Colors of Sway, Drawn by Nature
For the main pattern of the eit swim 2026 collection, we focused on natural dyeing. Natural dyeing uses pigments extracted from plants to color fabric or paper, and it has been part of Japanese daily life since the Jōmon period.
Back then, people dyed cloth with tree bark, leaves, and grasses, bringing the colors of nature into their everyday lives. By the Nara and Heian periods, dyeing techniques had become more refined, and colors came to represent social status, the seasons, and even prayers for protection and renewal.
During the samurai era, practical dyes like indigo and earthy browns dominated daily clothing, reflecting a cultural value of restraint and the beauty of simplicity. By the Edo period, natural dyeing had been further refined by ordinary people, creating Japan’s unique, deeply nuanced color culture. The colors vary depending on the season, the part of the plant used, and the region—making each hue unique to its time and place.
The inspiration came from natural dye artists WUY, who we collaborated with this season. The couple runs a project called Re:Zome(dye), reviving discarded garments through natural dyeing and promoting a circular approach to fashion. Working closely with them, WUY prepared dyes by simmering indigo leaves and logwood to create ink, and designer LAF applied it to paper—giving birth to the plant-inspired patterns for the eit swim 2026 collection.
A one-of-a-kind marbled color shaped by both chance and intention. Soft yet deep, it carries a natural gentleness that settles effortlessly on the skin. In the water, the marbling moves with the flow, responding to each ripple and sway, slowly blending until it feels as if the colors and the water become one.
Read the interview with WUY here.
※To meet the functional needs of swimwear, we use recycled synthetic fibers such as recycled polyester and nylon. Since natural dyes cannot be directly applied to these materials, we bring the beauty and story of natural dyeing to life by printing the patterns onto the swimwear.