The phrase Sei Sorelle translates to “six sisters” in Italian, and is thus quite a fitting name for the London-based modest swimwear brand founded by Aneesa Zaman and her five sisters. The six of them are all healthcare professionals (two are dentists, two are pharmacists, and two are optometrists) who share a common aspiration: to create timeless, practical, and sustainable full-coverage swimsuits. Recognising that options for attractive and functional modest swimwear were limited for women, and struggling to find modest swimwear that suited their own requirements, the Zaman sisters decided to take matters into their own hands and launch their own swim label: Sei Sorelle.
Swimming, believe the six sisters, is a fundamental life skill, yet the lack of appropriate swimwear options in the market may often deter women from getting in the water. “After a certain age, wearing a one-piece swimsuit no longer aligned with practicing our faith,” explains Aneesa. As mothers of growing daughters, they were deeply motivated to make sure that there was appropriate swimwear to enable them to enjoy the water through swimming and water activities. This is why, in addition to its adult range, Sei Sorelle has a line specifically for 7 to 14-year-olds, providing cute, covered-up swimwear for the next generation of modest fashion consumers.
Women interpret and practice modesty in diverse ways, and to cater to this wide variety of criteria, Sei Sorelle’s collections are modular. Two of the brand’s adult designs can be purchased as sets with either swim leggings or looser trousers, and its best-selling Zuria swimsuit comes with wide-leg trousers. The ready-to-swim bundle meanwhile, comes with a matching hijab. Customers thus have unlimited styling potential and are not confined to particular parameters of coverage.
In additional to designing swimsuits that are stylish, modest and multi-functional, the brand is committed to sustainability. According to Aneesa,, Sei Sorelle was the first modest swimwear company in the UK to adopt sustainable practices and to use a sustainable techno-fabric for their swimsuits.
Sustainability isn’t just a trend for the Zaman sisters, who are acutely aware of their responsibility as a brand to protect the environment. “One of the biggest eye openers for us was the impact of manufacturing nylon, the most widely used fabric for swimwear,” says Aneesa. “It’s a big contributor to air pollution and damages the ozone layer. This led us to discover ECONYL® regenerated nylon, which is woven into a high-quality, soft techno-fabric designed for swimming and activewear. What’s great is that it is made from waste collected from oceans and landfills, meaning our first collection alone has removed 624kg of waste! So, buying one of our swimsuits directly contributes towards cleaning our oceans. Together with ECONYL® and our manufacturers we are working towards a circular model, which is the ultimate goal.”
Not only are Sei Sorelle’s fabrics sustainable, but its packaging and hang tags are also made out of recycled materials and recyclable, and its hygiene liners and stickers are biodegradable.
The inspiration behind the brand’s first collection, explains Aneesa, was choice and inclusivity. “We’re six sisters and we’re in different stages of our lives with different body shapes, sizes and opinions on modesty. We wanted to produce a collection that everyone would feel confident in.” And while the resulting designs are crafted from swimwear fabrics, the brand markets them as multi-functional pieces that could be worn to swim, gym, and lounge in.
The modest swimwear industry has seen a huge boom in the last few years, with many modest-inclusive swimwear labels emerging globally, in addition to major players like Nike and Adidas embracing this sector. “It’s really heart-warming to see modest clothing brands flourish, especially in the UK,” says Aneesa. “As with any sector it’s about providing a choice to customers. Modest swimwear has evolved a lot since its humble makeshift beginnings, but there is still room for improvement to normalise the use of full coverage swimwear, help make women feel more confident and empower them to engage in water-based activities.”
The prices of Sei Sorelle’s adult swimsuits start from £84.99, kid’s swimsuits from £44.99, and swim accessories (hijabs & turbans) from £14.99. Shop the brand online here.
