Swim Trends '03

Swim Trends '03
Fashion Around The Globe

by Judie Bizzozero

It's February, and that means the swimwear season is right around the corner. LOOKING FIT proudly presents Swim Trends '03, which explains the haute fashions that will be making waves and turning heads this season.

Today's designers are creating stylish and trendy swimwear that combines fashion with function. Consumers are more educated today about fibers and fabrics, and they know how to look for swimwear that makes them look and feel their best. Additionally, consumers are hungry for rich, vibrant colors and textures, and a luxurious feel that is irresistible to the touch.

DuPont's LYCRA Rendez-Vous 2003 was held Jan. 15-17 at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo. The following trends in fashion were a hit with everyone at the spectacular event. Salons that sell swimwear will find the following fashion trends on the "must-have" lists of your customers.

Colors

Bright colors are everywhere this season with lime, orange and turquoise mixing it up with warm browns and henna. Basic blacks are updated with textures and fun hardware. Tactel is the perfect choice to create and retain these colors. Combine it with LYCRA and you'll have great comfort to match.

Details & Accents

Like icing on the cake, no swimsuit seems complete this year without embellishments. Add-ons range from elegant details such as pearls, rhinestones, jeweled accents and beads, to rustic and ethnic details like raffia fringe, turquoise, leather, hammered jewelry and wooden beads.

Three-dimensional interest is taking shape in the form of colorful embroidery, fabric folds, appliqus, layered mesh and tulle, as well as hugely popular laser-cut perforations and latticework.

Back details include big bows, wrap and tie sashes, and asymmetric crisscross straps.

Textures

Distinctive textures are making their mark with cable knits, ribs and crinkles. Faux effects such as denim, leather and suede prove popular, while lace and mesh add a fun tease to the mix. The unique aesthetics of the Tactel family of yarns are the perfect tools to create these great effects.

Prints & Patterns

Bold, graphic, swirl, geometric and large-scale tropical prints are getting a lot of attention from designers this season. Often, they are being mixed with everything from graffiti to sketch illustrations.

Special thanks to DuPont LYCRA for compiling the Swim Trends '03. For more information about the wide range of DuPont LYCRA and Tactel products, log on to www.lycra.com.