Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style
Dive Into the Design of Swimming at the Design Museum
There’s a new exhibition at the Design Museum that’s making waves – and it’s all about swimming!
Whether you're a fan of fashion, sports, or just love a dip in the water, Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style is worth a visit.
The exhibition, which opened at the end of March, explores our century-long love of swimming and style.
One of the highlights? Pamela Anderson’s famous red Baywatch swimsuit and a pair of Olympic swimmer Tom Daley’s Speedos from the Tokyo 2020 Games are both on display. Talk about iconic!
Taking a deep dive (pun intended!) into 100 years of swimming style and culture, it explores how our love for swimming has evolved. From outdoor pools (or lidos) in the early 1900s to today’s trendy “Mermaidcore” (think Dua Lipa!) … looks seen all over social media.
There are over 200 fascinating items featured from across Europe, including:
A swimsuit that was banned for being too high-tech
One of the earliest bikinis ever made
A detailed model of the stunning Aquatics Centre from the 2012 London Olympics, designed by architect Zaha Hadid
The exhibition was put together by fashion historian and BBC presenter Amber Butchart along with the Design Museum’s own Tiya Dahyabhai.
It was a joy to work with curator Amber and design her a bespoke jacket for the event.
Inspired by her favourite colour mustard, we combined modern towelling and a vintage print trim. The piece reflects both her unique style and the exhibition’s playful yet historic approach to fashion.
The show is split into three areas: pools, lidos, and wild swimming in nature. It looks at how design has shaped the way we swim and interact with water – whether it’s through what we wear, how we swim, or the buildings we swim in.
You'll learn about the history of swimwear too. In the 1920s, people started buying swimsuits for swimming instead of just “bathing.” Fast forward to now and swimming is not just about sport – it’s tied to health, body confidence and even climate issues.
One section is all about men’s swimwear and yes, it includes 10 pairs of Speedos from the 1980s to today. These bold, colourful briefs became a symbol of changing fashion and a celebration of body confidence, especially thanks to Australian designer Peter Travis, who shook things up in the '60s with his (in)famous budgie smugglers!
So if you’re curious about the history, fashion and culture of swimming – or just want to see some seriously cool swimwear – head over to the Design Museum and make a splash!
The exhibition runs until August 17th.
Oh! and the new jacket … coming soon.
Credit to Luke Hayes @lukehayesphotography