Burqini

A burkini (or burqini; portmanteau of burqa and bikini, though qualifying as neither of these garments) is a type of modesty swimsuit for women. Originally designed in Australia by Aheda Zanetti, the suit covers the whole body except the face, the hands and the feet, while being light enough for swimming. The design is intended to respect Islamic traditions of modest dress, but its acceptability is debated. It can also be worn for protection from the sun. Zanetti's company Ahiida owns the trademarks to the words burkini and burqini, but they have become generic terms for similar forms of Islamic swimwear. In 2016, a number of French municipalities banned the use of burkini, which sparked an international controversy.

This type of suit covers the whole body except the face, the hands and the feet, whilst being light enough to enable swimming. Zanetti's company Ahiida owns the trademarks to the words burqini and burkini, but the words have become generic terms for similar forms of modesty swimwear.

Generally, a pair of straight-legged pants and a long-sleeved tunic tie together so that the tunic will not float up when in the water. A hood, or in some cases a hood and a swim cap, accommodate the wearer’s hair and cover the neck, fitting closely around the face. The hood may or may not be attached to the tunic. The suit resembles a full-length wetsuit with a built-in hood, but is somewhat looser. The suits are made of SPF50+ fabric, generally using a finely-knit polyester swimsuit fabric rather than the heavier neoprene used for wetsuits.

Depending on the manufacturer and model, a suit can consist of two to four pieces. The original burqini, designed by Sydney-based Aheda Zanetti, consisted of two pieces: pants and a tunic with an attached hood. It was made from 100 per cent polyester. Ahiida now markets three types of burkini (modest fit, slim fit, and active fit) in a variety of colors. The active fit style is more snug than the others and uses a polyester-spandex blend fabric which is coated with Teflon to decrease water resistance.

Other styles of "Islamic" swimwear include the brands Veilkini and MyCozzie. The MyCozzie brand, based in Dubai but designed by Australian Jenny Nicholson, was not designed solely for Islamic women. The basic suit consists of two pieces, and has an optional hood. The material contains both lycra and polyester. In 2009, Zanetti criticized the MyCozzie suit, claiming that its use of lycra could make it heavier and that the optional hood could be unsafe, claims which Nicholson disputed. The Veilkini brand apparently offers skirted two piece suits in multiple styles, made of a spandex and polyester mix.

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