The Design Museum in London presents its latest exhibition, Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style, offering a deep dive into the intertwined history of swimming and fashion over the past century. One of the highlights of the exhibition is the iconic red swimsuit worn by Pamela Anderson in the popular TV series Baywatch.
Opening on March 28, Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style examines the evolution of swimming over the last 100 years, exploring it through social, cultural, technological, and environmental lenses. The exhibition spans from the rise of public lidos in early 20th-century Britain to the viral Mermaidcore trend of the 2020s.
The Story of Banned Design
The exhibition features over 200 objects from 50 different collections, including British swimmer Lucy Morton’s gold medal from the 1924 Paris Olympics in the 200-meter breaststroke—the first individual swimming gold medal for Britain. Other notable pieces include the high-performance LZR Racer swimsuit developed by Speedo in collaboration with NASA, which sparked controversy over “technological doping” and was subsequently banned, as well as one of the oldest surviving bikinis.
The exhibition is structured around three key swimming environments: pools, lidos, and open water. These sections delve into how design has influenced our relationship with swimming through perspectives on sports performance, fashion, architecture, environmental concerns, and body image.
Curated by costume and design historian Amber Butchart, the exhibition also examines the evolution of men’s swimwear. Highlights include a striped wool swimsuit produced by Bukta in 1933 and 10 different Speedo shorts showcasing styles from the 1980s to the present day.
Designs That Shaped the 20th Century
The exhibition also highlights advancements in swimwear design and textile technology for enhanced performance. Items on display include a 1930s Jantzen swimsuit featuring a Y-shaped back design for speed and a Bri-Nylon swimsuit created in the 1960s for British Olympic swimmer Judy Grinham.
Another key theme explores who swimwear is designed for and how it has shaped perceptions of acceptable bodies in public spaces. Contemporary swimwear designers’ efforts to challenge outdated notions of bodily autonomy and inclusivity are also featured.
Tim Marlow, Director and CEO of the Design Museum, shared his thoughts on the exhibition:
“The story of swimming is more than just a tale of sport, and our new exhibition makes that clear. By examining swimming culture through the lens of design, we uncover how our lifestyles, materials, production methods, leisure pursuits, travel habits, performance aspirations, health priorities, and environmental concerns have evolved from the early 20th century to today. This innovative exhibition is yet another demonstration of how design shapes nearly every aspect of our lives.”
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style will be open at the Design Museum in London from March 28 to August 17, 2025.
