Timeless, chic and minimal is the philosophy behind this luxury swimwear brand, Thapelo Paris. Established by Sydney born, Wil Ariyamethe, as the name suggests Thapelo Paris is both designed and produced in France, highlighting the brand as not only swimwear but also fashion pieces. Known for their pleated, draped and clean lines, Thapelo Paris plays on the contemporary, with a retro glamour. Twin caught up with the brand to find out more.

Tell us about Thapelo Paris…
I’ve always had the idea to start a business. A large part of my work experience was developing swim lines and I enjoyed it, so it felt instinctual to start a swim based fashion brand. Thapelo is a French company and was set up after my husband and I relocated to Paris. The first collection was a small capsule in 2011.

What is the secret to the perfect swimwear?
You wouldn’t guess how much work goes into finding the right balance between sex appeal and elegance. It’s all in the cut and details to flatter the different parts of a woman’s body. I love to accentuate the fold of a woman’s back and of course the right amount of cleavage. We design pieces that can appeal to a mix of women and not a cliched view of certain age groups. There are so many different components into making a great swimsuit, a high quality quick dry stretch fabric and to mix fashion details (accessories) for the different collections.

What makes Thapelo Paris different?
It’s a combination of elements that make us different. We work closely with our manufacturers and admire the French savoir-faire, so we are 100% made in France. As we’re in Paris it’s such a great base and inspiration for fashion. We aim to make swimwear that is considered to be fashion pieces.

Do you have an all time favourite piece?
Like the little black dress I love the MIMI, our version of a classic black one piece swimsuit. But I’m excited about our upcoming Resort and SS16 collections. I’ve been wearing our new collection tunics over pants as they translate well into city daywear.

Where is your favourite holiday destinations?
Thailand and Australia.

What are your top 5 suitcase essentials?
-Sandals, lots of sandals.

-Lightweight bags, I hate carrying a heavy bag or suitcase. I travel as light as possible.

-Jersey dresses that can go day and night.

-A natural face and body scrub so I get a nice tan, something that smells tropical too so I really feel like I’m on holidays!

-Paw paw ointment.

thapelo-paris.com

Tags: SS15, Swimwear, Thapelo Paris

Nicole Banning designs swimwear with ready-to-wear in mind. Combining the savoir-faire of the French swim and lingerie industry with Australian manufacturing, Ephemera launched in time for the Cruise 2014 collection and was developed to have the most refined and luxurious finish possible. The High Summer collection, now available online at Net-A-Porter, features a mix of bikinis and one-pieces with cut-out and twist back designs, creating something truly elegant and chic in hues of bright citrus and pasteque, as well as noir. The high-waisted bottoms are a Twin favourite, as are the specially developed jacquard designs that lend themselves to the various one-pieces and bikini styles.

ephemeralive.com

Tags: EPHEMERA, Nicole Banning, Swimwear