my favorite swimwear brands

it's officially the season where my DMs are basically just "where's your swimsuit from??" so rather than answer one by one, here's the whole list - the small brands I wear on repeat, plus a few I'm eyeing for the rest of the summer

almost all of these are small, independent, and doing something you won’t find in a mall - handmade crochet, made-to-order, recycled fabric, prints that don’t exist anywhere else. a good chunk of them are australian (the aussies really do know their swim), a few are made by one person by hand, and every one is worth knowing about whether you buy now or just save it for later.

quick notes before we get into it: prices are in USD (I converted the AUD and GBP ones so no one gets sticker-shocked), and every brand’s instagram is linked so you can go down the rabbit hole yourself. let’s get into it!

"lo-lay-ah," made for the tropics and one of my favorites. australian, bright, and built for days you want to feel like you're somewhere with better weather than sf (lol). the shoulder-top styles are adjustable and stay exactly where you put them, and they do matching clothing sets so you can go straight from the water to lunch without changing. my pick: the a splash of mango shoulder top - olive base with a shimmery geometric floral, about $46 USD on sale

some bikinis you buy for the pool, some you buy for the best tanning coverage. tinye (pronounced "tiny") is the second kind - venezuelan-designed, 80s-inspired, unapologetically cheeky. the long side-tie bottoms are the thing you'll spot everywhere once you notice them, and they flatter basically everyone. my pick: the 003 seamless triangle top in black polka dot with the matching 003 scrunch bottoms - $35 for the top, and the polka dot is an immediate yes

the details other brands skip. everything's double-lined so no white lining peeks through, they use recycled repreve, and they do reversible styles - one suit, two looks. retro prints, small-batch drops, cheeky cuts. my pick: the brady top in paxi plaid - a triangle with a little gold ring at the center and a zigzag vintage edge, about $45 USD

yes, pronounced "knee high," and yes it's as playful as that sounds. london-based, a little ironic, a little sexy, with architectural swim shapes that feel more fashion than beach. bonus: full ready-to-wear too, so you can build a whole look. my pick: the tess top swim set in black - a fitted halter with gathered bust detail and a matching boy-short brief, which is such a nice change from the usual bottom. about $105 USD, duties included to the US

handmade crochet, and you can feel it. betta crochets every top, bottom, and accessory herself, so nothing you buy exists by the thousand in a warehouse. it's the kind of piece people stop you about on the sand. my pick: the snowflake tini - a crochet set with a tie halter top and tie bottoms, and you choose your coverage (thong, cheeky, or full). made to order in 100% cotton, so no one else has quite the same one

the australian brand that does statement swim with their gorgeous cuts. the fits are cheeky, the color stories always right. my pick: the eos triangle top in bonita - a 60s-inspired stripe in red, burnt orange, and golden sand, finished with self-ties and little red beads on the ends. about $58 USD

proof the best swimwear is still someone making it by hand. mal sews every piece to order out of san clemente, and the whole line is reversible and fully customizable - one suit is two, and it's the exact one you designed. the opposite of fast fashion, and it shows. my pick: the pearl in pierside plaid - $63, fully adjustable straps so it stays put, and worth the little wait since mal makes it just for you

sporty-retro swim with the prettiest gradient stripes. designed in australia, handcrafted in indonesia, and built around mix-and-match sets - their signature sky stripe and cherry polka prints were made to be worn together. everything's double-lined and cut from a continuous print, so no two pieces are exactly alike. my pick: the peggy short in sky stripe - high-rise cheeky mini shorts with an adjustable drawstring, about $65 USD. I just love blue and maroon together, and these were made for it

handmade swimwear that means handmade. every suit is sewn by hand from recycled, eco-friendly fabric, a founder-led labor of love bouncing between miami, bali, and hawaii - and you can feel how much vision goes into each piece. think vintage-inspired high-rise bottoms with patchwork detailing and boardshorts for the surf girlies. it even ships in biodegradable packaging with a reusable bikini bag, which is the kind of detail I live for. my pick: my favorite red bikini is from here - my favorite, and it comes with me on every single trip

if your summer had a mood board, it's this. earthy tones, vintage-inspired prints, that dreamy sun-faded look that goes with a linen anything. everything's double-lined with fully adjustable straps, so the fit works for real bodies. my pick: the rio top in mulberry plaid - such a cute halter cut, and the vintage plaid is peak nostalgic-summer. $72

"considered & curious" is the whole brand in two words. designed in australia, made responsibly with recycled repreve, and the prints are these gorgeous vintage-collage numbers you won't see on ten other people. my pick: the eva pocket short in vanilla - a low-rise tie-front swim short with real (removable) pockets. it's my neutral mix-and-match base that goes with everything. about $90 USD

clean, simple, the swim version of your perfect everyday tee. founded by monti landers on one idea: suits that fit right the first time so you live in them, beach to errands. "for the woman who shows up exactly as she is" - which, same. my pick: the echo one piece in ocean water - their signature deep-v with a ruched waist that sculpts and stays put. $180, a splurge, but it's the one you reach for every time (runs small, so size up)

Thank you all so much for reading! This one was a fun one, I basically live in a swimsuit during the summer (when I’m anywhere besides SF…) sending love from Santorini, xoxo.

Love Always,

Su