When Aviva Bidapa was concep-tualising her resort wear label, she wanted to make sure to deliver on two things — one must look good in the swimsuits and the wearer should also be able to swim in them. “I was never able to find this in a swimsuit,” says the actor-turned designer, who launched her label, Aviva Swimwear, with a fashion show last week. “If you’ve bought a cute bandeau, chances are you won’t swim in it. You’d wear it to a pool party, or to tan. What I’m trying to say is that you could swim a mile in a cute Aviva bandeau. Also, I’ve always wanted to design my own swimsuits, because it’s hard to find the perfect piece and the perfect fit. Especially for the Indian body type,” she adds.
Having grown up surrounded by models, thanks to her father, Prasad Bidapa’s model management agency, Aviva is no stranger to fashion and shares that her innate creativity and love for beautiful clothes were things she always wanted to tap into. At the show, she unveiled two collections. “The first is a tribute to old Holly-wood, inspired by stars like Lana Turner and Gina Lollobrigida, with polka dots in black and white, teamed with solid red. My second collection features Japanese koi prints,” she explains. The swimsuits employ a next generation fabric developed by Sri Lankan company, Linea Aqua. Breathable and quick drying, it is designed with Lycra for a comfortable fit.
While classic two-piece bikinis form a major part of the designs, Aviva picks some of her favourites. “The high waisted bikinis create a fabulous silhouette. Then, there’s the balcony bra, which is structured to give you an ample bosom. I’ve also designed a swimsuit with sashes that you can wrap around your body for more support,” she reveals.
Rs.3,500 upwards. At Millenial Mode, Convent Road (from April 25)