Celebrating eighty years of the bikini and the LYCRA fibre revolution
The 2026 edition of MarediModa marks a significant anniversary: 80 years since the bikini’s creation. Over the decades, the bikini has evolved from a daring fashion item into a global symbol of style, self-expression and contemporary beach culture. Since the 1960s, LYCRA fibre has played an important role in helping transform beachwear by delivering durability, lasting comfort, fit, shape and freedom of movement.
The LYCRA Company will partner MarediModa 2026 in Cannes from October 27 to 29, marking 80 years since the bikini’s creation.
Its ‘Designed to move. Built to last.’ project with Carvico and Jersey Lomellina traces swimwear from the 1960s to today.
LYCRA XTRA LIFE fibre-enhanced fabrics are highlighted for comfort, fit and resistance to chlorine, sunscreen, heat and UV damage.
The tribute to the bikini and to textile innovation is at the heart of “Designed to move. Built to last.”, a project created in collaboration with Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, leading producers of high-performance stretch fabrics and long-standing partners of the LYCRA brand.
The exhibition path winds through the LYCRA Brand Lounge and the Carvico and Jersey Lomellina stand where a cocktail event will take place at 6:00 p.m. on the opening evening of the show. The exhibit tells the story of eight decades of style through a selection of bikinis from the 1960s to the present, capturing the design, aesthetic and cultural codes of each period, but utilizing innovative fabrics produced by Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, and enhanced by LYCRA XTRA LIFE fibre.
LYCRA XTRA LIFE fibre creates durable swimwear that lasts up to ten times longer than garments using unprotected elastane by resisting damage caused by chlorine, sunscreen lotions, perspiration, heat and UV rays. This innovation supports more durable swimwear without compromising comfort, fit, or performance.
Durability as an art form: Designed to move. Built to last.
The exhibit combines iconic music, visual storytelling and textile innovation in an immersive experience.
An Italian artist, Ileana Lucia Ferri, has created a series of evocative illustrations that capture the distinctive features of each era and create a dialogue between fashion, visual culture, and textile innovation. The illustrations show how swimwear has changed over time in terms of materials, shapes and the needs of those who wear it.
At the cocktail event, a live band will perform songs from the last eight decades, while interactive LED walls will display projections tracing the bikini’s evolution from the 1960s to today. The performance will bring together music, fashion and technology to highlight durability as a value that stands the test of time.
“Celebrating 80 years of the bikini at MarediModa together with excellent partners such as Carvico and Jersey Lomellina is an extraordinary opportunity to reaffirm our vision of the future of beachwear,” says Arnaud Ruffin, Vice President Brands & Retail Business at The LYCRA Company. “In an industry that is constantly evolving, we believe durability is one of the most meaningful ways to support more responsible fashion. The proven performance of LYCRA XTRA LIFE fibre allows us to offer swimwear solutions designed to last longer.”
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)
