The bikini, a symbol of emancipation and revolution in women’s fashion

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It’s hard to imagine that such a tiny garment could have provoked so much debate! And yet, the bikini, now a symbol of summer and freedom, was long perceived as a real provocation. Behind this small piece of fabric, a whole story of women, courage, and social evolution has unfolded, stitch by stitch.

A very modest start

At the beginning of the 20th century, swimming was anything but glamorous. Women wore heavy, covering woolen outfits, more like pajamas than swimsuits. The goal? To enjoy the sea while remaining “decent.” On some beaches, attendants even checked the length of bathing skirts with a measuring tape! The beach was then a place of respectability, not yet of freedom.

Annette Kellerman, the audacious pioneer

It was an Australian swimmer, Annette Kellerman, who dared to defy convention. In 1907, she wore a fitted one-piece swimsuit, revealing her arms and legs. Scandal! She was briefly arrested, but her act marked a turning point. Thanks to her, women began to trade heavy fabrics for more practical outfits, synonymous with emancipation. 

The Roaring Twenties: The First Waves of Freedom

In the 1920s, the spirit of the times changed. Women cut their hair, worked, voted, and… finally swam without corsets! Swimsuits became shorter, lighter, and more figure-hugging. It was still tentative, but already a small revolution: beachwear became a space for self-expression.

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