10 R29 Editors Review Youswim’s 12-Sizes-In-1 Swimwear Range

It isn’t often that one brand creates such a buzz in the Refinery29 office that the work G-Chat channel pops off. But when Youswim announced that it was expanding the size range of its seamless stretch swimsuits and bikinis, I was inundated with requests to try the line out.

For those new to the brand, British-based Youswim makes "swimwear that can adapt and change with your body through the many stages of your life". The brand achieves this ambitious goal thanks to a magically malleable material — a super thick and flexible nylon yarn with a ribbed texture that stretches and moves with your body. Currently, the label offers four styles — Aplomb, Poise, Eva and Verve — each available as a one-piece swimsuit or as a set with high waist, standard waist, cheeky or swim shorts. There's also a variety of 'classic' (earthy neutrals, black, lilac and saffron red) and seasonal (right now that’s hot pink, yellow or sea blue) shades to choose from. Even better, every Youswim suit is entirely produced in the UK, from weaving the fabric to cutting, dyeing and sewing, before packing it all up in Earth-friendly packaging. The brand is certified Plastic Negative with rePurpose Global — for every ounce of plastic used in the swimsuits, it collects twice as much in the form of nature-bound plastic waste.

All this goodness does come at a price: a whopping £126 for either a one-piece or a bikini. However, as Youswim reminds us, these are supposed to be "swimsuits for life". Care for yours properly (the brand has a clear care guide on its website) and it will stretch to accommodate weight changes, age changes, puberty and pregnancy.

But the main reason we're so excited is that Youswim has recently doubled its size range so that the majority of its suits fit UK sizes 6-18 (Stretch I) and 18-28 (Stretch II). To find out whether this wonder material really stretches and supports (and how comfortable it is), 10 R29ers tried out a range of one-pieces and bikinis. Could Youswim be the solution to all our swimwear woes? Read on for our verdicts...