As the mercury continues to rise, our desire to lounge in a striped sling chair underneath a coordinated sun umbrella while sipping on a mocktail near a cool body of water is only getting stronger. In preparation of all the sunny days at the beach and poolside lounging ahead, we’ve compiled a roundup of the homegrown swimwear brands you need to know. From playful eco-friendly designs with sustainability at the forefront to size-inclusive bikinis and one-pieces made with every kind of body shape in mind, read on for the names to add to your swimwear lexicon this season.
Soufflé Swimwear
Founded by Algerian designer Sabrina Mahieddine, the sustainable swimwear brand is crafted out of luxurious up-cycled fabrics sourced from various textile factories that manufacture some of your favorite designer clothing. Each piece comes in biodegradable packaging, meaning that Soufflé is environmentally-friendly from start to finish.
Elma
Frustrated with the lack of options for diverse body types, Egyptian actress Salma Abu Deif launched her size-inclusive swimwear brand, Elma, last summer. Elma’s unique one-pieces and bikinis come in playful designs and patterns and are flattering for every body type.
Kinki Swim
Each swimsuit, bikini, and cover-up from the environmentally-conscious homegrown brand, founded in the UAE , is hand-crafted using sustainable materials and manufactured in factories powered by solar power energy in an effort to protect the environment. What’s more, the brand donates a portion of their sales to non-profit organizations that fund the protection of oceans and women’s education in Bali.
Bomo Swim
The size-inclusive swimsuit label was founded by British-Nigerian entrepreneur Buky Ogunlaja in the UAE, who came up with the idea of the brand while on vacation. After noticing that a lot of women were wearing ill-fitting swimsuits “that didn’t do justice to their beautiful shapes,” Ogunlaja decided to launch her own brand that flawlessly represents all types of body shapes and sizes.
Hadia Ghaleb
Founded in 2022 by Dubai-based female entrepreneur and influencer Hadia Ghaleb, the inclusive brand has since been on a mission to revolutionize the swimwear industry by designing fashionable pieces that cater to women of all cultures, religions, and lifestyles. In addition to playful one-pieces and bikinis, the eponymous brand also includes covered-up swimsuit sets and “instant” hijabs for veiled women.
Léa the Label
The sustainable resortwear brand founded by Lebanese designer Léa Daaboul prides itself on its meticulous craftsmanship and provides a diverse range of silhouettes designed to be mix and matched, while still offering the utmost in comfort, quality, and style. Each piece is UV protective, triple layered to avoid sheerness, and most importantly, created from post and pre-consumer waste, organic certified material, and Econyl yarns to reduce their carbon footprint.
Raga Malak
The womenswear label was co-founded in Beirut in 2019 by best friends Gadir Rajab and Raquelle Saba, and is a youthful fusion of Western styles and Middle Eastern heritage. In addition to covetable corsets and matching sets, the label features a swimwear line comprising of bikinis in playful prints that are sold separately for mixing and matching.
