Hanging by a Thread: What would it take to walk away from your dream life in Monaco and a global, multi-million-dollar business?

by Erin Deering

Wind back the clock on any Australian or New Zealand woman in her thirties or forties today and you'd probably find a Triangl bikini tucked away in her swimwear drawer. The uniquely neoprene, colour-blocked bikinis were the summer accessory season after season. Yet as customers snapped selfies at the beach, one woman was holed up in a smog-filled Hong Kong apartment, living on canned soup, battling twenty-hour days and debilitating depression, trying to make it all happen.

Hanging by a Thread takes a vulnerable deep dive into success and the challenge of caring for your mental health while in pursuit of your dreams. From getting scammed out of $50,000, trying to illegally cross the border into China, meeting with elite private equity firms with a three-month-old baby in tow and even experiencing the Kardashian-Jenner-kiss-of-death, Hanging By A Thread shares what it was really like behind the closed doors of one of Australia's young start-up success stories, and to be a woman on the edge of a nervous breakdown.

Genres: Business, Memoir, Nonfiction

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Annie Gummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vulnerable and insightful memoir into what it looked like to build the successful bikini business Triangl. Clever marketing and other business tips and tricks. While also spelling out the unglamorous of the hustle of a start up, the shallowness of high end wealth and glamour and the ups and downs of life. Easy read. Thanks for sharing Erin!

[jess]

This was a very interesting and vulnerable memoir on what it was like creating and growing the Triangl swimwear brand. Erin talked openly about all the highs and lows of living such a luxurious lifestyle.

Trigger warnings for Eating disorders, self harm, substance abuse and toxic behaviours.

[Chesney Hosking · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as part of the She’s on the Money book club.
A very interesting look into the building of a large business and everything it took.
Definite trigger warning for - abusive relationships and ED.

[Michelle Wilkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan and a follower of Erin Deering for a while now on social media and a listener of her podcast, so it was a no brainer to buy and read her book the moment it came out.

I love to read autobiographies, they are so inspiring, and I especially love the raw and honest ones where the rosey picture of success isn’t all it’s made out to be and the true story is far more unpolished and gritty. Erin’s story is very much a combination of both, she doesn’t hold back and retells both sides of the coin. The glamorous magnetism wealth and success can provide you, and the clever business and marketing tactics they employed to get them there. But she also lays bare the early day grind, the hustle that kicked them off, as she and her business (and romantic) partner Craig moved to Hong Kong with only a small combined savings, little connections, and no ability to speak the language, but a determination bigger than the both of them to find a way through to create this unique product and slick customer-centric brand that they had such a vision for.

With no children (at this point) and only themselves to care for, they were prepared to put their own bodies and egos on the line. Erin quite literally did not sleep or eat for fear of missing a single second of their launch or early growth phases, putting the success of their iconic swimwear brand Triangl above all else. And as time would attest, her own physical health, mental health and her relationship with Craig became collateral damage in the wake of this momentum.

The rise of Triangl is a fascinating story in itself, a quick adopter in the early DTC online shopping days, using the new tool of Instagram and the early bloom of influencers to their advantage. They ride a wave unlike any other, one many other emerging brands today have tried to emulate with no success, as the landscape has now changed.

But the pull of this book is Erin herself. She’s a big impressive personality and isn’t afraid to own her truth, she has faced so many personal demons throughout her Triangl journey (eating disorders, self harm, substance abuse, toxic behaviours…) and used all of these low points to serve as life lessons to help her work on bettering herself to who she is now. Today, Erin is magnetic. Her love and zest for only positivity and lifting all others up is her force and it’s hard to imagine her at these low points.

Congratulations Erin. It’s hard to put yourself out there like this. I hope many others enjoy your words, and find the inspiration they too are looking for X

[Maggie Blakeney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came across Hanging by a Thread in the She's on the Money book club. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I were I was looking for inspiration as a business owner/ entrepreneur (although to be honest I found some of the business practices mentioned to be ethically questionable). I also found it admirable how the the author opens up about her struggles with mental illness and eventually getting the help she needs. However as a book, the writing was basic and repetitive, heavily favouring "telling" over "showing". The narrative struggles to create any atmosphere or convey emotions in a memorable or meaningful way.

[Sam Hetherington · Rating 1 out of 5]

Talks about not wanting to be a fast fashion unsustainable company but is literally the definition of a fast fashion unsustainable company... lost me there.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not only did this book go behind the scenes on how the business started up and then went on to become mega successful, but it was also brutally honest with the mental health challenges the author was going through at the time.

90% of the story focused on her challenges, and her time in Melbourne when the work was done to heal was only given minor, brief mentions, so I felt it didn’t end as strong as it started in that regard.

I actually can’t believe the lack of support it seems she had, or that there was no intervention from family and friends for so long, especially when there was money available to pay for services that would have been able to help. It was actually really sad to read and to think that there are probably lots of people in a similar situation.

It was well written, even if it was hard to read at points. I can’t imagine how exhausting the constant struggle against your own thoughts and every day life would be!

[Brooke Alice (brookes.bookstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a vulnerable and eye opening memoir of Erin’s life.

I think I’m the only 30 something who never owned a triangl bikini, but desperately wanted one!

I never knew the backstory of her business, the incredible personal and professional struggled she endured while attempting to launch and maintain her business.

My hat comes off for Erin, to do it all in a sweaty tiny apartment in Hong Kong with an idea, a hope and a whim.

The underlying story of her life, her connection with her business partner and husband, and her children brought in such a richness and deepness to this story. It showed and shared the struggles that we all face during our lives, the push and pull of family, being successful and prioritising your health and well-being.

A really great read, I learnt so much.

Thank you to affirm press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mei Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of how Erin Deering and her then partner started Triangl. I still remember the days when Triangl neoprene bikini went viral. I could even remember the rip-off brand! Very interesting background on how the business started off very lean and two aussies trying to crack the China Hongkong manufacturing and supply chain process. Erin writes in length about her struggles with eating disorders and mental health issues while pushing on with the expansion of Triangl. It felt like she was too successful to even stop and she just kept going without any support. It takes a lot of courage to get out of something you built and made your life on.

However, this might read a little too privileged in today’s high COL crisis.

[Amber V.2.0 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest memoir which zooms through countries and time zones with dizzying speed. Erin said that Triangl felt like it happened ‘to’ them which was an insightful point to make- right product, right time, right place. I liked this memoir as she does not sugar coat her own internal struggles. The book also makes the point that life is never plain sailing, all the time, life is full of ups and downs.

[Nika Bedrac · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book. I didn't know Erin before, so her story was unpredictable, but the insight she gave us into the life of a millionaire and the not-so-fancy side of wealth, as well as some dream life, was amazing. Being so open and honest about all aspects of her life brought a special touch to the book. Really enjoyed it!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing insight into Erin’s life as a business woman and just a girl.
The book left me wanting to know more. Excellent read, very enjoyable.

[Rebecca Burrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this insight into her beautiful mind. Inspiring to know that you are not stuck in any situation you don’t want to be in

[Gabriella Rinaldo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Erin's story. Although parts of the story felt frustrating to me, the book was well written. I did feel it ended quite abruptly but I guess Triangl is the story!

[Grace Birch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy listen on Audio

[Eliana Nordin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Gay Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible story. Kudos to this woman’s ability to write of her struggle with mental health with insight.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a DNF for me at 75%. As a business owner and mother I found it relatable in parts but it became repetitive and spent a lot of time in the struggle/negative and not enough on strategy or the inspiration/overcoming the struggles.

[Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin’s vulnerability was so refreshing. Thank you for sharing all these moments of your past with us. Reliving trauma to teach others successes and mistakes takes a huge amount of courage.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

language was basic and thuddingly repetitive

[Linda Hatchett. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vulnerable and insightful