YouSwim Reimagines ‘One Size Fits All’ for Truly Inclusive Swimwear
Photo: YouSwim
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Shopping for swimwear has always been a drag, especially as a mid-sized girl. And I think many others, regardless of their size, would agree with me on this one. You either see a swimsuit online that you like and order it, hoping it’ll fit or you try on 15 different bikinis in person, most of which skimp on coverage and squeeze you in all the wrong places. As someone who enjoys shopping for clothes, I never look forward to shopping for swimwear. Until I came across the brand YouSwim.
Launched in 2018 with the mission of turning the tide on standard, inflexible sizing by creating swimwear that represents people realistically, this brand is all for accepting our forever changing bodies as they are. It is truly the first and only swimwear company I’ve come across that fights for real inclusivity whilst still being stylish. This seems to hardly ever be the case, which is why I was so excited to try out some of their colorful, aesthetically pleasing pieces.
Photo: YouSwim
ONE SIZE REALLY DOES FIT ALL
YouSwim's primary goal is to create swimwear that can adapt and change with your body through the many stages of your life. I particularly love this as it means I have to shop for swimsuits and bikinis even less than I already do! It’s refreshing to see an almost radical take on body positivity – acknowledging that no matter what changes your body is going through, it’s normal that your shape and weight are constantly in a natural state of flux. YouSwim takes acceptance to a new level by creating swimwear for life: big busts, small busts, young, old, from puberty to pregnancy – this brand is here for our unique, ever-changing and unedited bodies.
I know you must be thinking: but how can one size truly fit all? And believe me, I had the same question. In reality, YouSwim’s suits currently fit seven sizes in one, which is a whole lot – but more importantly, the brand has been working on expanding its sizes by developing a second suit in all of its current colors and styles that fits a further seven or more sizes (UK 20-32+, US 16-28+). YouSwim has been exploring different methods of construction that will ensure that the fit, adaptability and quality of the extended sizing meet the brand’s high standards. The brand practices transparency in voicing that it’s not perfect (yet) and that it’s actively working on matching the high bar its current suits have set, without accepting quick-fixes that allow YouSwim to claim size inclusivity without actually solving the problem.
By completely disrupting the relationship our bodies have with swimwear through uniquely adaptable and extremely comfortable designs and fabric, YouSwim aims to ensure that all new sizes truly meet the brand’s promise of adjusting to fit our changing bodies.
Photo: Ebony Talijancich
I SWIM, YOU SWIM, WE ALL SWIM FOR YOUSWIM
Currently, YouSwim makes four different styles — Aplomb, Poise, Eva and Verve, and each one is available in a one-piece, or as a set with high waist, standard waist or shorts bottoms. I was lucky enough to be gifted the following styles: Aplomb Standard Waist Two-Piece in Espresso, Aplomb Cheeky Two-Piece in Cosmic and lastly, the Eva One-Piece in Fern. Each of the suits is made with super thick, comfortable and flexible fabric that allows them to stretch and move naturally with your body. I noticed this most when I was coming in and out of the water – both the two-piece sets and the bathing suit hugged my body in a snug but comfortable way, when I was out of water and once they became wet. I loved that I didn’t have to worry about the suits loosening as I continued to wear them.
The two-piece Aplomb set in Espresso is by far my favorite. I’ve never had a top that fit me more perfectly. The cut is iconic – it gives you a great tan, meaning not too much coverage, whilst still holding in your breasts tightly to make sure they don’t fall out at any given moment. Two girlfriends of mine tried this bikini on (all of us have very different bodies), just to see how it would fit them, and sure enough, YouSwim’s one size really does fit all! This set really helped me feel confident and comfortable in my own skin and in a bikini. I’m so glad to have found a two-piece suit that I can be myself in.
Photo: YouSwim
My second favorite is definitely the one-piece Eva suit in Fern. I love a cute-cut bathing suit and this one is so flattering! The ribbed fabric feels so good on my skin, and the low v-shape front and deep scoop back brought out my body shape in the most complimentary way. This is the kind of suit I would wear on a day where I may feel bloated or in need of some extra coverage – it’s a good one to carry around on any beach holiday as it’s stretchy and will always come in handy. A must buy!
The two-piece Aplomb cheeky set in cosmic is my least favorite, mostly because YouSwim is not kidding when it says ‘cheeky.’ The cut itself was really nice but I didn’t feel comfortable wearing bottoms that are so revealing. For my confident and bold baddies, this one’s a must-try for you! And the cosmic pink is truly iconic! It looked beautiful on my brown complexion but looked just as good on my fair-skinned bestie. You will get a great booty tan and the top is luckily just as supportive and comfortable as the less cheeky two-piece Aplomb set.
Photo: Ebony Talijancich
On top of all the other things that makes YouSwim special, the brand aims to create swimwear in a way that isn't at the cost of the environment. This means that production is run entirely in England – from the weaving of YouSwim’s incredible fabric, to the production of its Earth-Friendly Packaging: 100% plastic-free, entirely biodegradable and home-compostable. YouSwim works locally with highly-skilled, fairly paid experts and these magical suits are produced at a cost many times that of a typical swimsuit. YouSwim intentionally doesn’t produce swimsuits at the unsustainable rate we’re accustomed to, as the brand recognizes this process takes time and care. It acknowledges the challenges that any truly sustainable brand is faced with in the fashion and production industry, but still takes all the steps necessary to become a more environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable version of themselves.
I really love everything that YouSwim stands for, and more importantly, I don’t think I’ll ever stop wearing the suits I was so generously gifted.