SwimShorts 2009
Get a taste of what designers and manufacturers have in store for their 2009 swimwear and resort collections with these news bites. From mass market to high-end design, whether inspired by nature, nostalgia, high performance, or the tropics, styles encompass the trendy, sporty, sexy, sophisticated, daring, and figure-flattering. You’ll also find updates from fabric and fiber suppliers.
China’s Guangzhou Huar Garment Co., Ltd. is seeking global cooperation with swimwear brands for its new, U.S. patent–pending seamless swimwear. The inventive and functional design features molded bra cups and enclosed underwire, maximum comfort with no seam or stitch, a variety of laser-cut edge-trimmings, refined workmanship, innovative technology, and BV and OEKO-Tex tested durability with anticorrosion from chlorine and sea water. Visit www.huarswimwear.com to learn more about the company and its products.
Inventor/designer Carol Wior is dedicated to creating figure-flattering, glamorous styles for her customers. The revolutionary, patented Carol Wior Slimsuittrade; is a highly engineered, one-piece swimsuit that takes an inch or more off the stomach instantly. Available in sizes 4 to 26W as well as mastectomy, the Slimsuittrade; is sold with a tape measure to show customers the measurable difference. Her products are proudly made in the USA. Call (562) 927-0052 for more information.
Founded in 1949, the Philips-Boyne Corporation is a stocking distributor of high quality woven shirting fabric. The majority of the line consists of long staple Egyptian cotton that is woven and finished in Japan. More than 3.5 million yards of stock also includes blends, linens, and silks. Styles range from classic stripes, checks, and solids to novelties, oxfords, polka-dots, and more. Located in the New York metropolitan area with sales agents throughout the country, Philips-Boyne serves everyone from at-home sewers and custom shirt-makers to couture designers and branded corporations. Peruse the extensive inventory listing at www.philipsboyne.com.
Malibu Dream Girl and Gossip Girl welcome Paul Luksa as National Sales Manager for their house brands. Luksa, a seasoned veteran in the swimwear industry, brings more than 25 years of experience and expertise to the company. Similarly, Malibu Dream Girl celebrates more than 25 years of designing and creating swimsuits for children, juniors, and women. Its 2009 collections will be shown at Surf Expo (Sept. 12–14). For more information, contact (800) 359-SWIM or visit the newly launched website at www.malibuswim.com.
Brazil, home to some of the most beautiful models and glamorous beaches in the world, is also home to the hottest bikinis in the world. Warm breezes, tropical climates, and a culture that revolves around holidays at the sea are a recipe for exceptionally creative and sexy beach fashion. Cia. Maritima has been a favorite of Brazilian women for more than 15 years. Sold only in exclusive boutiques in the country, the sophisticated yet edgy swimwear collection also features accessories to complete its signature look such as cover-up dresses, tunics, and beach totes. Visit www.CiaMaritimaUS.com.
Skyetrade; swimwear brings style, elegance, and comfort to the world of contemporary swimwear. Designed for the sophisticated woman with a youthful spirit, Skyetrade; swimsuits incorporate three key elements: style, comfort, and functionality. The soft and silky feel of Skye’strade; SoSofttrade; fabric is smooth to the touch and feels blissful against the skin. Stylish prints and lavish embellishments merge to create elegant swimsuits with an excellent fit that make women feel confident and beautiful. For more information, visit www.skyeswimwear.com.
With more than 20 years of experience in swimwear, Colombian designer Vicky Moreinis is passionate about creating swimwear that is flattering, unique, timeless, and fun for body conscious women of all ages. Unique to her designs are the extensive use of Colombian, handcrafted artisan details, such as ornaments in coconut and seeds, crochet, batik, and hand painting. The 2008 Vicky Moreinis Swimwear collection is inspired by the “London Look” of Twiggy and the British Invasion combined with soft silhouettes and pleats, vibrant colors, and present day romance. All swimwear is manufactured and controlled by The Moreinis Hermanos factory in Colombia. Visit www.vickymoreinis.com.
INVISTA, for the fourth year in a row, staged the only group runway show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami in July 2008. Hosted by Carson Kressley, style expert and host of Lifetime Network’s “How to Look Good Naked,” the catwalk showcased 2009 swimwear collections with INVISTA’s Xtra Life LYCRAtrade; fiber from Banana Moon, Brette Sandler, Christina, Gottex, Karla Colletto, Maryan Mehlhorn, Miracle Suit, Profile by Gottex, Red Carter, Reebok, SHAN, and Speedo. The fiber brand features innovative technology that provides long-lasting fit that resists bagging and sagging as well as 5–10 times more chlorine resistance than ordinary spandex.
Kariza Designs combines elegance, creativity, and sophistication in a unique concept for the specialty retail industry. Kariza wrap skirts can be worn in countless ways, converting into beautiful dresses, tops, shawls, and cover-ups to achieve a number of looks from simple to sexy to sophisticated. With creativity, these timeless pieces can be worn for any occasion. New collections for the upcoming seasons can be viewed at www.karizadesigns.com.
Founded in 1990, InGear is a leading supplier of swim, resort, and casual-lifestyle fashions in the United States and abroad. InGear’s product and lifestyle accessories may be found at surf, beach, swim, hotel/resort, and gift shops, as well as in specialty stores, boutiques, spas, sporting good stores, and department stores throughout the country. InGear also designs, manufactures, and sells Your Best Look Swimwear, conservatively sexy swimsuits that come with a free matching cover-up. Most recently, InGear inked a licensing deal with Playboy and launched the much-anticipated Playboy Swim collection at the July 2008 SwimShow in Miami Beach.
Established in 1983 on the principles of fashion forward styling and quality assurance, MAR RIO believes in the natural beauty and uniqueness of every woman. The 2009 collection takes its inspiration directly from nature, featuring strong, lively colors mixed with flowers and harmonized with the soft colors of rivers on the horizon. The line includes more than 130 fashionable products, many of which are available in both Brazilian and American cuts and in light Lycra. Visit www.eXMGlobal.com or call (866) 298-9723.
The extended success of the washed, soft finish Matte Foil from specialty fabric and yarn manufacturer La Lame prompted a new version in an unwashed hand for a shinier finish. Both foils are stocked in New York and are popular with swimwear and sportswear manufacturers. Another fashion forward fabric in demand is a Satin Stretch in 12 colors also stocked in New York. A new collection of Silk Blends in solids and prints produced in the Far East offer a less expensive price point than usual silk groups and are being heavily sampled by swim, sportswear, dress, and loungewear makers. Please call (212) 921-9770 to review these and other developments.
From feminine and romantic to nautical or retro to old Hollywood glamour or old school vintage—the essence of Skinny Dip Swimwear is to combine classic bikini looks of the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s with contemporary ingenuity, foresight, and a keen sense of risk to create the newest retro/contemporary swimwear. The daywear collection features cute, flirty, playful styles, while the eveningwear collection offers sexy and sophisticated fashion. Established in 2006, Skinny Dip Swimwear is sold in specialty boutique and by online retailers throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. Visit www.skinnydipswimwear.com.
True Religion Apparel, Inc. has paired up with InGear Swimwear, a global leader in swim, resort, and casual lifestyle fashions, to release a diverse line of sexy, rock ’n’ roll–inspired swimsuits for women, men, and kids that incorporates denim, leather, and crochet fabrics. The True Religion Swim collection includes suits that range from vintage-inspired prints on Brazilian silhouettes to beading and embellishments on basic bikinis as well as coordinating cover-ups. Retail prices range from $60 to $100 for separates and $100 to $180 for sets available nationwide at major department stores and specialty shops.
Phantom L.A. Brands presents three distinct lines of swimwear. The daring and playful California Waves features bright colors, flirty detailing, and cute styles in mix and match pieces for a custom look and fit. The Endless Sun collection is designed for the more modest customer who also wants cutting-edge style and beautiful detailing and colors. Martini Sol offers a more sophisticated look with its structured cuts, detailing, and textures. Contact (800) 783-1451 for information.
Design innovation meets style and sex appeal with Perfect Tan Bikini’s new twist on tanning with its strapless and backless options. Made possible by patent-pending self-adhesive technology, the bikini top is secure, completely waterproof, and reusable. According to Founder and CEO Claudia Cardenas, “Our customers have a taste for edgehellip;they’re sexy, adventurous, hip, and Web-savvy.” The potential in online marketing inspired an upcoming MySpace campaign that will generate more than 2.4 million impressions, as well as a slate of events and promotions designed to cross the digital divide from coast to coast. Visit www.perfecttanbikini.com.
Celebrity Jessica Simpson, with InGear Swimwear and the Camuto Group, Simpson’s licensing house, launched the latest edition to her lifestyle collection—Jessica Simpson Swim. InGear, backed by more than 17 years in the industry, worked closely with Simpson to design, produce, and distribute the line of contemporary one-pieces and separates in retro prints, girlie basics, and American-girl–inspired and pin-up–inspired silhouettes. Marketed for women ages 18–40, the line offers something for every body type and is available at major department stores and specialty boutiques at prices ranging from $50 to $70 for separates and $100 to $140 for sets.
Beach Rays is all about style, innovation, and value. What began with basic swim trunks and board shorts more than a decade ago has grown to include complete divisions for young men, men, juniors, missy, boys, girls, toddlers, cover-ups, and t-shirts. For 2009, Beach Rays has developed a new high-performance fabric, Micro Serge Twill, that gives its board shorts and swim trunks unprecedented durability with an ultra-luxurious texture. Visit www.beachrays.com.
Diva 2009 takes a trip to Africa with a fresh, colorful, exclusive new collection. Geometric prints, strong colors, bi-color combinations, and accessories reflect the continent’s ethnic influences. The glitz of gold and silver express the glamour typical of North African countries such as Morocco, while Swarovski stone embellishments pay tribute to the diamond mines of South Africa. The groups are based on Diva’s best-selling silhouettes which have a proven fit. The look is innovative, unique, and feminine, yet also practical and commercial. For the Diva woman who wants elegance, novelty, perfect fit, and quality, visit www.divaswim.com.
Although a rookie in the swimwear industry, Ed Hardy Swimwear has experienced a strong maiden year, including the introduction of its sultry sister Christian Audigier Swimwear. Both tattoo-inspired, contemporary collections are designed by Christian Audigier, make unique statements of their own, and are produced in the United States by Los Angeles–based swim manufacturer Sea and Sun. Bold colors, eye-catching designs, and signature logos turn heads. Sublimation, the unique and complex engineering process by which ink is inserted directly onto the swimsuit’s fabric, makes these swimsuits individual works of art. From concept to completion, each piece is designed and produced by hand. Visit www.edhardyswimwear.com and www.donedhardy.com.
This year, ViX Swimwear celebrates 10 years of fashion. ViX offers three fabulous collections of high-end designer swimwear: ViX, Sofia, and Hermanny. The contemporary ViX line began in 1998 with a small collection of Brazilian-cut bikinis and has grown into a vast collection of swim and resort wear including bikinis, tankinis, one-pieces, caftans, and beach dresses. The sophisticated and simple designs of Hermanny offer women more coverage and support with style, while Sofia is a whimsical and flirty line for the tween market. All collections are available at www.vixswimwear.com.
Under the SHI Swimwear umbrella, brand labels Alicia Simone, Shore Shapes, and Tangerine are sold to specialty stores, department stores, and through mail order. The collections feature an extensive variety of missy, women’s, contemporary, and maternity swimwear at affordable prices. Exclusive prints and solids are crafted from the finest four-way stretch tricot/Lycra for comfort and fit. SHI has sales office locations in Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Naples, Florida.
Los Angeles-–based A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz has signed a new license for the lifestyle category of swimwear, including swim and resort cover-ups, with BlueWaterDesignGroup, a division of Apparel Ventures Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of contemporary swimwear and swim-related apparel, also based in Los Angeles. The well-established A.B.S. brings its keen sensibility for interpreting the newest global fashion trends to the designer swim marketplace. A.B.S. by Allen Schwartz Swim officially launched its first collection at the Miami SwimShow and is slated to ship to the finest department and specialty store for Resort 2009. Please contact Howie Greller at hgreller@buyswim.com or (310) 538-4980.
Established more than a decade ago, Banana Split USA delivers a versatile wardrobe of beachwear and casual luxury clothing for the modern lifestyle. The 2008 collection, inspired by the theme of freedom, features tops, shirts, cargo shorts, board shorts, and elastic shorts for men, women, and kids that offer both comfort and the latest in fashion. Look for Banana Split USA at Surf Expo in Orlando and at www.bananasplitusa.com.
Trunkettestrade; are swim trunks for women with mix-and-match tops. Sporty, flirty, and functional, Trunkettes come in many fun colors and patterns such as polka dots, peacock, snakeskin, stripes, graffiti, and skulls. Styles include Bermuda-length low risers, short hot pants, and modest high-waisted shapes, with conveniences such as Velcro pockets, bikini bottom linings, and drawstring waists. Media features include the New York Post, Chicago Tribune, Fox Business News, and CNBC’s “Big Idea with Donny Deutsch,” where they were called “lightning in a bottle” and a “huge idea.” Trunkettes allow women to be active with comfort and confidence. Visit http://trunkettes.com.
Surf Expo convenes Sept. 12–14 in Orlando, Florida, where manufacturers and specialty retailers in the board, beach, and fashion industries converge in a business-first environment. The evolution of the trade show from its surf roots to a comprehensive boardsports and coastal-influenced fashion and accessories show is a perfect match for the growth and changing needs of these industries. Check out the extensive and comprehensive exhibitor product lines at www.surfexpo.com.
The captivating Bikini Flavors Cruise 2009 Collection consists of reversible string bikini separates that are fun, daring, and stylish. Styles include: a monokini; cover-ups; triangle, tankini, bandeau, and halter tops; and hipster, Brazilian, tanga, and boy short bottoms—all sold separately for an individualized look and fit. Sizing is scaled from XS–D for tops and XS–XL for bottoms and pricing for the American-made products is $76–$94 per piece. The fashionista, the fit, the active, and the sexy will all appreciate the customization factor achieved with the reversible pieces and corresponding ties for a unique and flexible swimsuit. Visit www.bikiniflavors.com.
The Hot Tuna Spring 09 Collection finds inspiration from the new wave era. The mad mash-up of hippie chic and rock ’n’ roll come together in this print-savvy collection. Featuring electric tie-dye, graphic one-of-a-kind lipstick prints, neon baby gingham, and a Hot Tuna twist on polka dots, the collection is all about color and graphics. The Aztec Native American blanket print is the designer’s pick of the season. Silhouettes are flirty and sexy, yet easy and classic. There are string bikinis with some fun fashion asymmetrical pieces to choose from. Hot Tuna continues to push the envelope with innovative prints and unique twists of color.
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