If you’ve been spotting hints of brightly coloured, seersucker fabrics all over your Instagram feed recently, that’s because swimwear season has finally arrived – and everyone - literally, everyone - is wearing Hunza G.
As we navigate the difficulties of shopping for a ‘proper’ summer once again, after two years of no beach holidays to speak of (doing lengths at British lidos doesn't merit the same kind of cozzie), there's one swimwear brand makes things delightfully simple: fabulously crinkled bikinis and swimsuits in stylish shades, flattering cuts and an ultra-stretchy material that means one size fits all. From influencers like Leonie Hanne, through to Hollywood megastars like Gabrielle Union, Hunza G is on every sun-kissed bod for Spring '22.
Mentions of British Brand Hunza, founded by Peter Meadows in 1984, might bring back memories of blue eyeshadow and fluorescent high-cut swimsuits. But, 37 years later, designer Georgiana Huddart successfully brought the label into the Instagram age.
The mother-of-one discovered Hunza's original stretch fabric when she was 18, studying Art History at the University of Leeds: 'I went to vintage shops looking for crinkled fabric and bought everything I could find.'
The fixation continued as she began her fashion career: a brief stint in menswear before assisting stylist Camilla Nickerson. Huddart would hunt down Hunza's signature fabric to make into new styles, from dresses to low-rise swimsuits. A chance encounter with a friend of Peter Meadows at a party led to a meeting with the Hunza founder. 'I took him a Sainsbury's plastic bag filled with my samples', Huddart laughs. 'That's how Hunza G began.'
The brand has since exploded, and is stocked at every major luxury retailer (from Matches Fashion to Net-A-Porter). Everything is produced in the UK (the crinkle fabric is made in the Midlands, before pieces are hand-finished in London) on a made-to-order basis for minimal waste. 'Sustainability is our number one conversation,' Huddart says.
The pieces are super versatile too: just do as the influencers do and layer with a linen shirt and shorts to go from beach to bar to dance floor. We’re calling it now: Hunza G is the brand of hot girl summer 2022 – and we’re ready to dress the part.
Shop Hunza G Now
Hunza G Pamela swimsuit
Hunza G Seersucker miniskirt
Hunza G Purple seersucker dress
Hunza G Ursula Prene swimsuit
The range of one-pieces, bikinis and dresses come, for now, in one size, designed to fit a UK size 6 to 14. The stretch fabric will see some women through the likes of weight fluctuation and pregnancy, which Huddart believes has contributed to the brand's growth in lockdown, despite travel bans and shops being closed: 'Buying something you know will fit at different stages of life is amazing.'
We agree - and, even if we don't get to leave the UK this summer, they'll still make for sizzling park-wear bodysuits.
An original draft of this article appeared in the July '21 edition of ELLE UK.
