Rip Curl Womens Swimwear S/S 2026 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Womens Swimwear S/S 2026 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Rip Curl
Interviewee: Charlotte Lefrançois – Associate Product manager Women’s

What are the current industry trends in women’s swimwear?
In terms of silhouettes, we are coming back to retro, 90’s surf vibe. We are still maintening our business on traditional shapes such as sliding tris and cheeky bottoms, but we can see the trend shifting to bold hi legs bottoms and underwire tops. Trend strongly linked to Gen-Z growing influence. Design speaking, we are seeing a strong trend on textured fabrics that is taking a lot of market share, on plain colors but also on printed stories. We still need our floral DNA print that is driving the business, but linked to the come back of retro surf vibe, we can found more bold visual prints, on traditional microfiber but also on textured fabrics.

What style/shape of swimwear is most popular in your current range?
Our best selling shapes are cheeky bottoms and triangles, but we can see our business growing on our One size one piece.

What have been the major inspirations behind the designs in the 2026 range?
Our Spring 2026 range was inspired from several places and decades from California. We initiate our Californian journey in January by introducing Pacific coast that channels bohemian beach vibes with relaxed silhouettes and matching sets. Strong graphics with trendy leopard accents, feminine looks balanced with trendy bold pieces. Our second capsule called Surf side launched in February roots its design on Sportswear meeting Surf Culture – we can except vibrant colours and sports- inspired graphics supported by a vintage touch bringing 90’s era back to life. This retro vibe will we balanced with strong Floral print to add feminine touch and a recall to our DNA. Our vibrant Artist of the Search collection in March, built in collaboration with Hayley O’Connor, ends our Californian journey and capture the essence of the iconic Malibu beach days, merging the nostalgia of lifeguard tower, palm trees into a vivid and iconic statement print. We embrace the retro waves with an 80’s inspired surf collection with strong graphics, bold colour palette and modern styling, ensuring every piece carries the spirit of surf culture with a contemporary twist.

What colour palettes and prints will we find in your 2026 range? Any crossovers from other brand product categories?
We bring this season more fabrics of interest to serve market needs and follow current swimwear trends. We will also find strong summer colour palette mixed with soft entry season colourways. This will be dropped down into all product categories, from swimwear to apparel and down to accessories.

What are your marketing stories for your 2026 collection?
Rip Curl’s vision is to be regarded as the Ultimate Surfing Company in all that we do and 2026 is going to be the year of strong partnership and reinforcement of our Live the Search brand campaign. We are lucky and proud to announce our collaboration with the Brazilian brand Farm Rio, with an exclusive online capsule in November 2025 and a second drop coming up on next April 2026. This partnership celebrates each brand’s cultural roots through vibrant designs, uniting beach spirit and street style in a shared vision of joy and adventure. This collaboration pays tribute to the golden age of Carioca surfing in the 1980 and 90’s – era of colorful fashion, carefree vibes and iconic Rio backdrops like Ipanema and Copacabana. At Rip Curl, we’ve spent decades chasing the best waves on the planet – pushing the limits of surf exploration and innovation. Now, we’re bringing that same commitment to performance and authenticity into a new era, with a new Search Series collection for next Fall. A curated collection of products that embody the true spirit of surfing-gear that looks, feels like authentic surf yet performs like it belongs in the water and on The Search. Designed with purpose, blending functionality, durability, and comfort without sacrificing the effortless style that defines true surf culture. Whether you’re deep in the jungle chasing uncrowded perfection or stepping out for a dawn patrol at your local, these products are built to perform in the elements while staying true to the heritage of surfing. Born from culture. Built for purpose. #Livethesearch

Key Products:

The coastal instinct tri:
The coastal instinct tri with its unique print, tie front detail, contrast bindings and adjustable straps will let you set you fit, offering light support but sill good breast coverage. Easy to match back with the rest of the Pacific Coast capsule.

The coastal instinct tri

This trendy 90’s Surf silhouette:
This trendy 90’s Surf silhouette inspired sets a cropped short sleeves top with a skimpy bottom in crepe for an iconic and heritage look, answering to trendy, nostalgics from old surf era customers, and target our gen z girls.

This trendy 90’s Surf silhouette

The Hotel Malibu one piece:
The Hotel Malibu one piece on shimmer fabric and with our bold hero artwork designed by our Artist of the Search Hailey O’Connor, bring a vintage feel in a cheeky fit with open back, fully lined for comfort with adjustable straps.

The Hotel Malibu one piece