It’s true that the new year is a great opportunity to make small improvements to your life for the better. As a society, choosing to believe in a ‘fresh start’ is a beautiful reflection of the optimism of the human spirit. However, the phrase ‘small improvements’ is crucial. Trying to tackle every element of your self improvement journey at once will likely leave you overwhelmed, burnt out and creating a cycle of unrealistic expectations.
That is why this year, Lanuuk is putting rejuvenation first rather than resolutions. We want to replace the pressure of immediately knowing how you want your year to look with finding opportunities to truly figure that out and take care of your health and wellbeing.
Here’s our guide on how to prioritise rejuvenation in 2024, including the modest swimwear and modest activewear that can help you to look and feel confident.
A recent survey has found that the most common New Year’s resolution in the UK for 2024 is centred around health, with over a third of people (35%) keen to improve their physical and mental well-being.
We emphasise that spa days and breaks should encourage women to intertwine both relaxation and gym sessions, adding to a ‘holistic’ way of wellness rather than seeing the two as separate.
The spa is a great place to unwind, treat yourself whilst also keeping active. It’s a relaxing, less intimidating space to try out the gym if that is something new to you. Many spas also have women’s only sections which ensure your trip is as comfortable as possible whether you’re dozing off in the jacuzzi or jogging on the treadmill. Plus, there’s plenty of modest swimwear on the market if you prefer to cover up whilst you relax or work out.
Looking good at a spa can boost your confidence, but it’s also important to feel comfortable. This is the perfect opportunity to show off your full coverage Lanuuk Swimwear alongside the new Athletic Collection. What better place to wear your favourite cute swimsuits and new modest gym clothes!
Lanuuk Athletic Collection Active Light Tunic in Black
Taking up a sport or a group exercise can do wonders for self rejuvenation. For the Lanuuk founders Ayesha and Leya, using sport to let go of insecurities and inhibitions has been hugely rewarding for both mind and body. They have never described themselves as sporty or athletic, but both have embraced beginner Tennis lessons which challenge them to commit to something new.
Tennis is an amazing release and enables you to stay active whilst learning a new skill and having fun whilst doing it. Ayesha’s key tip would be to stay consistent, even through the colder months and don’t take yourself too seriously. Signing up and going to your first session is huge progress alone.
Here are some female focused clubs to get you started, as well as some resources to find the right sport for you around the UK:
These Girls Run - clubs all across the UK! Visit their website to find a city local to you.
Better Women’s only swimming clubs - across the UK.
This Girl Can - a hub of female focused classes across the UK, with the key aim of empowering women to try different sports.
It’s important to wear clothes that allow you to move with comfort whilst exercising. Our selection of Lanuuk modest activewear has features to make sure you get the most out of your workout. For example, the Active Hoodie has thumb holes, side pockets and a fitted ‘hijab’ hood and the Active Leggings also have a discreet pocket.
Lanuuk Athletic Collection Active Hoodie in Navy
Ready to start off the new year feeling rejuvenated, looking good and feeling comfortable whilst doing it? Explore our modest Athletic and Swimwear Collections here for a step in the right direction.
We’re running a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE offer - Purchase any full price Swim Set or Swim Dress and get the Taali Swim Dress in Peach for FREE!
We know how those January Blues can creep up on you so check out our Instagram post with some personal recommendations on our favourite tips and products to keep you inspired and to kick start your 2024 with a mind and body refresh 💙
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Here at Lanuuk, we’re thrilled that modest athletic wear has been taking the fashion world by storm as large brands known for gym clothes and sportswear, Nike and Gymshark have made progress in normalising modesty in fitness. The activewear market has boomed recently, with a value of 320 billion in 2022 and a forecast to grow to 450 billion in 2028, there is always room to make activewear more diverse and accessible.
At Lanuuk, we are truly inspired by our loyal customers who choose us year after year for our dedication to luxury modesty. We always look to provide modest coverage without compromising on fashion and functionality. As champions of modesty in fashion for the last few years with our passion for swimwear, there is no better time to introduce our very first Athletic Collection and encourage people to ‘just start now’ when it comes to their fitness goals.
With inspiration from our swimwear collections, our aim is to bring variety and versatility into the athleisure space. Not just for those motivated by religious reasons but also to bridge the gap and provide comfortable and stylish solutions to those looking for more coverage during their workouts.
Lanuuk Athletic can be worn as sportswear or everyday wear, helping women across a range of sizes to keep their skin covered while they move with ease. Featuring five signature styles in size XS-3XL, the collection focuses on flattering silhouettes, embodying Lanuuk’s ambition to create a diverse selection of inclusive, premium products that are ethically made.
Crafted from functional four-way stretch material that moves with you, the fabric has been selected with a range of activities in mind and is breathable, sweat releasing, moisture absorbing and quick-drying - helping to empower your every move. Available in a range of classic colours, including black, shadow, dusk, navy and sage, Lanuuk Athletic allows you to cover your skin (for modesty or otherwise) while you work out without having to compromise on style, fit or quality.
Lanuuk Active Light Tunic in Black
Start now by rejecting those unrealistic goals
As we approach the end of the year, people begin to think about their ‘New Year resolutions’ for 2024. We tend to set huge, unrealistic goals that feel daunting to tackle at all. We go into January with a fear, a dread and inherently the belief that our goals are taking control of us and our lives. Social media tells us that we should immediately go out and run a 5k, absolutely not. Should we drastically switch up our diet and dread every meal? No way. We hope our Athletic Collection launch serves as a reminder that there is no better time to start on your fitness journey than today, and that by starting small, you are already doing the world of difference for your wellbeing.
Starting with small, positive changes to your day can have the biggest difference to your life. Whether it be going out for a twenty minute walk, taking the stairs rather than the lift or signing up to a gym, exercise in any form can do wonders for your mental health too.
Always set goals that you are comfortable with first and foremost, this also goes for where you choose to exercise. If like us, you find regular gyms daunting there are a range of female only gyms, fitness classes and communities that have become more popular around the UK. For example:
Safari MMA, London
Unlike your conventional gym, Safari MMA offers a range of women only classes like boxing, Muay Thai, and Pilates which strengthen not only your physical stamina, but your mental fitness too.
StrongHer, London
A supportive, community atmosphere alongside your workout. Encourages many women from different backgrounds to join and specialises in strength, mobility and meditation exercises.
Sisterhood FC, London
A female-only football club in London is giving Muslim women a chance to shine on the sports field
Fit Camp Women, Manchester An inclusive gym with traditional studios and equipment as well as community and socially focused classes.
Sorella Strength, Glasgow
A gym based on sisterhood within strength training, taking weightlifting very seriously and creating a safe space for women to reach their full potential.
Ready to start small and start today? Browse our Athletic Collection to get kitted out in gear that you feel most comfortable in.
If you’re looking for some inspiration to get started on your active journey, here are some essential products that we’re loving when working out.
1. Lanuuk Active Jacket in Black - A hooded zip-up athletic jacket in high-stretch brushed nylon. This jacket has a relaxed fit with toggles to adjust and cinch at the waist and a spacious hood with drawstrings to secure around the face. The thumbholes make it perfect for more active workouts and the hidden side pockets to keep your essentials
2. Lanuuk Turban in Dusk - Our slip on turbans are perfect for the gym as they are ultra lightweight and are made from breathable, dry-fit fabric.
3. On Cloud 5 trainers - There’s a reason these trainers have the word cloud in the name. They are so lightweight, you’ll barely know they’re there. High performance whilst looking chic too.
4. Lanuuk Active Light Tunic in Dusk - This is an ultra lightweight easy-to-wear, dry fit athletic tunic, which can be worn with just a sports bra underneath. It has a relaxed fit and side slits for ease of movement.
5. Stanley Quencher tumbler in Orchid - Reach your hydration goals with fewer refills. This tumbler keeps your water cold for up to 12 hours, or 2 days when iced!
6. Lanuuk Active Leggings in Black - These sculpting-fit high waist leggings are a wardrobe and activewear essential. Crafted from functional four-way stretch material that moves with you - so comfortable you won't want to take them off!
7. Sweaty Betty Icon Gym Bag - We love that this bag has so many uses and dedicated pockets for all of your essentials.
8. Salt & Stone Natural Deodorant - We highly recommend the switch to natural deodorant and are loving this one from Salt & Stone which offers 24h protection whilst moisturising and neutralising odour.
]]>It’s that time of year again, the summer holidays are over, the swimsuits have been packed away, now all we know is winter coats and fluffy jumpers. It’s black boots instead of swim shoes, turtle necks not beach cover ups, cups of hot coffee instead of fresh coconut water. Summer feels like a distant memory, a dearly missed friend that we can’t wait to see again. Well, we have news for you, you can!
Don’t start packing away the summer essentials yet, as chasing the winter sun is very much on the cards. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) have stated that 29% of people surveyed plan to take a winter holiday or break this year, with booking numbers increasing 16% year on year.
It can be understood why more and more people want to get out of the cold and into the hot weather. There are many destinations perfect for the winter sun, and with the right knowledge and the right supplies, you’ll be jetting off in no time ready to soak up the sun and splash in the sea.
Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa.
Ready for a last minute break? Where’s hot, and where’s not?
If you’re wondering where to go for winter sun, there are plenty of destinations to go in Europe, Africa and the Middle East to chase the winter sun. Here are just a few of our favourites, and why.
Cape Town
A dreamy destination with a rich culture, incredible food and a backdrop of stunning beaches. With an overnight flight to Cape Town (and only a 2 hour time difference from GMT), you’ll soon be immersed in a tranquil escape where there really is the best of everything: beaches, food, wildlife and of course, sun.
The beaches in Cape Town are nothing short of bliss. Miles upon miles of turquoise seas and white sand beaches are waiting for you, so make sure you have the swimwear to match the view. The Lanuuk Mira Swim Set in Woodrose/Black is the perfect pairing, as it complements perfectly with the backdrop of the mountains and compliments the hues of the sea at sunset.
This destination is a personal recommendation from one of the founders of Lanuuk, Ayesha, as South Africa has a special place in her heart. She has visited every year with her family since she was a little girl as her mother is South African. Take it from her, you’ll fall in love with it as much as she has.
Here are some personal recommendations from Ayesha:
Muscat
Dubai has been a popular winter sun destination for years, but we’d like to highlight somewhere in the Middle East which has an understated charm and much less mainstream than Dubai.
Sitting on the glorious Gulf of Oman, Muscat is a city not shy of showing off its deep history and dazzling beaches. As a city, it gives off a sense of luxury and without being overwhelming, its people are hospitable, kind and every turn of a corner is picturesque.
The city’s long coastline has a beach for every mood. Fancy some quiet time? There’s a beach for that. Or, do you prefer the hustle and bustle of families making memories around you? No problem, that’s also catered for somewhere along the coastline. The common theme however, is that every beach has a blend of serene waters, white cliffs and golden sands.
We see the Lanuuk Diana Swim Set in Olive pairing perfectly with this stunning backdrop and has us reminiscing of this campaign shot on location at the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort in collaboration with Oman Magazine.
Cape Verde
Nestled in the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Verde beckons as a captivating destination where culture, cuisine, and natural beauty converge harmoniously.
A night's flight brings you to this serene haven, where you'll find a balanced blend of sun-drenched beaches, delectable food, vibrant wildlife, and year-round sunshine. The beaches of Cape Verde are nothing short of paradisiacal, featuring expansive stretches of turquoise waters and powdery white sands, offering a stunning backdrop for relaxation and exploration. Don the Lanuuk Serena Swim Dress in Azure to perfectly align with the captivating turquoise sea.
Karpathos
If you’re looking to live out your European summer dreams into winter, Karpathos in Greece is the perfect destination for some warmth and natural beauty.
A hidden gem of an island nestled between Rhodes and Crete, Karpathos is a beautiful spot boasting delicious seafood, iridescent blue seas and white sandy beaches. With small welcoming villages dotted within the island, you’re sure to get a rich sense of peace and belonging during your winter break.
To let the scenery bring the colour, we’d pair this destination with the Lanuuk Diana Swim Set in Black. The blue, white and green tones of the island will complement the elegance of the Black swim suit.
We’re not just talking with sunscreen
Yes it’s winter, but it’s also important to stock up on sunscreen and other essentials that will protect us from the sun’s rays while chasing that winter warmth.
Lanuuk’s swimwear has a UPF 50+ Sun protection fabric which blocks over 98% of the sun’s rays. This is the simplest way to stay safe because, as important as it is, you never need to reapply sunscreen. You also don’t have to worry about reapplying to your children every 30 minutes with Lanuuk kids swimwear, or carrying enough with you on your trip.
Feeling inspired? Explore our swimwear collections here.
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Ever felt that feeling of having a great swim to clear your mind after a stressful week? Jumping into a swimming pool in the intense summer heat? Spending hours splashing around with your kids on vacation? There’s nothing quite like the joy of swimming. We should all be able to enjoy the benefits of swimming and have a range of swimwear options for when we want to take a dip.
Lanuuk’s number one goal is to empower the modern woman with elegance, confidence and the freedom to move comfortably, whilst also staying protected in the sun. We are also passionate about encouraging women and young girls to participate in an active lifestyle and to live life to its fullest, ensuring that no one is held back by a lack of swimwear options.
It’s no surprise that swimming is great for your physical health, many experts confirm that it is one of the best full body workouts you can do. Swimming engages everything from your arms, legs and shoulders to your back, core and glutes, with just 20 minutes in the water burning more than 250 calories.
Swimming is for everybody. Whether you prefer to swim a breaststroke or a butterfly, you can enjoy a full body workout that works for you. To top it off, your body works harder in water, so 30 minutes in the pool, lake, sea or wherever you take a plunge, is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land.
The fitness benefits of swimming are hard to miss, but there’s also a world of extras that come with taking the plunge. With every swim, you are invited to experience a full body, mind and soul workout which will leave you feeling fitter, de-stressed and with a newfound sense of confidence in yourself.
Creating peace from the plunge
Mindfulness can be a hugely important and valuable asset to our lives, though we might not always get the opportunity for it. If you’re leading a busy, fast paced life and can’t find a way to slow down, a swim can offer you a chance to use your body to stimulate your mind to be still and focused on one goal. It allows you to stride through that water at your own pace and keep a conscious, present state of mind.
When in the pool, sea, lake, wherever you choose to swim, you are disconnected from the outside world for a portion of time and given the chance to empty your head and realign what matters to you in that moment.
Experts have also spoken positively about the benefits of cold water swimming and how it can be useful for de-stressing. Submerging yourself in freezing water isn’t going to be for everyone. Swimming in safe lakes and ponds are naturally colder than pools, and wearing full coverage swimwear can get you used to those cold dips, whilst having a layer of warmth to ease you into it.
Make swimming work for you
When doing any fitness activity, what you wear is important for self confidence and can have an effect on how productive the workout is. The number one rule - wear what you feel most comfortable in. Whether that’s a full coverage swimsuit, a one piece or a bikini, you are in charge of what you feel best swimming in.
There is a universally recognised concept of swimwear; one-pieces, or two-piece bikinis. However, these forms of swimsuits do not cater to everyone. The concept of wearing very little at the beach or pool can also be daunting for many women, particularly those who are body conscious, and it is simply restrictive for those who dress modestly/cover up for cultural or religious reasons, medical reasons, and for those who are mindful of sun damage. The concept of modesty is subjective, and for each person, it can mean something different.
There are luckily a huge range of swimsuits out there to suit every person, body type and style. At Lanuuk, we offer a wide range of swimwear from two piece bikinis and full coverage swimwear to swim headpieces, swim dresses and swim tights to help women find what they are most comfortable in.
Whatever your reason for getting into the water, just know that by doing it you’re getting a full mind and body workout, whilst building your confidence and becoming a better you.
So if you're ready to dive in to your first swimming lesson or pool day, but need some inspo for what to put in your pool bag, here are some products that we are loving:
We're here to empower you to find confidence, comfort and elegance. If you’re ready to find your perfect swimsuit, visit our website to browse the collections and styles here.
When we started Lanuuk, we had a vision to create truly timeless and unique full coverage swimwear,something that almost no-one was doing at the time. We spent tireless months designing and redesigning our collection, constantly refining and ensuring that every detail conveyed the vision of our brand. As a small business, we continue to grow and improve by listening to and taking feedback from our customers, and all of our designs are created by us from scratch, taking into account the needs of our beautifully diverse female customer base. We also take conscious decisions to focus on our our imagery to allow us to showcase our brand’s unique designs.
One of the things we did not expect to encounter on this journey is the number of brands and platforms copying and stealing our images and designs in one form or another. Soon after we launched, we began to receive numerous messages from our loyal customers and ‘instafam’ alerting us to pages using our images and attempting to duplicate and sell our designs. As time went on, these copycats have become more and more accurate, reaching a point where we ourselves would even do a double take at some of the images of the copied products. We have felt a deep sense of disappointment and helplessness that our designs have been plagiarized by others claiming them as their own. Whilst fast-fashion brands are notorious for imitating designs from large luxury brands, small independent designers and artists are also seeing their designs being stolen and sold without their consent. Unfortunately, in the last year, we have now fallen victim to this with several fast fashion giants ripping off our original designs and selling them for less than it costs us to produce; the reality being that most small businesses like ourselves simply do not have the resources to prevent or stop them.
We’ve talked in a previous blog about what goes into creating original designs and bringing these to market. The design development stage alone takes months of back and forth with our design team, sourcing and importing high-quality fabrics, adjusting our patterns, refining fit, and perfecting our designs. Fast fashion knock-offs literally take these patterns and attempt to copy them with accuracy, using cheap labour and materials, removing the entire creative and development phase, going from production to the shop front in a matter of days. It’s sad yet perhaps unsurprising that with the constant influx of new and trend-setting styles, many of them hitting the shelves are actually copied from small independent designers. Shoppers have more recently become so accustomed to fast fashion; the ease and impulse of buying, and the consistently low prices and on trend designs; that the average consumer is blissfully unaware of how these items cameto be or the impact on the environment, underdeveloped economies and their people and small independent brands as a result.
It also becomes difficult to convey the struggles faced by smaller brands to produce specialist products like modest swimwear and the sheer costs involved due to the amount of fabric, and detailed design and production phases. In a recently published New York Times article “What Makes a Bathing Suit So Expensive?", the writer explains how Riot Swim founder Monti Landers’ struggles with cost margins. “Because of the steep increases in textile and shipping costs related to the pandemic and inflation, Ms. Landers had to raise prices recently. Her most popular design, the Echo one-piece, with a deep V-neck, high-cut leg and a thick band of ruching at the waist that took several months of tweaking samples to perfect, was $99 a year ago. Today it costs $150. "We had been eating those costs on our own for so long” Landers admits, something that resonates with us all too well.
The cost for producing a full-coverage swimset is at an even higher margin of material use and production range, and with pandemic inflation on top of lower-cost/quality replicas circulating the market, these experiences leave brands like us feeling defeated. Independent businesses like continue to suffer and creativity struggles to thrive in an industry and environment of copy-cats.
What has come as more of a surprise and disappointment to us is the number of influencers that knowingly support and promote these fast fashion brands and their ‘knock-off’ or copycat products, and to see the lack of thought and accountability that some influencers face in supporting unethical businesses and over-consumption.
All of that said, we have our amazing loyal customers to thank for not succumbing to lower quality and sub-standard knock-offs by continuing to purchase and recommend our products and recognize the value of shopping from small independent businesses. Landers from the NYT article talks about the decision to raise her prices, “They know that you get what you pay for- would you rather go to fast fashion and pay $20 for a suit that you’re only going to wear once?” In another New York Times piece “The Existential Crossroads of Bathing Suit Shopping”, Dodai Stewart, Metro writer at large quotes “The perfect bathing suit is much like the perfect relationship: Trust is essential, you need to know it will work...once you find a suit you like, it’s hard to let go.”
We’re glad you have invested your trust in us, and that you’ve found our pieces hard to let go of! You have allowed us to survive and continue as a business; we see you and feel you, and we truly appreciate your support! Despite the setbacks, we truly love what we do and look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality, reliable, and inclusive swimwear to women who inspire and empower us as much as Lanuuk does for them. We also continue with our commitment to sustainability and conscious production at the heart of the way we work and want to give you the confidence that when you shop with us, you are shopping ethically.
We stand in solidarity with other small independent brands and businesses who have battled or are battling with similar hurdles and difficulties. We strive to bring awareness to our shoppers, fashion enthusiasts, and consumers of the silent battle small businesses face daily as we continue to learn and grow. We are more aware of and understand the never-ending struggle against fast-fashion, but here are some of the things that we as consumers can do to tackle unethical practices and overconsumption, and continue to support and uplift small businesses and one another.
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It’s been over a year since we started designing our new collection and FINALLY the launch is on the horizon (happy dance). Whilst reflecting on the toll that the pandemic has taken (and continues to take) on small businesses, we got to thinking about what it takes to launch a new product. So, let’s talk about production!
As a small business, we are always striving to improve both the products that we produce, and the way in which we produce them. Which is why, when starting up, we took the conscious decision to work with a small family run manufacturer in the Philippines to bring our swimwear designs to reality.
As a small business, one of the main constraints is.. you guessed it.. MONEY! For every penny spent, there are decisions to be made on who, what, how, why and where. So when faced with the decision of where to manufacture your products, which will probably be your single biggest investment, going for the cheapest option can be tempting.
Many companies in this situation will turn to Chinese manufacturers who are able to produce large volumes of products at low costs. This is why so many of the products that we consume today are made in China, which has a very strong industrial infrastructure, as well as a large pool of workers who will accept very low wages. Chinese manufacturers have become accustomed to copying prototypes and churning out huge volumes of products in short time scales. Manufacturing in China has changed the landscape of retail shopping as we know it today, driving down prices and enabling large corporates to profit off of very low cost manufacturing costs. Thousands of retailers with thousands of new products on the racks every day in a constant turnaround of trends. This is, as we know it, FAST FASHION.
But when you’re buying something at a very low price point, you can be almost certain that many aspects have suffered along the way to getting that product on the shelves. Workers’ pay and conditions are often inadequate; There has probably been little or no consideration for the environmental impact of production; And if a factory is churning out thousands of products at a time, quality will suffer.
So why was our choice of manufacturer so important to us? Our focus has never been on mass producing swimwear at low cost to generate huge profits. We want to know where our garments are being made, speak to the people that make them and understand their needs and constraints. What are the factory conditions like? Are workers being paid a fair wage? We wanted to be able to visit the factory and see all of this for ourselves as well as have our manufacturing team understand our mission as a business. We have also been lucky enough to find local Filipino artisans who hand print and sew our beautiful canvas packaging that is included with each piece, meaning we can do our bit to empower local communities and industries. Whilst all of this of course means much higher costs, longer lead times and smaller margins, our commitment has always been to building a sustainable business; one with a close eye on ethical and quality production.
So why should this be important to our customers? Our close relationship with our design and manufacturing team means that we have control over every aspect of our supply chain and production. We know about every piece of fabric being cut and every swimsuit being packed. We work closely with our manufacturing team feeding back at every step of the process to refine and improve our designs and processes and feedback any customer comments.
We often get questions from customers about when we will be having sales or discounts. The answer is that our swimwear is not priced at a significant mark-up and as a result we rarely have sales and when we do, you won’t find us heavily discounting our products. Whilst you may find our prices to be higher than a large high street or online retailer, when you buy a swimsuit from Lanuuk, you can be confident that you are buying a high quality product at a fair price, that is made to last.
]]>Whilst we're looking ahead to 2020 and working very hard behind the scenes on lots of new and exciting things for the upcoming year, we've also been reflecting back on 2019 and the whirlwind year that it was for Lanuuk.
We are so humbled and grateful for the tremendous response to our first collection and all of the support and feedback that we've had from our customers around the globe.
This time last year, we had already been working away for many months on our debut collection of full coverage swimwear which we finally launched in May 2019. When the idea of Lanuuk was born in 2018, we knew that we wanted to create beautiful and innovative swimwear designs that not only we would be proud to wear, but that our customers would be too. We set out to design a collection that would meet the needs of a range of women looking for an alternative to the 'traditional' swimsuit. Not only did we want our designs to be modest and sun-safe, but we wanted them to truly feel luxurious and perform functionally as swimwear, crafted only from the highest quality materials. We were passionate about catering to the beautifully diverse female body types giving women the confidence to live life to it's fullest.
At a time when full coverage swimwear, or the burkini (a term we prefer to stay clear of) was receiving alot of negative attention, there were also people and brands breaking boundaries and empowering women to choose how they wanted to dress. We truly wanted to be a part of this movement and were thrilled and inspired when Halima Aden made her debut in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, becoming the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and modest swimsuit in the magazine. A huge moment for diversity and representation, showing the world that a swimsuit is not just restricted to a bikini or one-piece and that beauty is diverse. Halima's words truly stuck with us as two women about to embark on a completely new venture: "Don't change yourself, change the game!".
This couldn't have been timed more perfectly as we prepared to launch Lanuuk's first collection just a few weeks later, aiming to redefine the traditional concept of swimwear, introducing unique yet timeless designs for the modern woman.
Over the year, we have had the pleasure of working with some really talented bloggers and influencers who have paved the way and helped us to spread our brand across the globe. We never dreamed that our swimwear would be discovered by women from the US to New Zealand, Europe and the far-east. Our personal highlight has been being featured in the beautiful and kind withloveleena's modest swimwear review video. We've also loved working with all the wonderful bloggers and influencers who have beautifully represented our brand and our swimwear styling them in their own unique ways. Thank you to you all for your support.
Another highlight has been being featured in two modest fashion magazines, Gaya Magazine and Almaze Women, which gave us an opportunity to talk about Lanuuk's ethos and what modest fashion means to us.
We also had the opportunity to attend our first trade show, an exhilarating experience for us to showcase our collection and meet and learn from other brands and start-ups in the athleisure space. Having put so much thought into every aspect of our branding and design, seeing our designs hanging on the rack, displaying our brand proudly and giving people the opportunity to touch and feel the swimsuits was somewhat surreal.
All that said, our launch and being start-up has not come without struggles. For us as the co-founders of Lanuuk, embarking on a fashion e-commerce business is new and uncharted territory for us which represents a steep learning curve, with hurdles we are constantly seeking to overcome. But all of these challenges have been ones that we have embraced and sought to learn from to ensure that we are constantly improving and coming up with new ideas to keep our brand fresh.
Whilst the final products are of utmost importance, we are also very conscious about the way that our swimwear is being produced. Making a luxury and niche product requires an intimate understanding of the fabrics, the utmost attention to detail and a very close eye on the manufacturing process. Our design and manufacturing team work together very closely to constantly refine our designs (listening to customer feedback from the sales team) and improve the manufacturing process, all the while ensuring that we are creating products in an ethical and sustainable manner.
To top of the year, we are so proud to have been featured in HARPER'S BAZAAR Singapore's Top 6 modest swimwear brands. To be featured in an international fashion title is something that we would never have expected, and only something that we could dream of as the new kid in a new and evolving fashion space. We are so honoured and grateful to the editors and supporters who have taken an interest in Lanuuk.
We have started 2020 getting back to work on our next collection which we are so excited to launch this summer. Our designs will feature more unique silhouettes and fresh colours that we cannot wait to showcase. We have also been working on refinements to our swim turban and two new and fresh head covers, giving women more choice in how (and if) they choose to cover.
We'd like to say a special thank you to everyone that has supported us thus far. We could not have done it without you and we are truly grateful to all of you - Ayesha & Leya
An extract from HARPER'S BAZAAR Singapore's modest swimwear edit is included below:
While dressing conservatively might seem at odds with some of the latest fashion trends (we’re looking at you crop tops), more covered looks are becoming increasingly popular and not just among followers of faith. In fact, a quick search of modest fashion on Google produces around 149m results, while Pinterest UK reports that searches for the term are up 500 per cent since the beginning of 2019.
While retailers are starting to recognise the demand for fashion-forward modestwear, it seems as though very little attention is paid to swimwear. The shapeless black burkinis that currently dominate the category do not represent the changing tastes of modest women.
But the good news is there are a few brands out there who have got you covered—literally. Even better, you don’t have to choose between your personal style and your lifestyle.
Lanuuk
Co-founded by Ayesha Mahomed and Katleya Nielsen in 2018, Lanuuk (pronounced la-nouk), was created over a shared passion to create full coverage swimwear that does not compromise on femininity, style, quality or comfort. With elegant cuts and classic colour combinations, the brand’s versatile swimwear collection is designed to suit a range of body types and style preferences. Utilizing only the best, tried and tested materials, their products are made from an ultra-high quality mix of nylon and spandex offering UPF50+ sun protection whilst maintaining a lightweight feel.
Lanuuk is available online at lanuuk.com
So it got us thinking; how many of you really know about sun care and sun safety?
The focus on protecting your skin from the sun's harmful rays has generally been on using a high factor SPF sunscreen. The sun protection factor (SPF) tells you how long the sun’s UV radiation would take to redden your skin when using the product exactly as directed versus the amount of time without any sunscreen. So ideally, with SPF30 it would take you 30 times longer to burn than if you weren’t wearing sunscreen.
This is of course extremely important, but sunscreen is just one vital part of an overall strategy to protect your skin. Do we actually consider the clothes and swimwear that we wear and how effective these are in protecting our skin? Whilst your clothing shields you from the sun, not all fabrics and colours provide equal protection. When shopping for swimwear that can effectively protect you from harmful rays, keep in mind the fabric's UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating which indicates exactly how much of the sun’s rays the garment can shield.
Our very talented customer Dr Yusra Al-Mukhtar shares her top tips on sun safety. Yusra is a dental surgeon and a medical aesthetic clinician. She is an advanced experienced facial aesthetic practitioner with several years’ experience in head and neck surgery and skin cancer surgery. Here are her top 3 tips on staying safe in the sun:
For us, sun protection was one of our top priorities in choosing the fabrics to create our swimwear. We want to give our customers the confidence to know that they are protected when out enjoying the sun.
Our swim turbans also provide effective sun protection for your hair - yes, your hair needs sun protection too! If you don't protect your hair, the sun can actually shift your hair colour and change your hair texture by drying it out. If you don't cover your hair, consider a sun screen especially designed for protecting the hair.
We're passionate about giving women more choice and are working on a range of accessories to compliment your Lanuuk swimsuits:
1. Different styles of head cover - we've been developing the fit and comfort of our current swim turbans but are also working hard on creating other versatile head coverings including a self tie swim turban and a swim scarf.
2. Wide brimmed hats - The hat is the perfect accessory and you'll often see us styling our Lanuuk swimsuits with a wide brimmed hat. We're working on incorporating a couple of classic but fabulous hats into our collection.
As always, our focus is on creating an amazing experience for our customers. Watch this space for so much more to come!
Extracts from our interview are below. Click here to read the full feature on www.almaze.com.
Please, could introduce yourself and your brand?
We are Leya and Ayesha, co-founders of Lanuuk, also sisters-in-law! We setup Lanuuk in mid-2018 when we were both on separate journeys to find full coverage swimwear, for different reasons. For Ayesha, who wears the hijab, it was the struggle to find stylish and high-quality modest swimwear that led to the idea of creating her own. Whilst for Leya, it was still getting comfortable with her own body after having three children that led her to the same point. We created Lanuuk to address our individual pain points. The more women we spoke to, the more we realized that our pain points were not specific to us, but shared with many others from different walks of life. In fact, our brand is anchored on this very ‘why’ we are doing this. We want our brand to represent the unrivalled strength we gain from supporting each other, the freedom to make our own choices of self-expression in fashion, the confidence that comes from self-belief and, quite plainly, from being more comfortable in what we’re wearing.
Inspiration for the name has its Nordic roots (with Leya being half-Danish) and simply includes letters from our names. Like our name, we have drawn inspiration from each other, our values and our different but complementary backgrounds and outlooks.
The story behind our brand identity design is the fusion of Lanuuk’s philosophies and how it translates to our swimwear. It was born out of the simple idea of a pearl, an oyster shell and the sun, which actually bear deeper meanings. For us, the pearl represents beauty in all its forms, the oyster shell represents modesty, and the sun alludes to hope, light, and the sun-safe nature of our suits.
Where do you take your inspiration to create your swimwear?
Leya is definitely the designer out of the two of us! We took our inspiration from the diversity and strength of women. We want our swimsuits to be a source of empowerment to women of all ages and sizes, therefore, we spend a lot of time trying to get the fit right for different body types. Whilst it’s difficult to be everything for everyone, we sure try to create designs that are flattering to our bodies in the real world. Our inspiration for the product names come from great women who have inspired us; Diana Nyad, Serena Williams and Maya Angelou (there are many more to come!).
What makes your brand unique?
We want to create a luxury experience for women. We want women to feel confident and beautiful wearing our swimwear so we have focused on classic designs, colours and silhouettes.
Could you tell us more about the fabrics you work with?
Our swimwear is made up of a nylon and spandex mix that gives us a versatile and durable fabric. We’ve chosen this fabric for its strength, durability, resistance to mildew, elasticity, low moisture absorption and increased resistance to abrasion as compared to natural fibres. Additionally, the fabric we use offers UPF50+ sun protection, is anti-crease and quick-dry whilst maintaining a lightweight feel. The UPF50+ feature of the fabric means that it only allows 1/50th of the sun’s UV radiation to pass through it, which will reduce your skin’s UV radiation exposure by 50 times (98% UV block) in areas where the skin is protected by the swimsuit.
We love the inclusive approach of Lanuuk. How much is it important for you to represent different body type?
Very important! Lanuuk was first and foremost created to address our needs. Each of us were on very different journeys that happened to cross the same paths. We also wanted women in all their forms to be celebrated. There is still so much more to do in bringing diversity to the fashion industry. We want to be a part of that evolution and try to represent a large range of sizes as part of our standard line-up in popular colours. But because it’s difficult to capture every body type and unique need, we offer custom-orders too.
Who are your clients and why do they choose to buy modest swimwear?
We’re a very new brand but our clients so far have been from a diverse range of ages and backgrounds. They are women who may be looking for a more modest swimwear solution for cultural or religious reasons, women who are conscious of the dangers of sun exposure, or women who are body conscious and are not comfortable with baring their curves or a lot of skin. We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from our clients about how confident our suits make them feel about their bodies. It’s exactly what we set out to do, and we couldn’t be happier with the reception.
What is the swimwear you created that you like the most and why?
We do love our Serena swimsuit; the way it fits and the way that the fabric falls – it looks so chic and feels really comfortable. It can even be worn as a standalone one-piece swim dress. The swim leggings are also now a wardrobe staple; we use them at the gym or for just relaxing at home!
3 adjectives that best describe your brand?
Luxurious. Empowering. Inclusive.
What does modest fashion mean to you and how do you think it can empower women?
We’re not here to tell women that they should cover up or that a swimsuit should cover your body; in fact, quite the opposite. A woman should be free to dress as she wishes. If that means covering up, it shouldn’t be for anyone to say that’s not acceptable. Modest fashion is all about representation and we hope that the more women wearing modest swimwear in its many styles will make it more accepted and celebrated.
What is your favourite colour and what does it inspire you?
We love neutral colours and our colour palette has so far included mostly neutral colours with a couple of rich accents as a running theme.
Your favourite fashion accessory?
A great hat! Whether you cover your hair or not, a hat is the perfect accessory.
The place of the world that inspires you the most and why?
We’ve taken a lot of inspiration from the Philippines. It is where our swimwear is made and we love the diverse scenery and rich culture.
Do you read/listen to podcasts? If so, what are your favourite books/podcasts?
‘On purpose’ podcasts by Jay Shetty—they’re so moving and helps one to look at the ‘bigger picture’. Especially as a new business, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or de-motivated at times and Jay’s wisdom really encourages the right mindset. Then there’s ‘Becoming’, by Michelle Obama; her life and her journey are truly inspirational.
Your philosophy in life and/or your favourite quote?
Be kind. We love this quote by Maya Angelou:“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
What was/were the biggest challenge(s) you have encountered while building your brand and how did you face it/them?
We both come from corporate backgrounds and were used to the security of working for big companies. Whilst it’s difficult to go out and do something on your own, the skills we’ve gained in our careers so far have served us well on this journey. We’re both new to retail and e-commerce and it’s a steep learning curve. There is so much to learn and with the dominance of social media, it can be overwhelming at times; so, we’re doing our best to navigate and embrace the challenges.
What advice would you give to women willing to start their own business?
We are by no means a success story yet, are still learning every day and take inspiration from all the amazing and supportive people in our lives. We really believe that to be successful, you should have a strong vision and stick to it. Be uncompromising on what you value. This is what will make you and your product unique, and will keep you motivated and focused.
]]>We are used to seeing one-piece bathing suits or bikinis – the more skin shown the better in such cases – but what happens when a woman isn’t too comfortable exposing her skin? Whether her choice is faith-based or simply a personal choice, should these women shy away from enjoying a relaxing swim?
When full-coverage swimwear first made a splash on the market, an outcry ensued touching on conversation points such as women’s liberty. In some countries, these garments were even banned.
Sadly, we have not moved past that and the stigma surrounding full-coverage swimwear remains a sensitive and controversial topic. Yet despite this, more modest fashion brands aren’t deterred and instead choosing to introduce more flamboyant, stylish, beautiful, full-coverage swimwear.
In this issue, we are privileged to be introducing you to several new collections and even newcomers in the modest fashion market. Brands (and women designers) who see past the stigma and the negative attention brought on full-coverage swimwear – and who instead aim to empower women to choose how they want to dress and feel confident in their own skin. Whether their choice to cover up stems from their religious beliefs or they simply prefer showing less skin, these brands are giving back the power of choice to these women."
Extract from Gaya Magazine's Summer 2019 issue. Click here to read full issue and find Lanuuk's feature on page 20-27.
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The lightbulb moment that led to the creation of Lanuuk Swimwear for me was one sparked by moments scattered throughout the last couple of decades.
Being a teen
Growing up, consciousness of swimwear style choices (and of it being an awkward experience) came in my early teen years, when, by the age of 13, I was suddenly hyperaware of my changing body, how it compared to my friends and what type of swimsuits the other girls started wearing.
Which swimsuit do I buy for my next weekend away at the beach? Everyone seems to be wearing bikinis now, I thought.
But, no way… I’d be tormented by my family! It couldn’t be a bikini, for sure. My choices in swimwear style when I was younger were never really influenced by modesty dictated by my Catholic upbringing, per se, but by being surrounded by my older sisters always making more modest choices in clothing. Higher necklines. Looser fitting tops and trousers. No sleeveless. And even no bathing suits in public if it can be avoided (at all costs!). So, I ended up going for what I considered a compromise between the two worlds and purchased a tankini, which is essentially a tank-top paired with bikini bottoms so that you’re only baring a small portion of your belly.
Then, whilst on a holiday with my friends, one of the girls said I should try one of her bikinis. Why not? Only my friends are here to see me. Little did I know that the feeling I had that first time wearing a bikini would be the same soul-baringly uncomfortable experience I’d feel every time thereafter. And even when it was a tankini or a one-piece swimsuit, it never felt quite right.
I realized that my swimwear choices weren’t necessarily going to be determined by society, or religion, or family. It was ultimately going to be determined by how that suit would make me feel when I wear it. Putting my body on display (just because I want to enjoy the water at the beach or the pool) was never a natural feeling. I needed a security blanket, but I never had one.
It then took years to realize that there was nothing wrong or abnormal with how I was feeling about swimwear; there just weren’t many alternatives.
Becoming a mother
Whilst I was always considered to be on the ‘healthy’ side of the body-type scale, I was blessed not to have been affected by body insecurities beyond the normal threshold that lingers within each of us. I wasn’t as thin as the other girls, but I was comfortable with who I was. But that didn’t mean that, again, I liked to show my body to the public in a bathing suit. Although, it was not a debilitating feeling that prevented me from just getting on with it and wearing my one-piece suits as I needed to throughout the years.
Until… I became a mother, and my body changed drastically. I had the rolls, the dimples, the real and large ‘post-baby bod’ (as can, of course, be expected). Remember that inner confidence that I had all those years? It took a massive dive. After having a baby, you go through a plethora of life changes and, whilst your new body is the least of your worries, it becomes the most unavoidably large distraction that doesn’t seem to shift. To make matters worse, getting back into exercise after two months post-birth meant that I needed to get back into a swimsuit (as swimming was going to be the kindest to my knee and pelvic joints that suffered miserably through pregnancy). Now, I say ‘getting back into’…there was NO getting back into my old swimsuits.
So, I went shopping in hope of finding a swimsuit that would give me an ounce of dignity back and make me look like even a fraction of my old self. It turned out to be a rather harrowing experience! After hours of exhausting all of my options, I came out of the department store with a mediocre rash guard and board shorts, where my usual lumps and bumps seemed to be even more accentuated. To add salt to the wound, I was accustomed to being a UK Medium (quick background: I had lived in London for the last 14 years of my adult life and only very recently moved back to Manila) but I was told by the sales assistant, and all the tags that I flipped in denial, that I was considered an XXL here in the Philippines….! I wasn’t sure if I was more saddened or angered by the experience.
Don’t these local fashion companies realize that those 3 letters (X-X-L) alone have the power to dent a woman’s confidence when it’s a whole three sizes larger than what she’s expecting? I realize that ‘average’ or ‘medium’ size is highly subjective based on the norms in each country.
But should it be? Surely, I wasn’t the only woman in the Philippines being miscategorized this way? Could it be that we have a much more diverse set of body types and style preferences that are yearning to be represented? Yes, of course! We come in all shapes and sizes, but representation in the media and the reflection of this in the shops remains low and borderline offensive! I needed a security blanket for getting out there in a swimsuit again, but I never had one.
Same story after baby number 2. Same story after baby number 3. I needed a security blanket, but I never had one. Until now.
Lanuuk Swimwear is born
In my own very small way, I wanted to be part of the solution. Not just for my own pain points but to bring an alternative to the mainstream. Bring awareness. Bring the conversation forward. Bring choice. Bring even just an ounce of confidence to my fellow women looking for a little boost. So, I got to work and began designing; and I can’t quite believe that those designs can now be shared with the world.
]]>I have been wearing the hijab for over 10 years and my experiences of going to the beach or swimming have been sporadic. I’ve been lucky enough to visit beach resorts with enough privacy to let me swim and sunbathe freely! I’ve also been to many ‘women’s only’ beaches which are customary in the Middle East, allowing women who do choose to cover, the freedom to wear a bikini or one-piece, or at the very least remove their headscarf, to sunbathe and relax on the beach. And for the times that I haven’t had these luxuries, I've thrown on a long t-shirt paired with leggings or cobbled together something ‘beach appropriate’ from the gym clothes that I have. Trust me, these have been less than beach appropriate and definitely not appropriate for swimming. Heavy dripping clothes, stuck to me in all the wrong places and covered in sand. You get the idea. I’ve had my fair share of funny looks!
For those of you that find this strange, I get it! The beach IS a place to be free. The presence of men should not hinder that. Whilst that may be the case for some, for other women, there are factors that mean that stripping down to a bikini or one-piece and exposing their bodies on the beach, would not feel any more normal or comfortable than walking down the street in their underwear. Some women cover for religious reasons. Some would not dream of exposing so much of their skin to the sun’s harmful rays. And there are others that just don’t feel comfortable exposing their bodies, just because they are on the beach. But are limited by the lack of other swimwear options.
So when I was faced with the prospect of having to swim on a weekly basis at my local gym, panic started to set it. I immediately started searching online for a ‘burkini’. For those of you not familiar with it, a burkini is a hybrid of the words ‘burka’ (the garment used by Muslim women to cover their entire bodies) and ‘bikini’. Type ‘burkini’ into google.. you will be faced by a sea of images of full sleeve swim garments; long, loose fitting dress, paired with loose fitting trousers, with a head covering attached for good measure. Most of the designs follow a similar theme: plain fabrics sporting some kind of basic neon colour block or large floral printed design. The burkini was originally thought up about 10 years ago and made famous by non-Muslim women wearing it on the beach preferring not to expose themselves or simply to protect themselves from the sun - oh the outrage! Despite burkinis being aimed at women like me, I cringed when I saw what was on offer and nothing compelled me to make a purchase. Surely this cannot be the selection available to me in 2018! The swimsuits I was seeing had been designed with little thought given to style, fit or comfort. They don’t appear to consider different tastes or body types and frankly make me feel very self conscious; and that’s before I’ve even tried it on!
I completely understand the need for a loose fitting garment especially for women looking for a modest swimwear solution, but my personal choice was to go for a swimsuit that was suitably fitted to avoid the excess material sticking to my body when immersed in water.
I searched and eventually settled on a burkini being sold by a large UK department store. It was the simplest, least fussy design I could find. A one piece black swimdress attached to leggings with a simple blue stripe across the front. No headgear attached. I have to admit I was excited to have found something that was being sold to a ‘western’ audience as I felt this would somehow suit my needs better. This swimsuit cost me over £50; which I thought was a small price to pay if it fitted my requirements. I eagerly awaited the delivery of my purchase. On arrival I immediately unpacked the swimsuit and tried it on. The upper garment was fitted with cups which at first seemed like a great idea but I soon realised that these were fitted nowhere near my breasts but instead sat just below my neck - epic fail! The size small pulled at the crotch whilst the medium sagged and I immediately knew I would have a permanent wedgie. The fabric was cheap and of poor quality, the type that if you caught your nail on, it would immediately scratch and snag. Oh well, swimming was a week away so I quickly cut off the tags, cut out the cups and settled for this sub-optimal solution to my swimwear problem.
But I wasn’t giving up that easy!
I continued my search for stylish modest swimwear online but the results were few and far between. Why was this so hard? This is not a new problem so why had the fashion industry not picked up on the fact that women need chic, well fitted swimwear that isn’t a skimpy bikini or one-piece.
And that’s when it clicked. I need to make my own! My problem was not unique.. there is a demand but not enough supply. I spoke with my sister in law, now my co-founder and she had an equal light bulb moment. So we set out to design and create the perfect full coverage swimwear solution. Designed by us, for us. We have different body types and complementary tastes so each of us has brought a unique perspective to the designs and creation of our swimwear. The details are personal to us. The fabric and fits have been tried and tested. And we are both passionate about creating a luxury product that we feel proud to wear.
Whilst each woman has a unique need, they shouldn’t have to settle for a makeshift or sloppy swimwear solution. Lanuuk aims to redefine the traditional swimsuit and give women more of a choice of what they wear to the beach or to swim. Our brand and logo represent a pearl and shell; we want women to feel exquisite and empowered and love wearing our swimsuits as much as we do!
The world is your oyster and we’ve got you covered!
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