Assessment of Women’s Plus-Size Swimwear for Industry Applications

Using the functional, expressive and aesthetic (FEA) consumer needs model, this research investigated plus-size women’s swimwear needs. Swimming is a popular activity for women, which offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. However, little is known about plus-size women’s design preferences and satisfaction with swimwear. Attributes of swimwear were assessed through a mixed-methods qualitative survey (n = 58) and five follow-up focus groups (n = 18) with plus-size women in the western region of the United States. Participants reported greatest dissatisfaction with the functional and aesthetic attributes of swimwear available. The women in this study suggested incorporating greater bust support, increasing the ease of donning and doffing, and offering a variety of styles with modern aesthetics that visually flatter their figures. Based on the results, design implementation should include functional, expressive and aesthetic needs to develop swimwear that satisfies the plus-size consumer. Industry applications are provided.