Unveiling a Century's Evolution: Swimwear and its Controversial Past examined at the Design Museum
The Design Museum in London is currently hosting an exciting exhibition titled "Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style", running from 28 March to 17 August 2025. This captivating display delves into 100 years of swimming history, its profound impact on fashion, design, architecture, and culture.
The exhibition, which features over 200 items, showcases a diverse range of artefacts, including Pamela Anderson’s iconic Baywatch swimsuit, a 1924 Olympic gold medal, and famous men's Speedos. It is curated by Amber Butchart, broadcaster and historian.
The exhibit is divided into three key sections: the swimming pool, the lido, and nature. Each section offers a unique perspective on the evolution of swimwear, from the 1920s when swimwear was designed specifically for swimming, up to contemporary trends like "Mermaidcore".
One of the most intriguing aspects of the exhibition is its exploration of the cultural impact of swimming and swimwear on society. Issues of bodily autonomy and leisure are addressed, as well as the role of swimwear in storytelling. For instance, the spreads from the men's fitness magazine A Young Physique nod to the homosexuality laws which shaped the 1960s and the introduction of a posing pouch that doubled as swimwear.
The exhibition also highlights design innovations in high-performance swimwear, such as the banned LZR Racer suit used for competition. Architectural landmarks, like Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre, are featured to demonstrate how design shapes our relationship with water.
Broader themes like environmental concerns connected with swimming and water use are also addressed. The exhibition features swimwear made from recycled fishing waste nets and industrial waste, and it addresses the evolution of sustainability in swimwear manufacturing. Companies like Aquafill are pushing forward research into sustainable swimwear materials.
The exhibition also delves into social histories behind swimwear design. For example, the term 'bikini' was first used in 1946 by French designer Louis Reard, named after Bikini Atoll, a site of American nuclear test explosions. The bikini name plays on the idea of being small, atomic in scale, and having an "explosive impact".
The exhibition also includes a poster for the 1984 Olympics featuring David Hockney's 'Swimmer, 1982' and an Indian movie poster from 1967, for Shakti Samanta's An Evening in Paris.
"Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style" celebrates swimming as both a sport and a cultural phenomenon, blending fashion, technology, and social change over the past century. It is a must-visit for anyone interested in the history of swimming, fashion, and culture.
[1] Design Museum. (2023). Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. [Online]. Available: https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/splash [2] The Guardian. (2023). Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. [Online]. Available: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/mar/28/splash-a-century-of-swimming-and-style-design-museum-london [3] The Telegraph. (2023). Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. [Online]. Available: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/12352227/Splash-A-Century-of-Swimming-and-Style-Design-Museum-London.html [4] The Independent. (2023). Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. [Online]. Available: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/splash-a-century-of-swimming-and-style-design-museum-b2287971.html
[1] The Design Museum's exhibition, "Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style," not only highlights the evolution of swimwear but also delves into how it has impacted fashion, home, and lifestyle, from the 1920s to contemporary trends like "Mermaidcore."
[2] Visitors can expect to find a diverse range of artefacts, including iconic swimsuits, Olympic memorabilia, and even high-tech swimming suits designed for performance, providing a unique blend of fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, and sport.
