An exhibition on a century of swimming and style to open at the Design Museum

The Design Museum’s exhibition will feature Pamela Anderson’s iconic Baywatch swimsuit and explore the evolution of swimwear over the past 100 years, with a focus on its cultural impact and design innovations, opening in March 2025.

Pamela AndersonZUMA Press, Inc./Alamy Stock Photo.

The Design Museum in London is set to make waves with its upcoming exhibition, Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style. Running from 28 March to 17 August 2025, the exhibition dives deep into a century of swimming history, exploring its impact on fashion, architecture, and society. Highlights include Pamela Anderson’s legendary red Baywatch swimsuit, a 1924 Olympic gold medal won by British swimmer Lucy Morton, and bold men’s Speedos that celebrate the evolution of swimwear. With over 200 objects from across Europe, the exhibition promises an in-depth look at swimming as a cultural phenomenon.

Willie & Toukie Smith designer & model. NYC 1978. Courtesy of Anthony Barboza.

The exhibition will trace the history of swimming and swimwear from the 1920s, when swimwear began to be marketed specifically for swimming rather than bathing, to today’s viral Mermaidcore trends. It will also delve into the role of design in shaping our relationship with water—whether through high-performance swimwear like the banned LZR Racer swimsuit, or the architectural beauty of iconic swimming venues such as Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics Centre. By addressing themes like leisure, bodily autonomy, and environmental concerns, Splash! brings a modern perspective to a timeless activity.

Pamela Anderson’s Baywatch swimsuit is set to be one of the exhibition’s major draws, having been loaned by the BikiniARTmuseum in Germany. The piece highlights the cultural impact of Baywatch, which brought global attention to the one-piece swimsuit and inspired countless fashion trends. Alongside it, visitors can view one of the earliest surviving bikinis, a striped woollen men’s swimsuit from 1933, and Speedo designs that reflect shifting styles and attitudes over the decades.

Subversive Sirens. Photo by Ackerman + Gruber.

Curated by historian Amber Butchart and Tiya Dahyabhai of the Design Museum, Splash! also examines the folklore and inclusivity surrounding swimming. From mermaid tales depicted in mass media to contemporary swimwear designs that promote bodily agency, the exhibition takes a critical yet celebratory approach to this universal activity. As Butchart explains, “The history of swimwear and swimming mirrors wider societal changes, offering a lens to understand our evolving relationship with water.”

Date: 28 March - 17 August 2025. Location: The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG. Price: £14.38/ £7.19 adult/child. Under 6s go free. Book now.