Frankies Bikinis occupies a unique position in the swimwear landscape — a brand that has mastered the art of celebrity collaboration without ever losing its soul. Founded by Francesca Aiello, who began selling hand-sewn bikinis from her family home at the age of sixteen, the brand has grown from a teenage passion project into one of the most recognisable names in American swimwear. The journey from bedroom to boardroom is a familiar Silicon Valley narrative, but Aiello's version has more salt water and sunshine in it than server rooms and spreadsheets.
The collaboration with JENNIE, the BLACKPINK star and global fashion icon, represents a new zenith for the brand. This is not the lazy, logo-slapping celebrity partnership that has become depressingly common in fashion. JENNIE's involvement runs deep — she has shaped the silhouettes, selected the fabrics, and infused the collection with her own distinctive aesthetic that bridges Korean fashion sensibility with Californian ease. The result is swimwear that feels genuinely international, as at home on the beaches of Jeju as it is on the shores of Santa Monica.
The crochet pieces are the heart of this collection, and they deserve to be examined closely. In an age of mass production, crochet swimwear is a quiet act of rebellion — each piece requires hand-finishing that machines simply cannot replicate. The Nari tankini, with its ivory crochet construction, channels the spirit of 1970s Mediterranean glamour while feeling entirely contemporary. It is the kind of piece that looks as though it was found in a vintage market in Portofino, yet fits with the precision of something made to measure.
Alongside the crochet, the shine fabric pieces offer a completely different energy. The Frank top and Magnolia top in Spring Stripe use a high-lustre material that reflects light in a way that is undeniably eye-catching without tipping into garish territory. These are pieces designed for the woman who wants to be noticed — not through volume or excess, but through the quiet confidence of wearing something that catches the light exactly right.
The colour palette is carefully restrained: ivory, heaven blue, and a spring stripe that combines pastel warmth with graphic clarity. This discipline means every piece in the collection works with every other piece, creating a mix-and-match system that multiplies the value of each purchase. Pair the heaven crochet Nick top with the spring stripe Full Moon bottom for a playful contrast, or keep things tonal with the ivory Nick top and a matching crochet brief. The combinations are endless and, crucially, every single one looks intentional.
For The Swim Edit, Frankies Bikinis x JENNIE represents the exciting intersection of pop culture and genuine craft. These are pieces that will generate double-takes on any beach in the world, not because they scream for attention but because they radiate the kind of effortless cool that only comes from pairing a celebrity's instinct for the moment with a brand's deep understanding of how swimwear should be made.
