I can’t be the only one who is skeptical of “one-size” clothing, let alone “one-size” swimwear. Shopping for a swimsuit is already tasking enough, and then brands attach a “one-size” label to it like it’s really supposed to fit everybody when I can already barely find a swimsuit in my size that fits? As an analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab with an academic background in apparel product development and body image, I have plenty of reasons to be doubtful of the claims. So when “one-size” crinkle swimwear started popping up everywhere and was actually getting positive feedback, I knew I had to put it to the test.
Hunza G is the brand most well-known for one-size swimwear, which includes one-pieces, bikinis, and tankinis made of a unique crinkled material designed to fit standard women’s sizes 2–14. I chose some of the brand’s more popular styles to try out for myself and on women of different body types, along with soliciting firsthand feedback from other analysts and editors who have worn Hunza G’s stretchy swimwear. Here’s a breakdown of what one-size swimwear is, if it works, and whether or not it’s worth it.
How does one-size swimwear work?
Hunza’s material for one-size swimwear is knit on a circular machine (just like a tube sock), so it doesn’t have the usual restrictive side seams of a regular swimsuit: This give it more ability to stretch. If you remember the popcorn shirts of the early 2000s, the concept is similar. The fabric is a knit seersucker that has a lot of textured, raised spots that create a crinkly look.
When the material is stretched out, the textured bits of knit fabric expand, allowing the swimsuit to cover even more surface area and easily accommodating curves of different sizes and shapes. The sturdier knit stitches in-between give the swimsuit structure. When you take the swimsuit off, it returns back to its original shape. It looks like magic, but it’s just textiles science at its best.
Is it actually “one-size-fits-all”?
Really, it should be considered “one-size-fits-many.” The swimsuits are flexible enough to fit a wide variety of body shapes and sizes, but there’s just no possible way that one swimsuit can fit everyone. It’s not just about the size of your waistline but also your height, body type, proportions, etc.
That said, Hunza G’s popular Classic Square Neck One Piece style actually did comfortably fit women sizes 2, 4, 8, and 14 in our evaluations (including models, GH staffers, and myself!). The women who tried it on ranged in height from 5’5” to 6’ tall, and no one struggled with the length of the swimsuit either. I’m 6’ and was shocked that the swimsuit was long enough for me when sometimes the “long torso” one-pieces offered by brands don’t work. Even more: We varied in bra sizes from 34B to 38DD, and the style easily accommodated all of our chests without revealing too much cleavage or feeling saggy.
I honestly couldn’t believe how good the swimsuit looked on everyone—it truly looked like it was made for each of the women who tried it. No cramming yourself into a restrictive swimsuit. Everyone loved the way the material conformed to their bodies, rather than forcing a specific silhouette.
The crinkle fabric is a blend of polyamide and just 3% elastane for a little more stretch, giving it an overall compressive feel. The textured look and compressive nature of the fabric smoothed over lumps and bumps, almost like a light piece of shapewear. It hid bellybuttons and nipples, even without any built-in padding or lining. I felt really supported by the material, as did our models.
A GH staffer who wears a Hunza G swimsuit and is typically a women’s size 8 shared, “I immediately loved how it looked and felt. The textured material is incredibly flattering and super comfortable to wear all day without digging in uncomfortably.”
I also tried one of the brand’s two-piece sets and was equally as impressed by its fit and feel. The top was secure enough to wear out on a boat day with lots of swimming and paddle boarding. And while I typically have to opt for a different size for tops and bottoms, I was able to comfortably fit into one single set—a swim-season miracle.
Why choose a one-size swimsuit?
The beauty of a one-size swimsuit is that the material is made to move with you. Rather than having to squish your body into a stiff style, the swimsuit is meant to stretch to your natural shape. It’s especially ideal if your weight regularly fluctuates or if you wear a different sized top and bottom like me. I have a Hunza G bikini and a one-piece swimsuit that fit every swim season, regardless of how my body has changed from one year to the next.
The caveat: There’s no real structure to a true crinkle swimsuit. Hunza G’s swimwear lacks padding, underwires, adjustable straps, linings, etc. If you have a particularly large chest, you won’t find the structure and support you would get from an underwire-style bust swimsuit. Though the material is lightly compressive, it’s not ultra-slimming. A coworker shared that her Hunza G swimsuit snagged, causing the material to completely smooth out in one part—the crinkled texture was gone, leaving a noticeable spot on the front of her suit.
Still, it’s a fantastic option for someone who wears standard women’s sizes and wants to buy one swimsuit without having to worry about it fitting if their weight fluctuates.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Amanda Constantine joined the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab in 2022 as a home and apparel reviews analyst. Constantine was formerly a lecturer teaching fashion and textiles courses and has a master’s degree in consumer sciences—focused in fashion, body image, and the social psychology of clothing. She uses her personal expertise when evaluating swimwear and also reviews feedback from GH testers who try swimwear from popular brands on their own trips to the beach or pool. She regularly wears Hunza G’s swimsuits and loves the nostalgic Y2K feel of the crinkled texture.
