Medina

Designed and produced in Porto, Portugal, Medina is a sophisticated swimwear line that beautifully marries sustainability, performance and design. Constructed in part with recovered fishnets and post-consumer nylon waste, the Econyl regenerated nylon favoured by designer Lou Medina is made in Italy, is chlorine-resistant and offers built-in UPF 50+ protection.

The fully lined one- and two-piece designs are made to last and incorporate thoughtful details like rubber-coated metal hardware and adjustable straps. And 3 percent of the sales is donated to environmental non-profits; this year, the company is supporting initiatives that address issues in the Azores, the Portuguese islands where Medina’s spring/summer 2022 lookbook was photographed. These fashionable suits will last for years to come, and you can feel good about wearing them too.

Frankies Bikinis

Frankies Bikinis’ big break came almost a decade ago, when model Candice Swanepoel wore one of the brand’s bikinis and posted a photo online. Today, the youthful, inclusive swimwear label boasts 1.3 million followers on Instagram and counts many A-listers among its fans—Jennifer Lopez wore a bright-yellow two-piece on a yacht with Ben last summer. There have been collaborations with Naomi Osaka and Hailee Steinfeld, and the brand has expanded beyond swimwear to offer complementary apparel, activewear and a beauty line.

Made in L.A. and inspired by Malibu, Frankies Bikinis swimwear is decidedly colourful and fun. New collections arrive monthly, and the trendy designs feature novelty details like quilted fabrics, denim-look prints and chain straps. The brand is known for its “cheeky”-coverage bikinis (there are also full-coverage and “skimpy” bottoms), and its signature designs are offered in as many as 90 different colours and patterns.

Fleur du Mal

New York-based designer Jennifer Zuccarini, who hails from Toronto, studied design at the Fashion Institute of Technology before co-founding fashion label Kiki de Montparnasse and working as the design director at Victoria’s Secret in the mid-to-late aughts. In 2012, Zuccarini launched Fleur du Mal as a lingerie and ready-to-wear brand before adding swimwear three years later.

Like its lingerie, the brand’s curated swimwear range is decidedly stylish and elegant. Designs are fully lined and made with a luxe Italian stretch fabric. This season’s highlights include high-leg bikini bottoms with a bum-baring cut, one-piece suits with flattering keyhole and side cut-outs and a splashy new metallic-blue fabric that’s made to be noticed.

Ulla Johnson

American fashion designer Ulla Johnson’s eponymous line is known for its contemporary bohemian look and beautiful prints and patterns. The spring/summer 2022 collection, presented at th Brooklyn Botanic Garden during New York Fashion Week, is described in the collection statement as “an exuberant celebration of the natural world” that brings together a “métissage of pattern and texture.”

Johnson’s covetable swimwear range—encompassing swimsuits, rash guards, lightweight tunics, cotton-blend shorts and beach cover-ups—has the same vibrant and eclectic sensibility. The sleek bikinis and one-piece swimsuits, fully lined and made with Italian nylon fabrics, feature bold colours and many of the season’s top prints. This is swimwear that’s stylish enough for the runway but made for the beach.

Andrea Iyamah

Nigerian-born designer Andrea Iyamah launched her eponymous resortwear brand in 2011 and added swimwear to the mix two years later. Based in Toronto and Lagos, the body-positive label is a favourite of celebrities like Michelle Obama, Kate Hudson, Ciara and Gabrielle Union, all of whom have been spotted in Iyamah’s statement swimsuits.

The brand’s breezy spring/summer 2022 collection, entitled “The Eucalyptus,” features a selection of swimwear in a hand-painted eucalyptus-leaf print and vivid shades like yellow and orange. The one- and two-piece suits incorporate signature design details like fabric twists, eye-catching cut-outs, statement drawstrings and W-shaped underwire support. Distinct and refined, this is swimwear that’s destined for dreamy getaways.

Isa Boulder

Launched by Cecilia Basari and Yuli Suri just two years ago, Isa Boulder is a swimwear and knitwear label with a distinctive point of view. Designer Basari, a Central Saint Martins grad, describes the fledgling brand’s aesthetic in interviews as “homely sexy.” It’s a winning, memorable look that’s been spotted on a wide array of stylish trendsetters, including Lorde, Solange Knowles, FKA twigs and Dua Lipa.

Artisan-made in small batches in Bali, Indonesia, and available in Canada through luxury retailers like Nordstrom and SSENSE, Isa Boulder’s ruched and draped bikinis and one-piece swimsuits currently come in two fabrics: a photogenic shiny stretch-satin jersey and a more wearable matte-jersey material. Details like criss-cross straps, all-over ruching and twists, sculptural cut-outs and adjustable lace-up ties add fun and fancy flourishes.

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