The facekini (Chinese: 脸基尼; pinyin: liǎnjīní) is a mask designed for swimmers and beachgoers that covers the head and face, revealing only the eyes, nose, and mouth.123 The mask is made of stretchy fabric commonly used in bathing suits,4 and comes in different colors and patterns.5 They are often worn in combination with various sun protective clothing, such as body suits with long sleeves, sunglasses, visors, or umbrellas.67
Origins
The facekini was invented in 2004 by Zhang Shifan, a former accountant from the coastal Chinese city of Qingdao,8 which became the hometown of this fashion trend.9 The people of Qingdao use the garment to protect against ultraviolet rays, as well as jellyfish, insects, and other irritants at the beach.11011
Fashion trend
The facekini garnered increased attention from Western press in 2012, when creator Zhang Shifan began developing high-fashion masks.12 Fashion magazine CR Fashion Book published several sets of photos in 2014 with models wearing facekinis paired with designer Alexander Wang and Michael Kors swimwear and jewelry.13 In 2019, its creator launched new models that cover the whole body, not just the face and neck.1415
References
References
- Ye, Tianzhou (21 August 2012). "Facekini craze hits China beach". NBC News. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- Farrier, John (22 August 2012). "Fashion trend: The face-kini". Neatorama. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- "The facekini: China's new beach trend". The Sun Daily. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- Chittley, Jordan (21 August 2012). "Facekini: The newest beachgoing craze at Chinese beach". Yahoo news, Canada. Archived from the original on 24 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
- Wilkinson, Isabel (21 August 2012). "Here's the face-kini, summer's new trend". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- Newcomb, Tim (21 August 2012). "The Face-Kini: The Bizarre Art of Covering Up". Time Newsfeed. Archived from the original on 23 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- "Face-kini, Face Mask Bathing Suit, Is Popular On Chinese Beach". Huffington Post US. 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 22 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- "China's famous 'face-kini' gets Peking Opera-inspired facelift". Reuters. 15 July 2015. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- Kim, Monica; Campri, Luca (31 August 2017). "Meet the Facekini—China's Best Beauty Accessory for the Skin-Savvy Beachgoer". Vogue. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- Festa, Jessica (24 August 2012). "China's popular beach trend: The Facekini". Gadling. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
- Levin, Dan (3 August 2012). "Beach Essentials in China: Flip-Flops, a Towel and a Ski Mask". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
- "A Brief History of the Chinese Facekini". RADII - Culture, Innovation, and Life in today's China. 29 June 2017. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- Kirkpatrick, Nick (29 August 2014). "The 'facekini': From the beaches of China to pages of a fashion magazine". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- "Facekini is back, this time even more bizarre". chinaplus.cri.cn. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- "New facekini designs hit the beaches of Qingdao". shanghaiist. 6 August 2019. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.