A German company introduced a swimsuit that looks, feels and fits like an ordinary bikini, with one difference: it dissolves and disappears within seconds of entering water.
What it is
The garment is made to be indistinguishable from a conventional bikini until it is worn into a pool, at which point it breaks down almost immediately.
It is not a swimwear product in any functional sense. It is a novelty item, and it was marketed as one.
How it was sold
Sellers positioned it explicitly as a way for men to get their own back after a breakup, as reported by the Daily Star.
The criticism
The framing drew objection. Women’s rights campaigner Rosmarie Zapfl said:
It is an absolute insult to women that this has been invented.
The objection is not really about the material. A garment engineered to fail without the wearer’s knowledge, sold on the stated premise of being given to a woman as revenge, is a product whose function is public humiliation. That is what the criticism is directed at.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a real swimwear product?
No. It is a novelty item designed to fail in water, not swimwear intended for use.
What was the objection to it?
That it was marketed as a revenge gift, making its function the public humiliation of the person wearing it.
This report dates from 2009 and is based on reporting by the Daily Star. For actual swimwear see our swimwear guide.
