We're set to spend summer submerged in the brand's inaugural swimwear capsule
Were you one of the many pinching CDLP pieces from your boyfriend's drawers in the brand's early years? Did you rejoice in 2022 at the news that the Swedish label was making a welcome gear shift into womenswear? If so, brace yourself for more good news: women's swimwear has now dropped.
CDLP’s aptitude for well-made essentials bodes well for the upcoming capsule, which will serve up interchangeable classic sports-inspired separates, available in-store and online today as part of the spring/summer '24 collection. However, women's swimwear is a notoriously tricky category to master, which design director Ingrid Guttormsen acknowledges, explaining that the brand's designs prioritise "functionality, comfort, and exceptional quality" while upholding responsibility in every stage of development and production.
Photo: CDLP
According to Guttormsen, the pieces in the capsule are “seamlessly intertwined with sleek and delicate design” – design that is tailored more towards high-intensity water activities than sand-bound sunbathing. They're pieces that are “designed to make you look and feel exceptional, while surpassing the premature shape loss often seen in other swimwear brands,” she says.
How exactly does CDLP avoid this shape loss? “Since we launched men’s swim in 2019 we have been using Econyl®, a nylon fibre repurposed from landfill and ocean waste with benefits of luster, durability and quick-drying properties," Guttormsen says. “As this is a clear winner to us, we started to discuss how it could be adapted for the women’s swim collection. It needed to be equal in look and function but with a gently supportive construction. So we opted for a double-layered design, utilising the same shell material for both layers. The result ensures not only a comfortable support but also durable shape-retention.”
Photo: CDLP
Photo: CDLP
Photo: CDLP
If you still have any doubts, CDLP has done its due diligence, trialling the designs with a test panel whose feedback endorsed the full coverage and support of the designs, without losing “a feeling of sensuality”.
We view swimwear as a season of liberation, where we can step out of our comfort zones and embrace vibrant colours and prints.
Ingrid Guttormsen, CDLP's design director
Perhaps most notable about the capsule is the departure of its colour palette from usual CDLP territory. “Traditionally, our [men's] swimwear range has provided us with the opportunity to experiment with various colour tones,” Guttormsen says. “We view swimwear as a season of liberation, where we can step out of our comfort zones and embrace vibrant colours and prints.” The capsule reflects this ethos with a vibrant contrast of poppy red and black pieces, complemented by a yellow tone dubbed 'Pannacotta' – a colour soft and delectable as the Italian dessert itself.
The trio of hues play out across a sleek one-piece and separates with various levels of coverage: from triangle tops and briefs to fuller racer styles, Details are kept far and few between to enhance the functional feeling: note the subtle metal trims and thin adjustable straps.
All in all, the capsule reads more sporty and sexy – which Guttormsen notes traces back to CDLP's more narrative approach to design. “Instead of beginning with visualising a product, we start by crafting a narrative,” she says, “ensuring each designis like a character in a storyline.” The narrative of the swimwear capsule? It was formed around the strong women who graced the cover of Sports Illustrated in the '80s and '90s. The empowered main character we all want to be this summer.
