Let’s be honest: Shopping for a plus-size swimsuit is no picnic. Options are limited (especially for sizes beyond 3X, which are mostly only available online), prices are exorbitant and most swimsuits feel like they were made to hide our bodies with huge amounts of fabric or are so nonsensically short and ill-fitting, you’d think the people who designed them had never laid eyes on a person with larger breasts, let alone a belly. In the hope of making your life easier this summer, allow me to introduce you to three brands whose ethical practices, size range and fit might be just what you’re looking for.

Nettle’s Tale

Vancouver-based label Nettle’s Tale is on a mission to offer high-quality, ethically produced, thoughtfully designed clothing in a size range that’s a lot more inclusive than those of the vast majority of similar brands. Its website features the exact measurements of its 21 current models, which helps you clearly visualize the pieces on yourself. Nettle’s Tale swimsuits come in sizes XS to 4X, the latter being among the most generous fits in the industry, accommodating a hip circumference of up to 178 centimetres. Check out my personal favourite, the Marielle, a one-piece designed in collaboration with Alberta photographer, content creator and slow-fashion aficionado Marielle Terhart, whose content is a vital addition to your social-media landscape if you want to know more about plus-size and ethical fashion.

Hackwith Design House

Hackwith Design House—which makes most of its clothing to order (to minimize waste) in a small Minnesota studio—won me over many years ago with its casually elegant, comfortable and versatile designs. Most of its swimwear collection, which includes many different styles of tops, bottoms and one-pieces that can be mixed and matched, is available in sizes 0 through 28. It’s probably worth mentioning that I can thank this brand for the only well-fitting one-piece swimsuit I’ve had in my entire adult life.

Mimi & August

Over the past few years, Montreal-based brand Mimi & August—beloved for its affordable prices and comfortable-yet-sexy mix-and-match styles, which come in both neutrals and vibrant nature-inspired prints—has expanded its size range and now offers swimwear in XS to 4X. Since releasing its first plus-size styles in 2021 and then gathering fit feedback from its new customers, Mimi & August has come up with an improved size chart to accommodate even more body types. Now this is what I’m talking about.

SEASONED-ONLINE-SHOPPER TIPS:

• Don’t rely solely on alpha sizing when choosing a swimsuit (or any garment, for that matter) online. Sizing varies greatly between brands and sometimes even within brands. The only way to avoid unpleasant surprises is to take your measurements (chest, waist and hip circumference) and com- pare them to the size guide on each website.

 

• Should my three favourite brands not be accessible to you for some reason, here are a bunch more online stores— both slow and fast fashion—that sell swimwear in a wide range of styles, sizes and prices: Night Dive Swim, TomboyX, Coeur de Loup, Old Navy, Youswim, Swimsuits for All, Parade, Penningtons, Knix, Torrid, Eloquii, H&M, Skims, Forever Yours Lingerie, ASOS Curve, Joe Fresh, Boohoo and Sportive Plus.

Read more:
Inclusive Fashion: 15 Plus Size Brands We Love
Oddbird Co. Is the Size-Inclusive Fashion Brand We All Need
Tanya Taylor Launches Size Inclusive Swimwear Collection