The Lycra Company will mark 80 years of beachwear innovation at MarediModa 2026, the European trade show for swimwear, lingerie, and athleisure fabrics in Cannes from October 27 to 29. The event coincides with the 80th anniversary of the bikini’s creation, a milestone that anchors the company’s exhibition and celebration.
Since the 1960s, Lycra® fibre has played a central role in the transformation of swimwear. That brings durability, comfort, and shape retention to designs that have become global symbols of style and self-expression. The company’s project for MarediModa is developed in collaboration with Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, both leading producers of high-performance stretch fabrics and long-standing Lycra® partners.
The exhibition centers on the Lycra® Brand Lounge and the Carvico and Jersey Lomellina stand, where a cocktail reception will be held at 6pm CET on the opening evening. On display will be bikinis from the 1960s through today, made using Carvico and Jersey Lomellina materials that include Lycra Xtra Life® fibre. Each swimsuit reflects the look and cultural influences of its decade, while showing changes in textile technology.
Lycra Xtra Life® fibre, according to the company, enables swimwear to retain its performance up to ten times longer than garments made with unprotected elastane. The fibre’s resistance to chlorine, sunscreen, perspiration, heat, and UV rays supports longer-lasting swimwear without sacrificing comfort or fit. Arnaud Ruffin, vice president of brands and retail business at The Lycra Company, said, “Celebrating 80 years of the bikini at MarediModa alongside exceptional partners such as Carvico and Jersey Lomellina is an extraordinary opportunity to reaffirm our vision for the future of beachwear.”
The exhibition brings together music from different decades, visual storytelling, and advances in textiles. Italian artist Ileana Lucia Ferri has created a series of illustrations that capture the spirit of each era, establishing a dialogue between fashion, visual culture, and textile progress. During the cocktail reception, a live band will perform music spanning the past eight decades, while interactive LED walls project the evolution of the bikini from the 1960s to today.
The company says the event will combine music, fashion, and technology to show how durability remains important over time. Ruffin said, “we are convinced that durability is one of the most meaningful ways to support more responsible fashion. The proven performance of Lycra Xtra Life® fibre enables us to offer swimwear solutions designed to last longer.”
The display traces the history of the bikini through selected pieces that highlight the changing shapes, materials, and needs of each period. The exhibition also includes a series of illustrations by Ferri that reflect how swimwear has changed, not just in appearance but in the way it responds to the wearer’s lifestyle and environment.
The collaboration with Carvico and Jersey Lomellina is central to the project, as both companies have worked with Lycra to develop fabrics that combine stretch, durability, and comfort. The event’s visual storytelling is supported by music and digital projections, creating a setting where visitors can see how textile innovation has shaped beachwear. The company says that Lycra Xtra Life® fibre’s resistance to chlorine, sunscreen, perspiration, heat, and UV rays is key to making swimwear that lasts longer and keeps its fit and performance.
The magazine has also looked at how biological age tests are chosen and Khrystyna Markovska’s approach to biohacking and longevity.
Sources
- Autocar: Inside Hot Wheels: how model cars became the world’s best-selling toy, October 25, 2026
- FashionUnited: Lycra Company celebrates 80 years of beachwear innovation at MarediModa 2026, October 26, 2026
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