Women's Catalina swimsuit
Maker
Catalina
(American, founded 1907)
Datec 1960
Object number00003654
NameSwimsuit
MediumBri-nylon
DimensionsOverall: 650 x 340 mm, 0.15 kg
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionMade in the USA by Catalina, this brightly coloured fish scale patterned swimsuit shows the change from the structured garments of the early 1950s to the more comfortable designs of the late 1950s and 1960s.
New fabrics such as Bri-nylon offered support and shape without the corset-like panels of earlier swimsuits. Form was created through an inbuilt bra and elasticised edging on the scooped back and legs.HistoryIn the 1950s and early 1960s swimsuits and sunsuits were often shaped with panelling and in-built supports to create a curvaceous, ultra-feminine silhouette that emphasized the bust, waistline and hips.
In the late 1960s swimwear gradually became less structured. Designs became more focused on comfort, and new synthetics such as nylon became the preferred material for manufacturers as it was quick drying, and stretched to hug the figure.
Catalina is one of the oldest clothing manufacturers in the United States and one of the best known names in the swimwear industry. The company began in 1907, as Bentz Knitting Mills, a small manufacturer of underwear and sweaters. The name was changed to Pacific Knitting Mills in 1912, accompanied by the introduction of swimwear to their existing knit lines. The third and final name change came in 1928, to Catalina. In 2009 Catalina Swimsuits are still being made.
SignificanceThis swimsuit is representative of women's beachwear fashions produced by the American swimwear manufacturer Catalina in the 1960s. It is also an example of the development and use of textile technologies during the mid 20th century.
