Carve Designs Swim: Designed With Purpose, Made to Move
At Carve Designs, we believe swimwear should work with a woman’s body and lifestyle—not the other way around. That belief shapes everything from the materials we choose to the way we approach fit, coverage, support, and movement. This year, that approach has been recognized by Forbes, Business Insider, Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily, and Outside, each highlighting a different part of what makes Carve swimwear thoughtfully designed for real life.
Nearly a Decade of Thoughtful Swimwear Design
Our approach to swimwear starts long before a suit reaches the water.
In Forbes, journalist Esha Chhabra explored Carve Designs’ long-term approach to product development and sustainability, including our decision nearly a decade ago to introduce recycled polyester into our swimwear collection.
At the time, incorporating reclaimed plastic bottles and post-consumer waste into swimwear was still relatively uncommon. But choosing a more responsible material was only part of the process. We spent more than two years working directly with our mill in China to develop a fabric that met our standards for softness, comfort, and performance.
As co-founder Thayer Sylvester told Forbes:
“It took us about two and a half years to develop the fabric to a place where we felt like you’d want it next to your skin.”
That level of care is part of how we think about sustainability. It isn’t about making a single change and calling it done. It’s about making more thoughtful choices while still creating swimwear that feels good, fits well, and performs when you need it to.
The same hands-on approach extends to fit. For years, Carve has gathered feedback directly from women through product testing, evolving from informal fitting gatherings to wear testing with women across different body types, ages, and activity levels.
The goal has always been to listen, learn, and make better products—not simply follow what’s happening in the industry.
As Sylvester shared with Forbes:
“You just have to stay true to your brand and authentic with your messaging, and not worry too much about the competition.”
Fit That Takes Proportion Into Account
Finding the right swimsuit isn’t always as simple as knowing your size. Body proportions can make a big difference, especially when it comes to one-piece swimwear.
In Business Insider’s guide to the best long-torso swimsuits, updated July 21, 2026, the Carve Designs Serenity Compression One-Piece was named Best Plunge, while the Skye Compression One-Piece was selected as Best Compression.
The Serenity features an additional 1.5 inches of length through the torso, along with adjustable straps, moderate compression, an open back, and high-cut legs. Business Insider noted that the added length creates a more comfortable fit through the torso, while the adjustable straps allow for a more personalized fit.
The Skye offers a more supportive feel, with compression fabric designed to smooth and shape without feeling restrictive. Business Insider described it as having a:
“snug, supportive feel that smooths and shapes without feeling too stiff.”
With UPF 50+ protection, long-torso sizing, an open back, and medium coverage, the Skye is designed for active days in and around the water.
Both styles reflect our approach to fit: recognizing that women have different proportions and designing accordingly, rather than expecting everyone to fit into the same standard silhouette.
More Coverage, Without Giving Up the Two-Piece
Sometimes you want the flexibility of a bikini with a little more coverage.
Good Housekeeping named the Carve Designs Tofino Top its Best Full-Coverage Bikini in its roundup of the best swimsuits for women over 50, updated June 12, 2026.
The Tofino pairs a long-line top with high-rise bottoms, offering more coverage while keeping the ease and versatility of a two-piece. Removable pads allow you to customize shape and support, while UPF 50+ fabric provides added sun protection. The reversible bottoms can also be worn with either a print or solid side facing out.
As Good Housekeeping describes it:
“If you want the flexibility of a two-piece swimsuit but don’t want to show quite as much skin, this one is designed with a long-line top that covers more than a typical bikini but less than a tankini.”
It’s a style designed to give you options—more coverage when you want it, a customizable fit, and two ways to wear the bottoms.
Support Without the Underwire
Support doesn’t have to mean underwire.
In Oprah Daily’s 2026 guide to the best swimsuits for small busts, the Carve Designs Elba Top was named Best Without Underwire.
Oprah Daily staff writer Sofia Lodato called the Elba her:
“all-time favorite bikini.”
The review highlights the top’s design, fabric, and construction, as well as the comfort and fit of the bottoms. The Elba is available in sizes XS–XL and was featured in numerous colors in the article.
For us, thoughtful support is about creating a secure, comfortable fit without adding unnecessary structure. The Elba is one example of how thoughtful construction can offer both support and ease.
Made to Move Beyond the Beach
A swimsuit should be able to keep up with your plans. Whether you’re swimming, running along the shore, paddling, or spending a long day outside, it should move comfortably and stay put.
In Outside’s guide to the best bikinis for active women, published June 1, 2026, Carve Designs was recognized across several categories following more than two years of testing in Costa Rica, Hawaii, the British Virgin Islands, Southern California, the Colorado River, and a variety of pools, lakes, and reservoirs.
The Erin Reversible Bottom was named a Best High-Rise, Slightly Cheeky Bikini Bottom. Its over-belly cut provides additional coverage, while the waistband can be folded over for a lower-rise look. The reversible design gives you a print on one side and solid on the other.
As Outside’s tester put it:
“This is a versatile piece I’ve worn time and again.”
The Sanitas Compression Reversible Top was recognized as a Best Full-Coverage Bikini Top, with its high neckline, racerback construction, sun coverage, support, and reversible design. The tester noted:
“The Sanitas Compression Reversible Top made me feel securely covered.”
The Escondido Top was selected as a Best Medium-Coverage Bikini Top. Designed to pull on overhead and fit much like a sports bra, it provides support for running and other active days by the water. Its fabric is made with 82% recycled polyester from plastic water bottles and 18% spandex, with UPF 50 protection.
Outside also recognized the Reversible St. Barth Bottoms as a Best Low-Rise, Medium-Coverage Bikini Bottom and the Stinson Bottoms as a Best Mid-Rise, Full-Coverage Bikini Bottom.
Across the collection, the common thread is adaptability. These are pieces designed to move with you, whether you’re spending the day at the beach, getting out on the water, or simply enjoying time outside.