Why handmade Brazilian swimwear fits differently — and lasts longer

Most swimwear is made to be bought, worn a few times, and replaced. Ours is not. Here is why the difference shows — and why it matters.

If you have ever put on a bikini that cost very little and felt it — in the way the fabric pulled, the straps twisted, the colour looked somehow less vivid than the photograph — you already understand what we are talking about. There is a difference between swimwear that is made and swimwear that is crafted.

At Orixah, every piece comes from Brazil, where swimwear is not a seasonal afterthought — it is a national artform. The fit, the fabric, the construction: all of it is held to a different standard because in Brazil, swimwear is taken seriously.

The fabric difference

Most mass-market swimwear uses the cheapest fabric available that will hold its shape for approximately one season. It fades quickly in salt water and chlorine, stretches out with wear, and loses its structure by the end of a single summer.

The fabrics we use at Orixah are chosen specifically for longevity and performance. They are chlorine-resistant, UV-resistant, and double-lined — which means they hold their shape and their colour over years of wearing, not weeks. We deliberately do not use recycled fabric: not because we do not care about the planet, but because we have found that recycled swimwear fabrics require significant water and energy to produce and have a considerably shorter lifespan than premium virgin fabrics. We believe the most sustainable choice is one you buy once and wear for a very long time.

The construction difference

When a bikini is made by hand, every seam is attended to. The way the fabric is cut affects how it sits on the body. The way the lining is stitched affects how it feels against the skin. These are things a machine running at speed does not pause to consider — but a skilled artisan does.

Brazilian swimwear makers have generations of knowledge in how to cut fabric to flatter a body — all bodies. The Brazilian approach to swimwear has always been about the body it goes on, not despite it. Curves are worked with, not covered over. Shape is celebrated rather than concealed.

This shows up in the fit in ways that are immediately noticeable. Pieces that sit flat. Straps that stay where they are put. Cups that support without digging. Bottoms that hold their shape whether you are in the water or lying in the sun.

Why inclusive sizing matters to us

One of the things that frustrated me most when I started Orixah was the state of plus-size swimwear in the UK. The options were overwhelmingly beige, navy, or black. The cuts were designed to minimise rather than celebrate. The message, implicit in every design, was: cover up.

That is not a message we believe in. The Orixah woman — whatever her size — deserves the same bold print, the same quality construction, the same joyful colour as anyone else. A size 18 body in a terracotta tropical print is just as beautiful as any other body in any other size. Our pieces are designed with that belief built in.

What "lasts longer" actually means

When we say our swimwear lasts longer, we mean it in a measurable way. Our customers tell us they are wearing pieces three and four summers on — with no fading, no sagging, no pilling. That is not an accident. It is the result of the fabric choice, the construction, and the care instructions we give every customer.

To make your Orixah piece last: hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent after every wear. Never wring it. Lay flat to dry, away from direct sun. Rinse immediately after salt water or chlorine. Follow these steps and your swimwear will look as vivid on its tenth outing as on its first.

The real cost of cheap swimwear

A £25 bikini that lasts one summer and gets replaced every year costs £100 over four years. A £150 bikini that lasts four summers — and still looks beautiful — costs the same and creates a fraction of the waste. This is the maths of quality, and it is why we price the way we do.

You are not paying more. You are paying once.