Karuna IsraniWith just a few short weeks left before the official arrival of summer, it’s safe to say swimsuit season is upon us! And what better way to get bikini ready than with some of our favourite Canadian swimwear brands? Whether you prefer solid colours, or bold patterns, there’s a swimsuit for everyone in this line up.
- 437 Swimwear: BFF’s Hyla and Adrien started 437 Swimwear after taking European exchanges in their third year of university, wanting to create a label that was built with your body in mind. With different shapes, sizes, cuts and colours, every woman can find a suit at 437 Swimwear that makes them feel sexy, confident and comfortable – no matter how many burritos and bellinis you indulge in before on your vacation.
- Minnow Bathers: Made right in Toronto, Minnow Bathers’ swimwear was designed to celebrate the female form and help you feel as good as you look. Pin up style high-waist bottoms are perhaps the most distinct of the styles the brand carries; however, you’ll also find low rise bikinis and creatively cut one pieces in their collection. Minnow Bathers’ is for you if you prefer a more “modest” bathing suit in solid colours and muted patterns. Bonus: The bathing suits are handmade by a team of women, with $1 from each sale being donated to Ocean Conversancy.
- Bathing Belle: Bathing Belle is the perfect swimwear destination for both the young, and the young at heart. Torontonian Danika Salajko launched Bathing Belle in 2009 as a one-stop shop for whimsical and whacky bathing suit options for the whole family – men, women, and children all included. You are most definitely what you eat with this fried chicken and waffle printed one piece!
- Mimi & August: Montreal-based Mimi & August embodies total inclusivity and body positivity, with an ethically produced line of bathing suits that will make all your patterned dreams come true. From timeless and delicate polka dots, to tropical leaves, and the cutest pomegranate motif, Mimi & August’s many prints and cuts prove that there truly is a swimsuit for everyone in their collection.
- Nettle’s Tale: Vancouver-born Nettle’s Tale is inspired by real, everyday women, and it shows. Each swimsuit style is specifically named and modelled after real women from the Pacific Northwest. Nettle’s Tale does away with unrealistic standards by customizing the sizing chart for each style that they carry (e.g., The Alicia Top (pictured above) was designed for a fuller bust with a smaller band size). To make a good thing better, these bathing suits are built to last through all your indoor and outdoor activities, and 10% of the profits from each style are donated to a charity chosen by its namesake.
- Andrea Iyamah: Owned by Nigerian Designer, Dumebi Iyamah, Andrea Iyamah (A.I) is made in Ontario with a focus on ethnicity with a modern twist. Iyamah’s breathtaking vibrant prints are inspired by colour and African cultures, and A.I pays homage to its African heritage through virtually all of its designs. Every bathing suit in A.I’s collection has a unique cut and style guaranteed to make you stand out no matter where you are this summer!