Tenerife Fashion Beach: Cut, Coverage and Character

Swimwear is intimate apparel worn in public. Cut, support and confidence matter as much as print. At the ninth Tenerife Fashion Beach Costa Adeje, eleven Canarian labels took those questions to an Atlantic runway.

Waiola — Seguro de Sol

I know TFS and TFN too well. Waiola turned those airport codes into colourful stamps among planes and palms—a comic book of island travel. She draws the motifs herself. I would wear her resort pieces through an airport; the men’s shirts share the joke. Pendientera supplied bold jewellery.

Arena Negra — Varadero

I wanted the yellow balconette immediately. Its ruched cups define the bust more than a triangle bikini, and I would wear it beyond the beach. Ruffles in the tropical-print looks add volume where some women want it. She knows how cut and print work together.

Bea de la Rosa — IA – Insomnio y Ansiedad

Bea works in drops, and she delivers. Ten years in, she designs her own graphics around what preys on our minds. IA plays on artificial intelligence and Insomnio y Ansiedad—insomnia and anxiety; the black-and-white swirls have that restless pulse. Much of the range uses recycled polyester, with organic cotton too. The dress’s fringe uses Ikea beads her child plays with. I love that detail.

Shamelú — Pteygota

This La Palma designer’s first solo show was ready for a festival and a club. Separates sat over sparkling tights, but look closely at the white bottoms: fine straps turn their sides into cut-outs. The construction deserves more attention than the styling.

Machanga by Yess — Terra

For her runway debut, the La Gomera designer let macramé and crochet move. The openwork is more for posing than swimming, but its handwork offers something Lycra cannot. Fringe swung beneath pink and those fabulous oranges.

Macaronesia — Calufa

From Lanzarote, Macaronesia brought recycled polyester and a lingerie sensibility to greens and blues. Underwired and soft-cup options offered different shaping, while the bottoms gave a little more coverage. Structure and ease belonged in the same collection.

Lislo — Playa y lo que surja

Lislo was the quietest collection, but its simplicity made a point. A triangle bikini shape appeared on a fuller-figured model and a very slim one, and worked on both. There was no separate visual language for the curvier figure. Sometimes getting a simple cut right is enough.

By Loleiro — Sienna

Sienna is By Loleiro’s first swimwear collection of her own, yet I kept looking at the accessories. Enormous brims provide shade and draw the eye upwards. Her bags hold the books, cover-up and everything else we take to the beach—with far more glamour than my usual tote.

Ananás Wear

Ananás Wear is one to watch. Four men’s cuts shared the botanical print: a close-fitting swimming brief, fitted trunks, short shorts and longer shorts. They answer different wishes for coverage and movement. The brief is streamlined; the shorts make an easier transition from the water to the rest of the day.

LAVA — Guacanch(a)

LAVA makes swimwear for regular swimmers. Its designer says fully recycled Lycra does not always meet his durability and price requirements. I have not tested that claim, but performance matters: recovery, chlorine resistance and longevity affect how responsible a garment proves to be.

The Knot Company — Re-Verso

Then came the man happy to be looked at. The Knot Company offered crystals, beading, a sparkling bomber and a wrap silhouette. Think a long evening on a yacht rather than laps before breakfast. I enjoyed the nerve.

The casting told a narrower story than the clothes. Every model was beautiful, and a fuller-figured woman appeared in several collections, but most women were very slim. An industry selling fit and confidence should show its cuts and cup shapes on more bodies. The production was excellent, and the Plastic Free initiative connected the show to its coastline. For the tenth edition, I want that creative nerve—and a runway reflecting more of the women who will wear the clothes.

LUPE CASTRO

Photographs: Tenerife Fashion Beach Costa Adeje