This swimsuit review might be a tad too early in the season for some of you folks, but as I have been in Hawaii for the last four months everyday is swimsuit day (if you want it to be lol). We have a pool here at our apartment complex so we’ve been lucky enough to enjoy swimming (which Emi loves) about once a week. So I’ve been getting great use out of my swimsuits, especially this Hackwith Design House one that I love.
I purchased this HDH swimsuit (my first ever item from them) from Grechen via Slowre. And tbh it’s probably even better that I got it from her secondhand because 1) she sold it for a great price (uh $45 total for both top and bottom—that can’t be beat), 2) she had the top altered for a better fit and it works for my equally small-bosomed self, and 3) I get to see the first time she purchased and tried on the swimsuit here (feels a bit like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Swimsuit lol). She got it in 2015 and the swimsuit is still going strong! The style is a classic that still works 6 years later, and the recycled polyester and spandex material has held its shape beautifully (though I give credit to Grechen for taking care of her clothes well). Here she is wearing it again in 2016.
Inspired by Grechen who was brave enough to post a swimsuit shot
A note on sizing, Grechen purchased a small on top and medium on the bottom and that works for my pear-shaped self as well. There’s quite a bit of spandex in the material so it stretches well. The fabric is quite thick for a swimsuit, which I love. So there’s no need for a lining and the swimsuit smoothes out small bumps and bulges well. But this really isn’t a swimsuit for laps in the pool (maybe a one piece or a more conventional swimsuit would work better for that). Since the material is kind of heavy, I found the top to shift a bit when trying to swim fast underwater (but that could also be due to the design of the top). But if you want to look good and are mostly lying around or swimming with kids (or even just casual laps), then this swimsuit is more than adequate.
I really like that this swimsuit is made from recycled materials and the fabric is a lot thicker than most conventional swimsuits. I also really like the high-waisted bottoms since it helps hide my C-section and most of my laparoscopic fibroid surgery scars. These high-waisted bottoms are still offered by HDH, but they no longer make this top. If I were to buy another swim top from them, I’d probably try the two-way top (pictured at the top of the post) since the tie can be worn in the front or the back.
So if you’re looking for an American, ethically-made swimsuit I think HDH are the best option. Not only are they made well (this bikini is going strong after 6 years), but their styles are classic and will never go out of style.
P.S. I’m also a huge fan of that fact that HDH created their “Sustain shop” which allows them to take back in their old items and resell it at a fraction of the cost. It incentivizes HDH customers to take care of their items and then send it back for resell (and they don’t have to try to resell it themselves). It also allows budget-minded ethical shoppers to try out HDH at a lower price. For obvious reasons they don’t resell swimsuits, but they resell everything else!