The search for the best bikini brands to know now, truly can leave you feeling like you are drowning in a sea of choices (or worse, sell outs) whatever time of year it is. As the summer exodus begins, now is surely the most tricky time to begin your quest. If this is you, do not fret! Your quest for beach and poolside confidence and elegance will be solved once you scroll down.
The Best Bikini Brands to Know Now
Words by
Melanie Rickey
24th July 2023
If you've opened your bikini drawer only to find they are looking worn out after their last sunny outing, you'll need this insider guide to the best bikini brands to know now. Our edit is high on fashion, function and ethics, and better still, all are available now.
The Best Bikini Brands to Know Now
Medina Swimwear
Tropic bikini top €190, Tropic bikini bottoms, €150 by Medina
Medina Swimwear is the the brainchild of Lou Medina, a former apprentice at Alexander McQueen who went on to be the creative pattern cutter for Phoebe Philo during her iconic tenure at Celine.
The Celine atelier’s creative and technically rigorous environment shaped Lou into a designer who is uncompromising on quality, focused on detail, creatively playful, and fiercely independent in her aesthetic choices.
The outcome is Medina Swimwear, offering seriously elevated and luxurious modern swimwear, with pieces so well cut and constructed they can easily transition to daywear pieces. Medina is 100% switched on to ethics and the expectations of the conscious shopper, with all pieces made of ECONYL® regenerated nylon, making them UV-proof, chlorine-resistant and luxuriously supple.
The collection is full of standout designs, with swimsuits so beautiful they are almost too good for the beach, the Calypso one-piece, and Tide Long Sleeve being cases in point.
The best bikinis are from the Coral Reef collection, and also check out the Tropic top, and Tropic bottom, but this is a brand set to rise and rise.
Hunza G
If you've been even vaguely shopping for a bikini this summer, you'll doubtless have comes across British brand Hunza G.
Hunza G became the hottest new beach brand of the year in 2022, popping up on celebrities everywhere, and selling like hotcakes on Net-a-Porter and Matches Fashion. This year it has solidified its reputation for creating affordable, yet still luxurious bikinis and one-piece suits suitable for all body shapes.
What makes it work for everyone is the crinkled fabric, stretchy enough for a one size fits all approach, and which hugs around curves, rather than squishing them like a bad corset.
Originally launched in the 1980s when it was known as Hunza and owned by Peter Meadows, the business was revived by designer Georgiana Huddart in 2021, becoming Hunza G, and bringing the brand into the Instagram age. All the pieces are stitched in the Midlands and hand-finished in London.
Their best bikinis are the strapless bandeau bikini, Jean at £155, and the twist front Juno, £155.
Marysia
The Antibes scallop-edged bikini is the iconic two-piece of 2023, top £123, bottoms £125.
Have you noticed the number of A-list celebrities wearing these oh-so-subtle but yet instantly recognisable scallop-edged bikinis? Marysia the brand, was founded by the real life Maryisa Dobrzanska Reeves, a former ballerina and long-time surfer who lives and works in Venice Beach, California.
Her list of fans is endless, but numbers Gwyneth Paltrow, Lupita Nyong'o, and fashion influencers the world over. There's a good reason: these hand-cut bikinis are made from premium Italian fabric, making them perfect for sea, pool, surf and lounger. And of course, their design curvy signature requires an If You Know, You Know insideriness.
The best Marysia bikinis are the classic Antibes, top £123, bottoms £125, and the Gibbes, top £145, bottoms £135 at Browns Fashion.
