Celebrating Style

5 Years of Swimwear

It is hard to imagine the world of lemlem without our eponymous swimwear collection, and as we come up upon our 5th year anniversary, we would like to shine a spotlight on how it all started and where we proudly are today.

Our swim collections are an extension of our love of destination dressing. Designed lovingly by our design team in New York, and manufactured in Africa from the finest quality fabric crafted from European swimwear mills. Our swimsuits have quintessentially become part of the lemlem world over the past five years.

The Fabrics

First it all started with sourcing the right fabrics. As we are an artisan driven brand, textile design is woven into our DNA. The trick was to find manufacturing partners that could translate our breezy artisan handwoven aesthetic on dry land to the opposite sensibility of the water. We dove in and entered another realm of sourcing high performance and water-resistant fabrics. We choose eco-friendly, recycled, and sustainable fibers whenever possible partnering with the finest swimwear mills in the world that manufacture small batches and meet the highest standards and criteria.


Our designers choose fabrics based on the highest quality of construction, and fit. We offer hand-placed prints, custom jacquards, solid textures, and detailed solids that cannot be found anywhere else and are unique to lemlem. We strive at using premium fabric both for the outer and inner lining of our collections. All of our fabrics are Oekotex® certified.

Close up on 5 lemlem jacquard swim fabrics, on striped pink, one burgundy, on red with white prints, one navy with white stripes.
5 sketches of lemlem swimwear collection including on sketch of a pink stripped one piece swimsuit, one sketch of a red with white prints bandeau and high waist bikini, one sketch of a burgundy triangle bikini, one sketch of a pink rash guard, one sketch of a blue with white stripes bandeau and high waist bikini.

The Designs

Now that we had materials that meet our criteria it was time to get into the designs, the silhouettes, the color and the construction. Our design team dived into hand-placed patterns and prints, inspired by our vast archive of years of our ready to wear to ensure our swim collections are instantly recognizable as lemlem designs. We partnered with local veteran swimwear pattern makers, to craft the most classic, timeless, and yet modern silhouettes. We created custom jacquards, solid textures, and detailed solids that cannot be seen anywhere else and are unique to us.


This has been a labor of love, drawing upon the collective talents of our community—artists, designers, experts, and countless individuals—all contributing their time, energy, and passion to bring this vision to life and make it truly exceptional.

The Collections

After 5 years of creation and dedication, we are still proud to create a full collection of Resort wear that can dazzle and defy ours, and your expectations. We strive to conceive a variety of flattering silhouettes, from supportive one-pieces, chic bandeau, triangle bikinis and our iconic high-waist bottom to our newest rash guard. Our collections offer something for every body type and preference with details like self ties and adjustable features for the perfect fit.


Every season, we create new designs showcasing vibrant and exclusive patterns inspired by traditional artistry crafted in an array of bright colors and unique combinations. Each piece embodies the brand’s commitment to ethical fashion and eco-conscious materials. Staying true to our value, we upcycle as much as possible to reduce waste, which lead to our most recent collections of beach pouches and scrunchies.

Liya on the beach wearing lemlem Beri Magenta bikini swimsuit featuring vibrant berry color and ribbed texture

Dive In

Iconic Styles

Celebrating five years of iconic designs and craftsmanship.

Bikini Tops

Crafted with vibrant colors, unique patterns and eco-friendly materials, from classic triangle styles to chic bandeau and scoop designs, each piece offers a flattering fit and modern details like adjustable straps and playful ties. Perfect for mixing and matching to create your unique beach look.

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Bikini Bottoms

Designed for style, comfort, and versatility, choose from high-waist, side-tie, brief, and string styles, all featuring exclusive prints and bold colors. With flattering cuts and attention to detail, these bottoms pair perfectly with lemlem bikini tops for a standout swim ensemble.

One Pieces

Make a statement in lemlem one-piece swimsuits, blending elegant silhouettes with eye-catching patterns inspired by African artistry. Designed for comfort and confidence, these sustainably made swimsuits offer a mix of classic and contemporary styles, perfect for poolside lounging or ocean adventures.

Discover Our Iconic Styles

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