Style file: Pool position swimwear

Holiday packing doesn’t have to be a chore: shop off the beaten track with these up-and-coming swimwear labels, writes Emma Akbareian

MUTHER OF ALL THINGS From £129, urbanoutfitters.co.uk

A holiday might be the most eagerly anticipated event on your calendar, but packing – especially when it comes to swimwear – can be truly daunting. High street and high fashion alike may offer a multitude of options, but necessitate the sacrifice of either style or substance. Until now.

The swimwear market is flourishing, with specialist labels such as Lisa Marie Fernandez and Pistol Panties coupling technical expertise with fashion flair. Given their success, it’s no surprise that an even newer crop of brands are riding the wave.

The golden shores of Australia are a natural home for swimwear designers. Muther Of All Things is a Byron Bay-based label created when its surfer founders discovered a gap in the market for functional but stylish surf wear. The result is collections with the bohemian spirit of the label’s hometown combined with more practical cuts and styles.

From one surf destination to another, Hawaiian-born surfer and former model Dawn Peterson’s collections are characterised by their soft colours and feminine cuts. At the other end of the spectrum is Dirty Pretty Things – originally a lingerie label, it launched swimwear this season utilising graphic prints and figure-enhancing shapes.

Finally Chelsea-based store Biondi Couture has long been a destination for those in search of unusual swimwear. This year, owner Claudine Davies has brought out a range of her own. The debut collection is inspired by the bazaars of Marrakech with vibrant colours, gold-tone fastenings and immaculate fits. It’s as perfectly suited for taking the plunge as for pool-side posing.