Gottex

For shoppers who prioritize construction and a flattering fit, it generally earns its place. Gottex positions itself firmly as a luxury swimwear house and is a pioneer of suits with hard-cup bras, so the support and shaping are real selling points rather than marketing. If you want a swimsuit that holds its shape and reads as elegant rather than disposable, it's a credible choice.

It has a genuine track record of firsts. Gottex was the first manufacturer to introduce spandex into swimwear and is a pioneer of swimsuits with hard-cup bras, both of which shaped how modern swimwear fits and supports. The house has long been known for using innovative fabrics, which is a big part of its reputation for quality.

The florals carry a deeply personal meaning. During the German occupation of Hungary, founder Lea Gottlieb had to move between hiding places, and to avoid being recognized as a Jew at checkpoints she would tuck her head into a bouquet of flowers. She said the flower motifs in her designs were a tribute to the flowers that saved her life.

Gottex was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1956 by Lea Gottlieb, who led the design team until 1998. She adapted her experience as a raincoat manufacturer into a pioneering swimsuit company, famously selling her wedding ring for capital, buying fabric and borrowing a sewing machine to begin.

Lea Gottlieb drew directly on the landscape around her, designing suits she felt were unique to Israel. She took her palette from the local Middle-Eastern light and color: the aqua of the Mediterranean, the golden yellow of the desert, the blue of Lake Tiberias, the pink of Jerusalem stone and the greens of the Galilee.

It's built around a broader resort wardrobe. Beyond swimsuits, Gottex produces caftans, tunics and trousers, combining swimwear and beachwear. The founder's vision was that a Gottex collection could be worn from pool to bar, and on to a restaurant or cocktail party, so the pieces are designed to move through a whole day.

Yes, by the 1980s it had reached a notably high-profile clientele. Gottex swimsuits were worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, Spain's Queen Sofia, Elizabeth Taylor and Brooke Shields. That kind of following helped cement its standing as a luxury swimwear name.

It's an Israeli swimwear house based in Tel Aviv, and its reach has been substantial. In 1993 Gottex was America's top swimsuit import, and according to the Israel Export Institute, Israeli swimwear exports totaled $44 million in 1999, a figure the brand was central to.

It did, in a telling moment for the brand's independence. In 1975 the fashion houses of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin approached Gottlieb about manufacturing her swimsuits under their names. Instead of licensing the designs out, she chose to expand on her own into men's and children's swimwear, bed linens, towels and drapes.

Ownership moved on from its founder in the late 1990s. In 1997 Gottex was acquired by Lev Leviev of the Africa-Israel Group. Lea Gottlieb stayed on to run the design department for another year before leaving to start a new fashion company under her own name at the age of 85, where she worked until she was 90.