Samudra Swimwear Debuts With a Splash

Suit on up, the water’s fine.

February 16, 2016

Brie Thalmann,

Photo: Courtesy of Samudra

Like a ripple effect, locally designed Samudra handbags have been popping up all around town, punching up the outfits of beach babes and city gals alike with vibrant images of Hawai‘i coastlines and swaying palms. Now, as part of her Resort 2016 collection, designer Jennifer Binney is dipping her toes into the swimwear pool, launching a mini collection of classic swimsuits showcasing the same sort of dreamy, Island iconography.

“My inspiration was ‘lost in paradise,’ an escape from reality into a tropical dream,” she says. “The images for the swimwear captured the feeling of being on a deserted island.” The range includes a sunset-pink tinged shot of a giant palm leaf taken at Maui’s Mākena Beach, green coconut treetops set against a pale blue sky and a sandy beachfront in Tonga.

Style-wise, Binney opted for simple silhouettes that let the photography take center stage, but made sure to outfit them with interesting, attention-getting details. The sleek one-piece features a deep (but not too deep) V-neckline paired with wider, supportive straps in the front, and a low-scoop bottom and slim, crisscrossing straps in the back. The sportier bikini includes a halter triangle top and a bottom cinched with sexy side ties.

Versatility was also a sticking point with Binney—both styles are reversible to solid black or neon green. “I love that they both can be worn while surfing or lounging,” she says.

Makena Palm One-Piece, $200, Available at Aloha Superette, 438 Uluniu St., 261-1011, samudra11.com.

This article appears in the February 2016 issue of HONOLULU Magazine.