BRIEF ENCOUNTERS 39
Images (clockwise from top left) A colourful selection of speedos; swimsuits by Rebirth Garments; ‘mermaidcore’; poster at the entrance to the show; the Subversive Sirens are a Minnesota-based synchronised swimming team; Pamela Anderson’s Baywatch costume exhibit has grabbed attention for this show; the facekini is designed to block out harmful UV rays
panoramic glass wall had also required covering in protective blue film to stop it from frying or blinding the swimmers when the sun was out). There is a smattering of important social
history elements, including a film about how shockingly high drownings are among young first nation communities and people of colour, given decades of segregation in or exclusion from public pools, and lack of availability of free school swimming lessons. But this is tucked into a corner and surrounded by mannequins and demonstrations of fabric technology, so you could easily miss it. I did enjoy a documentary in the final gallery, Beyond the Blue, which tells the story of an inner-city London swim club, Swim Dem Crew, aimed at reclaiming the joy of swimming for all sizes and skin colours, and the community that has formed around it. But was it necessary to shoehorn in a section, at the
end, on ‘mermaidcore’? (Perhaps I’m just showing my age – apparently, Halle Berry’s appearance in full mermaid regalia for the live action remake of The Little Mermaid kicked this off, and TikTok did the rest). I was sad that so little space was given to the astounding skills of the Haenyeo women who dive for seafood to feed their families off Jeju island, South Korea, risking their lives every time.
It was fun on the way there to ponder whether the swimwear made famous by particular movies and actors would appear– they had all those I listed…
It was fun on the way there to ponder whether the swimwear made famous by particular movies and actors would appear, and sure enough, they had all those I listed: Ursula Andress in her Dr No bikini; Daniel Craig in his tight, blue shorts for Casino Royale (La Perla, since you’re asking). Luxury swimwear brand Orlebar Brown are sponsors of this show, but it surprised me that they have reproduced an outfit that even Sean Connery couldn’t pull off: that blue towelling belted onesie, worn in Goldfinger. Teir version is displayed here. All in all, I’d say it’s not so much a deep dive of an experience as a paddle… or maybe a wave pool. You’ll find the odd elements uplifting, but will otherwise leave feeling a little deflated – and probably in need of a sugary snack.
Splash: A Century of Swimming and Style is at the Design Museum runs to 17 August 2025
PHOTO: ACKERMAN + GRUBER
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