So far, Beefcake offers two modern updates based on the original 1920s one-piece suits. The demand for a new kind of swimsuit that is not only fashionable but functional - and without a specific gender identity tied to its design - has been overwhelming. I was able to help Mel test out some of her samples and damn, it looked great and felt great."īeefcake launched a Kickstarter earlier this month and has already surpassed its original goal of raising $10,500 twice over. I always feel like such a bro in the whole jam shorts/rash guard combo and I am so not a bro, but it seemed to be my swimming lot in life. I would look at wrestling singlets, but they're not made for boobs.
"I have so wanted a suit like this for so long. "I am an early and earnest supporter of Beefcake," said Caryn Brooks. "But when I asked for fitters on Facebook, a ton of my cis, female, femme friends were like 'Oh my god!'" "I originally started this with the idea of making it for my masculine of center queer friends who had been assigned female at birth but didn't necessarily feel comfortable in feminine clothing," Wells said of Beefcake. ("Wool is not awesome for swimming in.") Beefcake suits are 79 percent polyester and 21 percent spandex, making them a bit softer, stretchier, and thicker than most swimsuits. "It was super challenging, and I spent about two years talking to a bunch of different types of people - different gender expressions, different body types, and listening to what they wanted," Wells said.Īlthough not a designer (she works for a literary nonprofit in Portland, OR), Wells was inspired by the original genderless bathing "costumes" of the 1920s and is now attempting to re-create the look with new materials. These are just a few of the reasons surfer Mel Wells decided to take action and create Beefcake Swimwear.
One-pieces are often too high on the hip, the "butchkini" (a sports bra or bikini top with board shorts) isn't ideal for anyone who wants to cover their midriff, and a rash guard can be a little too much fabric for anyone just wanting to get some sun. That's become easier with the rise of lifestyle clothing brands offering unisex button-ups, denim styles and sneakers, but bathing options have yet to catch up. Androgynous women or gender-nonconforming folks not only want to be comfortable, but they want to feel good about how they look. Needless to say, wearing a bathing suit can be stress-inducing for those who aren't willing to or comfortable doing water sports in tiny bits of spandex or nylon.įor others, it's about fashion. Shopping for swimwear can be a daunting task for people whose bodies aren't what most women's magazines declare to be "Summer ready!" Bathing suits require form-fitting silhouettes and baring areas that are often covered up by clothing.
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