SPLASH! – A CENTURY OF SWIMMING AND STYLE AT THE DESIGN MUSEUM

Until August 17, 2025, the Design Museum in London is presenting Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style, an immersive retrospective exploring 100 years of swimwear and style history. Curated by Amber Butchart, the exhibition showcases over 200 objects that trace the evolution of swimwear — from woolen designs of the 1920s and the iconic 1946 bikini to high-performance suits like Speedo’s LZR Racer. The exhibition is structured around three themes: the pool, the lido, and nature.

Highlights include Pamela Anderson’s iconic red swimsuit from Baywatch, the first British women’s Olympic gold medal from 1924, and vintage 1980s Speedos. The exhibition also features aquatic architecture, with models such as Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre, and explores the social history of lidos.

More than a fashion retrospective, Splash! delves into materials (wool, nylon, lycra), questions of inclusivity, sustainability, and body representation. The exhibition concludes with an immersive nature space featuring poetic video installations, including footage of Korean haenyeo divers. A journey that is historical, aesthetic, and social — diving deep into our relationship with water.