This price is per piece only (bottom or top only) Knitted on a domestic 1980s Singer lace machine, these knit bikinis effortlessly take you from shoreline to sundowner. The yarns come from places as far as Hong Kong and as close as Adelaide. This price is per piece only (bottom or top only) challenges our relationship with traditional swimwear materials while honouring the craft-conscious spirit of the 70s. It asks: Why can't sustainable fashion make a splash in its own right? Like all Fleurieu Made designs, this ensemble carries the stories of its materials; vintage yarns given new purpose. It represents our ongoing commitment to circular fashion practices that reduce environmental impact while creating meaningful connections between maker, wearer and our shared textile history. Dive in lovelies. The water's warm and the outfit is hot.This outfitEach yarn is a remnant with its own story. The main red was an Onkaparinga yarn I bought in Adelaide when I was only 16 years old!But the real conversation-starter? The accompanying lace merino baby doll overdress, floating over the bikini like sea foam over sand. This isn't your grandmother's beach cover-up (though she might recognise the silhouette). The delicate lacework creates a peek-a-boo effect that's both modest and mischievous, reminiscent of the babydoll lingerie of the 1970s.Materials:• Onkaparinga Mill (1872 – 1993) Adelaide) merino yarn (red)• Unknown wool (red)• Soco Textlies Hong Kong (1951 – 2020) fine merino yarn (orange)• Lot 3062 A/C2/29 Taiwan fine merino yarn (buttercup)• DEA Yarns New Zealan Fine Elastic thread (purchased 2015)Equipment• Singer Memomatic 700 Lace Machine• Lace Carriage• Punchcard no. 398• DesignaKnit software and cableProcesses:• Design the swimsuit on DAK software.• Produce a sample, wash and press• Update design and prepare tensions for knitting• Machine knit on 1980s Singer machine• Lace Carriage for punchcard sections• Steam and block all pieces• Hand-finish seams• Specialised lace patterning for the babydoll overdressEach ensemble takes approximately 8-10 hours to complete from start to finish, combining machine efficiency with essential handwork for an artisanal product.
