Beach bumming, Indian style

The Indian woman has never been this open to experimenting with their beachwear, and designers willingly testify to the fact. However, finding the right kind of bikini or even a monokini leaves a lot of beach bums choosing to wear sportswear, like speedos, or even ill-fitting ones.

Noticing there is a market here, Tas Gabaji, proprietor of Nothing Swim says she started to work on making bikinis that are not just high on utility, but don’t sacrifice on the fun factor either. “As far as garments are concerned,” explains Tas, “When you go to the US, the generic type of skinnier woman is a lot squarer than ours. So if you get beachwear from any leading international chain of clothing brand, it doesn’t necessarily cover things you want it to cover. The bottoms will always be those half cut ones, or they sit far lower on the waist. Even the triangle tops are smaller than what I think people here generally want to go for.”

Designer, and creative director of LoveGen, Nandita Mahtani is in agreement with Tas, that the Indian body requires a better, snugger fit. “The Indian body type, when generalising, tends to be curvaceous, even when skinny or thin. In reality, Indian bodies can actually look fabulous while sporting a bikini. However, in India the bikini size is either super-tiny, or super-big, whereas the Indian body is in between — thin, yet curvy. So more than styles, correct sizing is what needs to be available here. Indian bodies have the curves, but the fitting needs to be correct so it doesn’t look vulgar. In recent years the high waisted, ’90s swimsuit is in high-end fashion today.”

Ramp model Shruti Agarwal believes that the times have indeed been changing, with Indian women opening up to the idea that there isn’t really one ideal body type to sport a bikini. “I think bikinis outside are given to have sharper cuts, high waist, or hip cuts. In catering to the Indian market, we have more regular bikinis that cover the bottoms. The market is such because Indian culture doesn’t really allow for people to be comfortable wearing bikinis. But this is changing.”

“The size of the bikini bottom has to be one size larger than the bikini top,” say Aanchal  Bubber of Bubber Couture. “Also the bottom of women in India is generally bigger. Most women in India are conscious of their wide hips. Styles, which cover the hips more, are better suited for an Indian body type. The Bikinis from abroad don’t end up covering the bottom, so a wider back has to be made for the bikini bottom.”

Tas continues that the more that women travel and discover cultures beyond their own, the more open they are to sporting different variety of clothes. “Locally, people tend to wear a lot of sportwear, but people who travel more are open to wearing bikinis now. There’s also a massive demand for monokinis, especially from people of medium to large sizes. Here, one wants something that’s in between a full piece, a one piece and a bikini. People are far more comfortable with their bodies, and from a few years ago to now, people are far more open to wearing bikinis.”

“For an Indian body, Halter-neck bikini top and a regular bottom would really suit it and accentuates the curves,” explains designer Seema Khan. “Designers must keep in mind that a lot of Indian women are conservative, and the culture impacts how they design bikinis in India.”

Designer Anupama Dayal believe that for beachwear, accessorising is key too. “Personally I feel that the upper body is beautiful. As a designer, I love to focus on parts of the upper body to make it more attractive. In addition to that, I would love to design a drape type of cloth to add to the sexiness factor,” she says.