealed. "His feet were in front of the van and another gunman's feet were behind, circling the van." Edwards said she and her friend struggled to breathe and rolled to hide behind the vehicle's wheels to avoid being seen.
Prioritising Recovery After the Ordeal
Sources close to the designer have stated that Edwards "remains deeply shaken" and is now wholly focused on her recovery. Her decision to withdraw from Ksubi, where she held the role of creative director, is seen as a direct consequence of the need to reassess her priorities following the life-altering experience.
This professional step back comes just months after her celebrated return to the iconic label in September 2024, which she had hailed as a "full-circle moment." Edwards has a long history with Ksubi, having worked there decades earlier, and shares her teenage son, Justice, with the brand's co-founder, Dan Single.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the local community and the nation. Pip Edwards's story highlights the profound and personal impact of such public tragedies, underscoring the long road to recovery faced by survivors. Her choice to step back from a major career role underscores the severe psychological toll of the event, as she moves to put her personal wellbeing first in the wake of unimaginable terror.
