Rising Tides: Five Designers Turning Swimwear into Fashion’s Main Event
- Polimnia Rossin
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 15
Swimwear used to serve a single purpose: get wet, dry out, repeat. Today, it carries a hundred stories—of culture, sustainability, body politics, even hometown pride. Below, meet five credible, reputable designers who treat the swimsuit as a canvas for fashion’s most compelling narratives. No lab specs, no fabric equations—just the people, places, and inspirations that let their collections breathe beyond the shoreline.
Adriana Degreas — Tropical Glamour Redux
Base: São Paulo, Brazil
Why they matter:
Degreas melds 1940s screen-sirens with Copacabana heat: think sculpted balconette tops in hibiscus silk, or swim-skirts that flutter like ballroom gowns. Her runways feel less “pool party” and more like a Carmen Miranda after-party for modern icons.
Signature moment:
Adriana Degreas' luxurious designs are regularly featured in fashion collections, celebrated for their tropical allure and sophisticated aesthetics. modaoperandi.com
Isa Boulder — Craft over Mass
Base:
Bali, Indonesia
Why:
Two lifelong friends, Yuli Suri and Lia Ladysta, weave island rhythms into sculptural silhouettes. Every piece is draped and sewn by a twelve-person atelier that refuses the wholesale rat race; drops are small, waits can be long, but the result feels like art rescued from the factory line.
Signature moment:
Isa Boulder's handcrafted designs have garnered attention from top fashion influencers, celebrated for their meticulous craftsmanship and sculptural forms.
Jade Swim — Minimalism with a Pulse
Base:
New York / Los Angeles
Why:
Former fashion editor Brittany Kozerski shot hundreds of bikinis before designing her own. Her revelation? A suit should feel like slipping into a good habit, not a statement. Jade Swim’s clean lines and sun-burnt color palette read like mid-century architecture translated into Lycra: nothing extra, yet undeniably modern.
Signature moment:
Jade Swim has been featured in prominent fashion publications, including Vogue, highlighting its chic simplicity and modern designs. vogue.com
Peony — Romance with a Conscience
Base:
Byron Bay, Australia
Why:
Founders Becky Morton and Thomas Bredahl grew up where surf meets subtropics; their pieces bloom with painterly florals but hide a serious backbone of environmental rigor. Peony pledged “entirely recycled and organic” years before it was trending.
The result:
Dreamy prints that whisper “picnic at dusk” without the plastic hangover.
Signature moment:
Peony's sustainable swimwear collections have been recognized in fashion media for their balance of style and environmental responsibility. femestella.com
Andie Swim — Fit Over Myth
Base:
New York City, U.S.
Why they matter:
Melanie Travis founded Andie after headlines about vanity sizing hit fever pitch. She crowd-tested prototypes on 300 real women, then built a try-at-home system that mirrors the best concierge suit shops. The brand’s ethos—“fit is freedom”—has turned tens of thousands of swimsuit skeptics into believers.
Signature moment:
Andie Swim's commitment to body positivity and inclusive sizing has been praised in publications like InStyle, noting the brand's flattering designs and comfortable fits. instyle.com
The Common Thread
While their aesthetics diverge—from Degreas’ carnival luxe to Jade’s minimalist restraint—each designer treats swimwear as an emotional garment, not an afterthought. They:
Tell a place-based story (Bali ateliers, Byron Bay beaches, São Paulo salons).
Prioritize body confidence through extended sizing or meticulous draping.
Respect pace—releasing small capsules when they’re ready, not when a calendar demands.
The result? Not just swimwear, but keepsakes—stitched with memories of where you wore them first.
Next time you pack for the coast, consider the hands behind the hemline. In the golden hour, when the horizon blurs and fabrics catch that last streak of sun, you’ll feel the difference between a swimsuit that merely survives the tide and one that carries a story with it. That story starts here—with designers thriving far beyond the technical, proving fashion and swimwear are no longer separate seas but converging currents of creativity.
