Sally Layton It’s May, it’s warm and sunny outside, and my mind is turning to potential destinations for a summer getaway – and the swimwear I could be rocking while I’m there of course!
One option I certainly wouldn’t mind having in my suitcase is NAIA Beach, a British brand that was launched in 2021 by TV personality Tess Daley and her long-time friend, Gayle Lawton. Both lovers of fashion and travel, it was on joint trip to St Tropez that they first had the idea to design a collection together, after a shopping excursion saw them struggle to find styles with just the right amount of coverage: not too skimpy, but not too frumpy either.
With NAIA Beach, their mission is to inspire confidence in every woman who wears their designs. Going for a ‘subtle glamour’ kind of vibe, their creations offer timeless and ageless shapes, golden hardware accents on every piece for an elevated feel, and a strong emphasis on delivering a flattering fit.
Both founders are experienced models, but it’s Gayle in particular who has worked extensively as a fit model for other swim and resort wear brands, through which she absorbed a very a technical understanding of what makes a swimsuit fit well. All new NAIA Beach designs are fit-tested and tweaked at least five times unless both women are satisfied they’ve achieved the perfect pattern, one that will make the wearer feel great the second she puts it on.
NAIA Beach swimsuits and bikinis all feature hidden support, but they’ve gone even further than that to create their own Subtle Sculpt® fabric too. Used for selected one-pieces, it’s engineered to provide a very comfortable smoothing effect that feels like a second skin rather than being overly tight and restrictive. Because you don’t want to feel like you’re wearing shapewear when you’re trying to chill by the pool!
One of the brand’s top sellers is the Selene swimsuit, a Subtle Sculpt® design with a very unique neckline that looks like a halter from the front, yet still incorporates wide-strapped support at the back. Other designs incorporate details such as removable straps, adjustable knots, customizable neckline ties, or functional zips that allow you to choose whether or not to flaunt some cleavage, so you always get exactly the look and fit that you’re after.
A personal favorite of mine from a design standpoint is the Raquel swimsuit, part of NAIA Beach’s sustainable collection which uses 73% recycled nylon, obtained from post-consumer plastic and worn-out fishing nets. Dripping in gold details at the front and with a striking open back that’s adorned with a decorative gold ring where you’d usually find some kind of fastening, it definitely makes a statement!
There’s also a coordinating bikini set called Phoebe. Named after one of Daley’s daughters whose input helped to shape the design of the Raquel one-piece – which went on to become another bestseller – this too weaves together large gold rings with gold-colored fabric strapping in a way that’s very ‘ancient Grecian luxe’ in SS25’s new white colorway.
The NAIA Beach range also includes an array of versatile, beach-to-bar cover-ups in coordinating prints or classic beach favorites such as crochet. For a slightly smarter though still very relaxed look, I adore the Martinique shirt and shorts set, crafted from ultra-fine cotton with a beautiful sheen and finished with signature touches of gold for added glamour.
Despite launching during a global pandemic and resulting travel ban – not exactly ideal for a swimwear brand – these stylish, thoughtfully-fitted designs were well-received right from the start, and last year the design duo even won Best New Brand at the Drapers Independents Awards.
