Now revived and reimagined as Hunza G, the London label is helmed by Creative Director Georgiana Huddart who re-started the brand with the original founder Peter Meadows in 2015, nearly twenty-three years after it had stopped making swimsuits. With a love for the heritage crinkle fabric originally worn by herself throughout her youth, she got hold of some material, started making samples and wore one to a party where a friend said she knew Peter. They had coffee the next day and started Hunza G immediately.
Nostalgia is powerful in fashion and the brand felt it important to revive with a different aesthetic but also stay true to its ‘80s heritage.
Setting out to provide swimwear for all - a flattering one size fit (from size 6 to size 14) is made possible by the fabric’s inherent stretch and support. A knitted lycra and elastane combination, it is made on a circular loom, which means it is tubular and has no seams. A few brands have tried to rip off the fabric but never with the same quality or stretch.
Hunza G’s production process begins and ends locally in the UK, knitted and dyed in a local mill in the Midlands, then processed and dried before being sent to their Central London studio where each garment is cut and made to order, limiting any possible unnecessary fabric consumption.
Resourcefully, small quantities of headbands and scrunchies are produced with cuttings of excess fabric and reducing wastage.
A six month warranty is offered to ensure the chance to repair any potential issues that can arise with wear, rather than tossing an otherwise wearable garment. The small London team is comprised of less than ten individuals, including the head cutter and machinist – a married couple crucial to Hunza’s heritage and succession into Hunza G.
Social media and collaborations have a huge impact on the success of the brand, particularly Hunza G’s partnership with influencer and fashion journalist Pandora Sykes.
The swimwear is a cult favorite worn by Rosie Huntington-Whiteleyand and Lily Aldridge among others. Unlike other brands, their relationships are never forced, and they never gift items to celebrities.
Simplicity in design, the One Piece Swimsuits such as the Square neck one piece features Hunza G's signature seersucker fabric and a low back.
Likewise, the bikinis come in a variety of colours and swatches are available to view online.
Here’s to the next thirty years.
By Anna Bance
February 2021
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