The Bikini Through Time: From Paris to Paradise

The Bikini Through Time: From Paris to Paradise

A Timeline of the Bikini!

1946 – Birth of the Bikini

  • French designer Louis Réard unveils the first modern bikini in Paris, naming it after Bikini Atoll, where U.S. atomic tests captured global attention.
  • Model Micheline Bernardini debuts the tiny two-piece—considered shocking and even banned on many beaches.

1950s – Hollywood Discovers the Tropics

  • Post-WWII travel opens Hawaiʻi to the world; bikinis appear in Waikīkī beach photos and tourist postcards.
  • American cinema flirts with the look in Gidget and beach musicals filmed across Oʻahu and Maui.
  • Locals begin sewing handmade suits from cotton prints and elastic waistbands—early aloha swimwear.

1959 – Hawaiʻi Becomes the 50th State

  • Statehood sparks tourism growth; hotel pools, surf clubs, and bikini culture flourish in Waikīkī.
  • U.S. media promote the islands as “America’s tropical playground.”

1960s – Surf & Freedom Era

  • Elvis’s Blue Hawaii and surf films like Gidget Goes Hawaiian make the bikini a pop-culture staple.
  • Local seamstresses and surf shops create bikinis built for movement—practical for paddling and tanning alike.
  • Hawaiian prints—hibiscus, palm, and plumeria—define the island look.

1970s – The Surf Boom & Female Empowerment

  • Women surfers such as Rell Sunn, the “Queen of Makaha,” normalize bikinis as athletic gear.
  • Nylon and Lycra revolutionize fit; high-waist and string styles dominate beaches from Haleʻiwa to Hanalei.
  • Local brands like Hang Ten and Surf Line Hawaiʻi export the Hawaiian bikini worldwide.

1980s – Global Beach Glamour

  • Hawaiʻi becomes a favorite setting for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition shoots.
  • TV hits like Magnum P.I. and Baywatch Hawaiʻi project island style globally.
  • Bright colors, metallic fabrics, and side-tie cuts rule Waikīkī’s boardwalks.

1990s–2000s – Designer Era & Island Exports

  • Boutique labels blend surf performance with luxury design.
  • Tourists flock to buy bikinis as wearable souvenirs of aloha.
  • Local surfwear companies expand into Asia and the mainland.

2010s – Sustainable Style Emerges

  • Eco-friendly Hawaiian brands such as Acacia, San Lorenzo, and Issa de’ mar gain international recognition.
  • Recycled nylon and ocean-plastic fabrics reduce environmental impact.
  • Campaigns champion body diversity and island inclusivity.

2020s – The Modern Aloha Bikini

  • Hawaiʻi’s swimwear scene celebrates authentic local design, cultural respect, and sustainability.
  • Influencers, surfers, and artists collaborate to tell stories of community and connection to the ocean.
  • The bikini remains a global icon—and Hawaiʻi its most natural home.
Back to blog