The Swim Journal | Krio + Color

In children’s swimwear and beachwear, innovations in style, fit and textiles are popping up all over the market, with sun protection, parent-child look-alike styling, comfort features and environmentally responsible fabrics leading the way. We spoke with some of the industry’s leaders in the manufacture of children’s beachwear to find out what styles are on parents’ and buyers’ most wanted lists, what is trending now for Season 2018, and what future developments are planned for their labels.

KRIO + COLOR, co-founded by Pilar and Monica Ceballos and Giovanna Iannazzone in 2014, is a line of UPF 50+ sun-protective swimwear and accessories for women and

children, with headquarters in Florida. Krio + Color is attention-getting, conversation starting, bright and colorful wearable art. The designs feature such circus characters as Cotton Candy Elefante, Ringmaster Pinguino and the Intrepid Unicyclist. The kid-friendly styles are designed with brightly colored graphics and bold elements; buyers are looking for styles that make a statement, and Krio+Color definitely delivers.

According to the trio of entrepreneurs, parents want sun-protective suits for all ages of children, and are increasingly concerned about protection from damaging rays. Fashionable coverage is important, as are durable chlorine-resistant fabrics.

For the future, they see full-body sun suits and surf-style fashions growing in importance, along with more kid-inspired graphics over traditional prints. The label will be debuting at SwimShow this season with a new line of trunk styles for boys, matching “Dad-and-me” swim trunks and “Mom-and- me” rash guards, water-resistant zip-up beach bags and swim caps. Plans are underway to develop a men’s line of UV-protective beachwear.