Prêt-à-plonger: SURO Swimwear

I felt so free and grown-up when I swam on my own for the first time, fearless in open water – being five years old. We all have our childhood memories of what it was like to float on the water after all, without a helping hand. How happy and proud we were. Margarita Payeras, founder of SURO Swimwear, vividly remembers how her grandfather taught her to swim. How she trusted him and a pink swimming aid made from cork – suro in Catalan. Margarita’s experience and values, her enthusiasm and persistence are the secret and the basis of SURO’s success.

Her unmistakable collections are inspired by urban fashion and a sustainable lifestyle. When I discovered SURO Swimwear last year I immediately fell in love with its minimalistic chic, the clear, often asymmetric cuts and the brilliant colors. Margarita started to make drafts for her own swimwear label a couple of years ago. She was actually more interested in streetwear than in swimwear. You can still see it in her current designs: while swimsuits and bikinis usually just try to hide as little of your body as possible, SURO miraculously also makes you look well-dressed.

For Margarita it goes without saying that her products are not only good-looking. It took her a while until she found a company in Italy that produces a high quality, Oeko-Tex certified Lycra from recycled plastic, and a factory in Barcelona that sews all her designs. While many brands introduce one single eco-product in their portfolio and make a big deal about it, SURO Swimwear is completely sustainable and locally produced under fair working conditions.

Recently, SURO introduced its second collection for 2017 in the same cool signature style – even more confident, more elaborate, and highly mix-and-matchable, since you can buy each item individually. My choice was the Puzzle top with the high-waisted Puzzle bottom plus the smaller Boomerang bottom. They come in wonderful shades of ocean blue, Margarita’s favorite color. Three pieces that I can combine in twelve different styles, wearing them inside out, or partly twisting the bikini top for a new look. Buy 3, get 12 – that’s pretty awesome! And surely another take on sustainability.

You can browse the lookbook and order online, but there are also occasional pop-ups on Mallorca, Menorca and the peninsula that sell SURO Swimwear. In Palma, Paula’s Room has a lovely small selection in store, and you can find it at Hotel Sa Bassa Rotja in Porreres. The shop at Son Brull Hotel in Pollenca also offers SURO – customised with its own logo.