Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style: A Swimwear Designers Must – See

If you’re looking for inspiration or a deeper understanding of the cultural, technological, and aesthetic developments that have influenced swimwear design, look no further than Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. This exciting new exhibition, has just opened at the Design Museum London, provides a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in the history of swimwear and explore how it has evolved over the last 100 years.

A Rich History of Design Innovation

Splash! takes visitors on a journey through the social, cultural, and technological history of swimming, and its impact on design. From the rise of Britain’s lidos in the early 20th century to the current fascination with trends like Mermaidcore, the exhibition offers invaluable insights into how swimwear and aquatic architecture have evolved to meet the demands of both function and fashion.

The exhibition provides a comprehensive look at the role design plays in shaping the modern swimmer’s experience. Visitors can discover over 200 objects from around 50 lenders across Europe, including iconic items such as Pamela Anderson’s red swimsuit from Baywatch, one of the earliest examples of a bikini, the Olympic gold medal won by Lucy Morton, and even a pair of Tom Daley’s Speedos from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

What makes this exhibition so exciting for designers is the way it not only showcases historic and iconic swimwear but also highlights the evolution of materials and performance-focused innovations that have had a direct impact on modern swimwear design.

Key Highlights for Swimwear Designers

One of the most fascinating items on display is the infamous red bathing suit worn by Pamela Anderson in Baywatch. The show, which at its peak drew 1.1 billion weekly viewers, made this swimsuit an international icon. Its design, created to fit the specific proportions of the actresses, helped to revive the one-piece swimsuit in the 1990s. For designers, this piece represents a pivotal moment in the cultural relevance of swimwear in mass media and how swimwear can become ingrained in pop culture.

Also on display is one of the earliest surviving examples of the bikini, designed by French fashion designer Louis Réard in 1946. The bikini, named after Bikini Atoll, revolutionised swimwear by introducing the two-piece design, which would go on to dominate the beachwear landscape. Designers can reflect on how the bikini’s transformative history continues to influence swimwear design today.

The exhibition also explores how men’s swimwear has evolved, with one of the oldest pieces on display being a woollen swimsuit from 1933. The Speedo briefs on show—from the 1980s to the present day—will be particularly interesting for designers. The collection shows the dramatic shift in men’s swimwear from functional basics to vibrant, form-enhancing designs. For many, these Speedos, which Peter Travis first reshaped in the 1960s, will evoke the changing perceptions of masculinity and body image in swim culture.

Performance Innovation: The Intersection of Technology and Design

For swimwear designers focused on high-performance gear, Splash! also provides a closer look at the technological innovations that have shaped competitive swimming. The controversial LZR Racer swimsuit, developed by Speedo in collaboration with NASA and the Australian Institute of Sport, made waves in 2008 by helping swimmers break world records and win Olympic gold. The suit’s ability to reduce drag and increase buoyancy led to its eventual banning, as it was considered a form of “technical doping.” This case exemplifies how advancements in textile technology have significantly influenced the competitive swimming world and how design can impact performance.

Bodily Autonomy and Inclusive Design

In recent years, swimwear design has become increasingly focused on issues of body autonomy and inclusivity. Splash! delves into how contemporary designers are challenging traditional norms about whose bodies are celebrated in the water. With a growing emphasis on empowering individuals through swimwear that embraces all body types, the exhibition highlights how design can enhance bodily autonomy, foster confidence, and disrupt long-standing societal expectations.

Architecture and Public Pools: A Source of Inspiration

The exhibition also explores the architectural design of swimming spaces, which can serve as a source of inspiration for designers thinking about the larger context of swimwear. Architectural gems such as the Jubilee Pool in Penzance and the Zaha Hadid-designed London Aquatics Centre show how swimming environments have evolved, from the geometric elegance of the Jubilee Pool to the sculptural design of the Aquatics Centre. These iconic spaces offer a look at how design and function intersect in the world of swimming, and how architecture can influence the swimming experience itself.

Amber Butchart, the guest curator of Splash!, notes, “The history of swimwear and swimming is fascinating as it mirrors wider changes in society over the past century.”

Designers can draw inspiration from this exhibition not only to understand how the past has shaped swimwear but also to look toward the future and the evolving needs and desires of swimmers.

Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style Associate Sponsor: Orlebar Brown is on until 17 August 2025, at the Design Museum London, 224 – 238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG.

All images by Luke Hayes for the Design Museum London