Black-Owned Swimwear Brands & Designers To Rep This Summer

Black-Owned Swimwear Brands & Designers give the scoop on navigating the swimwear industry and how they hope to inspire others one design at a time.

Here at MunaLuchi, our mission is to celebrate and honor Black culture year-round and on this special day of Juneteenth, our goal remains the same. We are SO excited to present a curated list of 6 Black-Owned Swimwear Brands and Designers you should absolutely wear this summer! These talented creatives are empowering folks of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds to love themselves and feel confident this summer.

In this exclusive e-interview, designers Juanita Carmet, J’Lysa Wilson, Marcia Maxwell, Tamara Cummings, Gionna Nicole, and Shakiera Taylor shed light on their designs, inspirations, and what they hope to accomplish with their brands. They also reveal what it’s like to be a Black designer in the swimwear industry and how they’ve found success.

Keep reading below for more swimwear inspiration and words from the designers themselves. Make sure to drop us a comment telling us which of these iconic Black-owned swimwear brands you’ll be wearing this summer!

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1. Juanita Carmet for Elspiri

Growing up on the beaches of Jamaica, Juanita Carmet has always loved designing swimwear and resortwear. For her, “It isn’t just a job – it is a lifestyle.” Her newest swimwear line for Elspiri finds inspiration from her island roots. Filled with color, bold prints, vibrant florals, and sensual cuts, each suit is designed with optimal comfort and confidence in mind so everyone can rock these island-inspired looks!

What inspired your newest collection? 

In general, Elspiri is inspired by wanderlust and travels to coastal destinations. Made in Miami, the brand draws on the city’s leisurely tropical lifestyle and dynamic social scene. The 2022 Spring and Summer collections in particular are inspired by Greek Isles such as Santorini. After a challenging two years, I believed women were ready for vibrant, happy colors and prints that give the ultimate vacay vibes.

What’s your favorite design from this line?

I would have to say that my favorite pieces are the Lyra and Alexandra designs. Both styles are versatile allowing for women to create multiple looks. Also, they are both adjustable which provides for a more comfortable fit. The Alexandra can be worn as a bodysuit and can be accessorized and layered to take you from the beach to the bar. This June, both styles are available on the website in a white ground color that would be perfect for a honeymoon or bachelorette.

As a Black designer, what has your experience been like in the swimwear industry?  

You tend to hear a lot of nightmare stories about the fashion industry. But I’ve been lucky that my experience has been a positive one. Swimwear is such a fun and lively category. I’ve designed a wide variety of apparel throughout my profession. However, having grown up on the beaches of Jamaica, designing swimwear and resortwear is what I enjoy the most. It isn’t just a job – it is a lifestyle. This reality has worked favorably for me in the industry.  People see my passion and profound understanding of these products. As a result, I was given a lot of autonomy from early on in my design career which provided for a joyful experience.

What do you hope to accomplish with your brand? 

As a swimwear designer, I hear a lot of complaints from women when the summer starts to roll around. They feel as if most fashionable swimwear brands only design for one type of physique. With Elspiri we use adjustability and premium fabrics to help address that issue. We want Eslpiri to be the beachwear brand that women can rely on to allow them flexibility with fit.  We also want to be part of the narrative that positively supports a diverse representation of women of color in this category. Ultimately, we want women of various looks, shapes, and skin tones to be able to picture themselves in our suits- to feel represented, confident, and empowered.

Advice for other designers. 

Each designer’s approach and experience of building a brand is different. Oftentimes, being creative, I think we as designers tend to forget that fashion is a business. It’s not only about what we want to create, but also what people want to buy. Creativity is a natural gift, but a keen understanding of the business doesn’t come to us naturally. So, my advice would be for designers to educate themselves, as much as possible, about the financial and strategic aspects of creating a brand. This will help to better position them for success.

2. J’Lysa Wilson for Clem Swimwear

J’Lysa Wilson’s brand, Clem Swimwear, is heavily inspired by her travels around the world and the inspiring women she meets. Her brand also has a strong focus on slow fashion and sustainability. On a personal level, the brand holds special meaning for her. Inspired and named after her late aunt, Clementine Johnson, J’Lysa’s swimwear honors the legacy of her family by naming each swimsuit after one of her family members.

What inspires your designs?

I’m always inspired by travel, my most recent designs are inspired by women in other countries and how strong they are. I recently traveled to Africa and seeing women walking down the streets of Lagos carrying large baskets on their heads with their children in tow shows just how strong women are. I saw similar instances when I visited Bali, which led me to create the fruit print for my upcoming Resort ’23 collection.

What’s your favorite collection?

My upcoming line, Resort ’23, is my favorite collection. I partnered with artisans in India to hand embroider and bead my fabric and its the most intricate designs I have to date. It’s also been a way to provide work opportunities and keep the craftsmanship of the artisans work alive. This collection is also extremely special to me because it highlights slow fashion, conscious consumerism, and sustainability which are all really important to me.

As a Black designer, what has your experience been like in the swimwear industry? And what do you hope to accomplish with your brand?

Being a Black designer gives me the opportunity to open doors for others. My journey in the swimwear industry has been challenging, the fashion industry is dominated by people who don’t look like me and swimwear is the same, but multiplied. It’s important for me to level the playing field and provide opportunities for minorities and break the stigma. This helps to create a revolutionary change in breaking the cycle and providing equitable economic growth for all minorities. 

Advice for other designers

Often times we hear the word no and very seldom do we hear the word yes. Don’t wait for others to give you a yes, when you do that, you let someone else decide your destiny. If there isn’t an opportunity, create one and as you face challenges remember why you started.

3. Marcia Maxwell of MBM Swim

Self-taught designer, Marcia B. Maxwell of MBM Swim, finds inspiration in everything from nature to architecture and vintage fashion to couture gowns. Her ability to combine her love for structured silhouettes and clean lines makes her suits incredibly unique and fashion worthy!

What inspires your designs?

I get inspiration from a wide variety of places including my travels, nature, architecture, street style, vintage fashion, and even couture gowns. I like to take inspiration from a wide variety of sources and mash them all together to create something unique.

What’s your favorite design from your most recent line?

It is very hard to choose a favorite design, but If I had to I would say it is the Hope swimsuit. It has the perfect balance of a classy, timeless swimsuit that is still sexy and unique. 

As a Black designer, what has your experience been like in the swimwear industry?

Since the killing of George Floyd and the increased awareness of the BLM movement, there has been an outpouring of love and support for my business. It is sad that it took something so tragic to shed light on black creatives and business owners but I am glad that people are being more conscious about where their money is going.

What do you hope to accomplish with your brand?

I want MBM Swim to be a globally known and respected brand so it can be an example and inspiration for young black girls everywhere to follow their dreams. 

Advice for other designers

My advice to other designers is to just start. You don’t have to be perfect and you don’t have to know everything before you start. Actively trying and making mistakes is the fastest way to learn, grow, and get better. 

4. Koko D Swimwear

Tamara Cumming’s swimwear brand, Koko D., is bursting with bold prints and vibrant hues! Drawing on her Caribbean culture, she is heavily inspired by “Island-living.” She ultimately strives to capture the essence of “a culture that is full of color, rich in pride and islands of natural beauty…” to create looks that empower women and make them feel effortlessly sexy and confident.

What inspires your designs?

My Caribbean culture and “island living” is my biggest inspiration for my collections. A culture that is full of color, rich in pride and islands of natural beauty definitely impacts on how I design. Imagining each piece on white sands and in blue waters. Places where people go to relax and get away from everyday life. Literally fun in the sun and our swimsuits live up to that. We love using bright bold colors that stand out. Making women feel beautiful, sexy and confident is so important to us. 

What’s your favorite design from your most recent collection?

Please don’t make me choose, but if I have to I will have to say it’s our “Mace” deep-v one piece from our current Island Spice collection. It is an older style that we have brought back but it is a popular, classic fit. It also comes with a belt that gives Caribbean carnival. This season we are using recycled fabrics and the quality is amazing, making the fit that much better.

As a Black designer, what has your experience been like in the swimwear industry? And what do you hope to accomplish with your brand?

As a black designer in the swim industry, I can say that my experiences have been great. I always get a lot of positive feedback, people always show their love and support for the brand. The industry is now flourishing with so many more black designers which I think is amazing and gives some versatility to the overall swimwear industry, and definitely keeps you on your toes as a designer.  But for my own brand I hope to get in front of more people. I do hope that I can make it a small empire that I can pass down to my future children.  

Advice for other designers.

The one advice that I can give, that I still remind myself of, is to never give up. There are definitely days where you want to throw in the towel but keep pushing because you don’t know who is watching and rooting for you to win. Also, gain as much knowledge as you can about your products, designing, construction etc. Even after years in the business, I went back to take courses in intimate apparel and swimwear development just to gain more skill and freshen my mind on what I already knew. 

5. Avid Swim

Gionna Nicole’s brand, Avid Swim, is built entirely around her own wanderlust. Traveling the world and finding inspiration from vista views and people she meets, her most recent collection includes her first foray into children’s swimwear. The trendy colorful collection broadens her line to the entire family, so everyone can wear Avid Swim!

What inspires your designs?

Avid Swim was created solely because of my wanderlust. Travel and experiencing culture are the ethos of our brand, every collection reflects inspiration from a place I have traveled to and people I’ve met.

What’s your favorite design from your most recent collection?

Every collection is personal to me, they all tell a story of a journey, but my favorite designs from our current collection are the kid’s styes. It’s challenging stepping into new categories but it was a joy knowing that we can provide beautiful swimwear for the whole family.

As a Black designer, what has your experience been like in the swimwear industry?

The swimwear industry is a very tough industry to break into, even with all of our recent success we still have challenges being considered for trade shows.

I remember visiting Miami swim week when I began designing in 2011 for inspiration and to create a plan. From 2015 after our launch date until 2020 we were rejected when sending applications to show because we “didn’t fit their aesthetic.” We sold in stores, showed in NYFW and we also were widely published. It has been a very cookie cutter industry but luckily more unique brands and swimwear designers of color are showing up and that’s great to see.

What do you hope to accomplish with your brand?

We are very happy to see more black swimwear designers emerging and showing their talents. It allows us to have more say in the industry because we’re taking up more space and are now being requested vs. rejected. We hope to inspire many to join and shop black-owned resort brands as travel is a booming industry amongst us and we want to grow with it.

Advice for other designers

Design your heart out, know your business, and don’t let anyone tell you NO. Even if you’re not professionally educated in design, research your craft. Designing for someone is great but if your want to create a brand, educate yourself on business practices. When someone says “no” elevate and keep going. What’s meant for you will come for you.

6. Ego Swim

Created by a “traveling pack of friends”, Ego Swim is a body-positive swimwear line focusing on embracing everything that makes you, you. Two of the owners, Shakiera Taylor and Shanae Codling, are the designing duo that brings each piece to life. Their mission: “Body Positive Beachwear for EveryBODY.” Shakiera elaborates on their teams inspiration, fav designs, and future goals for their brand below!

What inspires your designs? 

EgoSwim’s designs are inspired by concepts that I believe make life and people feel good. In turn, I hope that the selected design elements translate good feelings and empowerment to everyone wearing the swimwear. The focus is on vibrant colors, bold patterns, unique slits and cuts. These aspects bring character, joy, and personality to each piece. When a style is selected, the hope is that each client sees a piece of herself in the suit that will bring out her inner beauty and highest confidence.

What’s your favorite design from your most recent collection?

I would have to say my favorite design from our most recent Spring/Summer 22 collection is the Kelsey swimsuit. She’s compelling and bold with a sexy twist. The mesh side cutouts and breathable fabric provides a comfortable wear. Comfort & sexy is a two for one deal with Kelsey. 

As a Black designer, what has your experience been like in the swimwear industry? 

As a black designer, my experience in the swimwear industry has been truly empowering. I get the opportunity to design swimsuits that cater to ALL body types and not just one. Before designing, finding swimsuits to fit my body type felt like more of a task than a pleasure. I decided to dedicate myself to eliminating that feeling for other women and haven’t looked back since. Every(body) belongs in a bikini & that’s what drives me to design.

What do you hope to accomplish with your brand? 

I want my brand to continue to grow tremendously worldwide. My next goal is for EgoSwim to expand into luxury department stores. I’m also exploring the idea of expanding the brand to become even more inclusive. This means creating products for men & children down the line, opening the door for an entire one stop shop for couples, friends or vacationing families. As a brand in this space, we hope not to just accomplish having representation in this industry but to create a sense of family or friendship with our clients. A brand that shoppers can trust and a brand that keeps their clients in mind, so we can produce styles that look great on and one can create great memories in.

Advice for other designers. 

Don’t be afraid to push your creative desires. Make the extra slit, add the extra comfort, explore materials, fabrics, textures and really allow your passions and imagination to become a visible reality. 

Looking for tropical destinations to wear your fav black-owned swimwear brands?

Check out our round-up of best island getaways here.

Vendors:

• Designer: Juanita Carmet
• Brand: Elspiri
• Photographer: Gary James
• PR Rep: Samantha Reddit of The Dan Agency
• Designer: J’Lysa Wilson @jlysa_monet
• Brand: Clem Swimwear @clemswimwear
• Photographer: Alejandro Gutierrez @alejandroaro_photography
• Model: Christina Peng @christinazpeng
• Designer: Marcia Maxwell
• Brand: MBM Swim
• Photographer: Antwon Maxwell @antwonmaxwellphotography
• Model 1: Trace Winningham @tracewinningham
• Model 2: Cristel J. Araba @crisjemi
• Executive Assistant: Nia Turner
• Designer: Tamara Cummings
• Brand: Koko D. @koko_d_swimwear
• Photographer: Shaniah Armani
• Model: Courtney Calliste IG: @cocolitaa_
• Designer: Gionna Nicole
• Brand: Avid Swim @avidswim
• Photographer: Theodore Samuels @dagnyzenoviatheodoresamuels
• MUA: Mandisa Von Peters @mandisavonette
• Creative: Latoya Marie @marieobsessions  
• Designer(s): “A traveling pack of friends” including Shakiera Taylor & Shanae Codling
• Brand: Ego Swim @_egoswim
• Photographer: Niki Cram @nikicram
• Model: Chloe @lex.v