Lifestyle

Hayley Elsaesser Plus size bathing suits are beautiful and playful

In Australia, swimwear is simply a way of life. Aussie-raised fashion designer Hayley Elsaesser may have left the beaches of Queensland for the colder climes of Ontario, but she’s still committed to creating swimwear that is both beautiful and playful – and that looks great on any body. “What’s not to love about sun, summer and colour? For me, it evokes fond childhood memories and a strong sense of play,” says Elsaesser. “I especially like [designing] swimming because it tends to be bold and colorful.

Elsaesser found that most swimwear designs were formal, especially when it came to printed options. “My goal is always to have fun with fashion, and if that means a poodle-print Speedo, then I will!” she says. “I love adding extra personality to my prints. It is something that when you wear it can only improve your mood.

Each print by Elsaesser begins with a story and is then drawn by hand. This season, Elsaesser is putting the spotlight on her poodle print – it’s not new, but it’s recently gained a lot of popularity after being featured in a Nicki Minaj video and a global Tinder campaign. Coming this summer is a new one-shoulder bikini in a banana-dolphin print, along with a strappy bikini adorned with Elsaesser’s beloved eyegina print (yes, that’s a hybrid eye and vagina).

Also tempting? Elsaesser’s commitment to sustainable practices. “As a small business competing with fast fashion, it is always difficult to have prices that reflect workers with living wages, high quality fabrics, short runs and made to order. But I don’t compromise on that, and I’m very proud of that,” says Elsaesser. Her swimwear costs $58 for a bikini bottom, $88 for a one-piece, and $108 for a thong bikini set. “My brand won’t appeal to everyone and that’s a good thing. The people who understand the value will treat my designs with love and care.”

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Lovers of the Elsaesser vibe are often diehard fans for life. She says she’s heard of clients who usually shy away from color but then try to wear it and feel fabulous, and people who are wearing gender-affirming clothing for the first time. “I always love it when people share stories about using my clothes as a tool to feel themselves,” she says.

“I create designs with a genuine love to make people feel good about themselves and have fun with what they wear, not just to fit a trend or quota.”

From left to right, Hayley Elsaesser, Gwen Adora, KAPRI, Mina Gerges, and Rachel Romu wear Hayley Elsaesser swimsuits, $48 to $108, hayleyelsaesser.com.  Photography: Erin Leydon.  Hair and Makeup: Wendy Rorong for Plutino Group.

Inclusive sizing is a big part of that. Elsaesser offers swimwear in sizes ranging from 2Xs to 6XL. She’s happy to see more brands introducing larger size ranges, but she points out that many large companies are still only going to L or XL. choice. “Unfortunately, it’s often because they just want to associate with a certain body shape, which isn’t okay,” she says. “Clearly we need to see more diverse bodies in swimwear more often so that it becomes something that is no longer a point of discussion, but just a common occurrence. For me there is no one kind of beauty and I want to embrace our differences. When you walk down the street in Toronto, you can see so many different types of people, so I like to represent that with the people I work with.”

For our photo shoot, Elsaesser recruited friends and collaborators, including plus-size model and actor Mina Gerges, adult content creator Gwen Adora, model and activist Rachel Romu, and artist KAPRI.

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KAPRI says she found swimwear shopping rather boring. “Hayley’s swimwear definitely stands out. There are unique silhouettes in different sizes and funky prints and cuts that are guaranteed to turn heads,” says KAPRI. “As an artist I like to think about what I wear and how I present myself. And of course, if you look good, you can’t help but feel good.”

As a fat teen in the 2000s, the only options for clothing that fit Adora were middle-aged business casual. “Finding bathing suits was the same problem: nothing youthful, fun, or sexy was available for curvy people,” she says. “I bought my first plus size bikini in 2015 from an online store and since then online shopping has brought many more different options for swimsuits to fit my body.”

According to Adora, many designers simply choose to ignore the reality that fat people swim. Fat people want to look good. Fat people want to be stylish. Elsaesser resists that toxic tradition, one poodle print swimsuit at a time. “Most brands choose fabrics, styles, and colors to hide their plus size customers,” says Adora. “Hayley is not afraid to make clothes that turn heads.”

Briony Smith is a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for The Kit. She writes about style and culture.

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