Celebs snap up NZ togs

Togs good enough for Gwen Stefani's son Zuma will make waves in New Zealand this summer.

Kiwi swimwear entrepreneur Liz Eglinton has won over the celeb set - now she wants to catch the local market.

Auckland-based Eglinton launched her kids' swimwear range, Snapper Rock, in New Zealand this week - nine years after founding the label while living in the coastal Maryland city of Annapolis.

Snapper Rock is now sold online and in 650 stores around the world, with celebrity customers including Elton John, Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, Melissa Etheridge, Matt Damon and Tori Spelling buying the UV50+ protection swimwear for their children.

Eglinton realised she had broken into the celebrity market only five years ago while flicking through People magazine in the supermarket and seeing Jennifer Garner's child wearing Snapper Rock.

"I was just like, 'Yahoo!'. It's such a massive thing."

She learned about Spelling's interest after customer inquiries suddenly spiked and the Beverly Hills 90210 star later called the company to order 100 sets to go in the goodie bags at her daughter's first birthday party.