From Beach to City: The Designer Behind the Swim Tank

eit swim started in 2018 with the concept of “connecting the beach and the city.” Today, many brands feature swim tanks and camisoles that can be worn outside the water, but back in 2019, when we launched, there was nothing like it. We still remember how fresh that idea felt at the time. Looking back, I wanted to revisit the thoughts that led us to this theme, and here I share them in a casual interview with the designer, including some of the development story.

ーCan you share where the concept of “connecting the sea and the city” came from when the brand was founded?
Designer (D): We were surfers, so wearing swimwear in everyday life was natural for us. But we wanted to show people that swimwear doesn’t have to be just for the beach. Most of my friends were from fashion backgrounds—designers, PR, sales—so we also wanted stylish people to enjoy wearing it.

ーThat’s why we decided to show styling with vintage pieces in our visuals.
D: Exactly. I thought about how my friends in Tokyo would actually wear it in daily life, so from the first season we suggested outfits combining swimwear with everyday clothes.

ーAnd the following year, the Swim Tank was born.
D: I wanted to make the connection between beach and city even more seamless. I thought it would be great to have something you could just throw on in daily life, and that’s how the tank top came about. When paired with high-waist bottoms, it looked like a one-piece swimsuit—an instant “aha” moment.

ーI still vividly remember the excitement of that moment when the idea first came to us. How did people react?
D: Thankfully, it was very well received. Even friends who don’t usually go to the beach still wear those early swim tanks as summer pieces or as inner layers, which makes me really happy to see.

ーNext year marks the brand’s 8th season, and the Swim Tank has become our signature piece.
D: That’s right. I really wanted to refine it even further. Unfortunately, many brands later adopted similar concepts, so it’s a bit harder now. Of course, in this world, people get inspired by various sources, and it’s not really about who started it first. But seeing the market filled with “everyday wearable” swimwear has made things more challenging. I’ve always had a strong feeling of wanting to stand out, so it’s a bit disappointing that we couldn’t push this original concept even further.

ーNowadays, some might think “other brands do that too.”
D: It’s sad because we’ve nurtured this brand from the beginning.

ーBut eit swim still has a big strength in how it fits in the water.
D: Yes. While the market has plenty of swim tanks now, very few consider functionality like we do. Being surfers ourselves, we pay attention to safety—water entering the suit is dangerous, and as swimwear, safety comes first. Swimwear brands often ignore that responsibility, but we take it seriously.

ーI’m sure new eit swim ideas will continue to emerge.
D: There’s no pressure to create something new, but I believe that, like with the swim tank, inspiration will strike unexpectedly.

Check out eit swim’s swim tanks and camisoles here.