Animal Print Swimwear Trends for SS27

Animal prints are returning to the spotlight for Spring/Summer 2027. From classic leopard to bold zebra stripes and tiger-inspired patterns, the trend is moving beyond traditional swimwear prints.

At Miami Swim Week 2026, brands including Fae, Oséree, and Kulani Kinis featured animal-inspired designs, while major fashion publications have identified renewed interest in expressive prints for the upcoming season.

For swimwear brands planning their SS27 collections, the opportunity is to take these runway directions and turn them into wearable, commercially focused designs.

Why Animal Prints Are Trending for SS27

Fashion is shifting toward more expressive styling after several seasons dominated by minimalism and neutral palettes.

In its Spring/Summer 2027 forecast, Vogue highlighted a growing interest in mixed prints, stronger colors, and individual styling.

This shift is also visible in runway reporting.

START by WGSN identified animal prints as one of five key trends from New York Fashion Week SS27, highlighting the return of leopard and snake patterns in updated scales, colors, and finishes.

The trend is particularly relevant to swimwear, where prints can become the defining feature of a collection without requiring completely new silhouettes.

Animal Prints at Miami Swim Week 2026

Animal prints were a recurring theme at Paraiso Miami Swim Week 2026, which showcased collections leading into the 2027 resort and cruise season.

Who What Wear identified zebra as a standout print, appearing in traditional black-and-white combinations and brighter variations, including coral, fuchsia, and lime.

Fashionista also featured animal prints among its seven biggest Swim Week trends, highlighting designs from Fae, Oséree, Kulani Kinis, Luli Fama, and Oceanus.

The takeaway for swimwear brands is clear: animal prints are no longer limited to classic leopard bikinis. Designers are experimenting with color, placement, contrasting details, and different silhouettes.

The Animal Prints to Watch for SS27

1. Leopard: The Established Favorite

Leopard remains one of the most recognizable animal prints in swimwear, making it a strong starting point for brands introducing printed designs.

In its June 2026 report, WWD identified leopard as the leading animal-print swimwear pattern, while noting a shift toward softer neutrals, espresso tones, larger motifs, and updated one-piece silhouettes.

These variations give brands more ways to incorporate leopard without relying on traditional yellow-and-black combinations.

Collection direction: Make leopard the hero print, supported by black, chocolate brown, or another coordinating solid. Use triangle bikinis, minimal bottoms, and one statement one-piece to create variety without introducing too many competing designs.

2. Zebra: The Emerging Statement Print

Zebra is gaining momentum across both swimwear and ready-to-wear.

At Miami Swim Week 2026, Fae presented colorful zebra bikinis, while Oséree incorporated the pattern into embellished swimwear.

The trend continued beyond the beach. In October 2026, Vogue highlighted zebra's growing presence in street style, while ELLE connected its popularity to the expressive print direction of SS27.

Unlike leopard's irregular spots, zebra's stripes create strong visual contrast. This makes the print particularly effective on minimal silhouettes, where the pattern can provide most of the design impact.

Collection direction: Introduce zebra through one or two statement styles. Pair it with black, ivory, or brown solids to create a coordinated assortment that feels bold without becoming overwhelming.

3. Tiger: An Alternative to Traditional Animal Prints

Tiger is another animal-inspired pattern gaining attention in swimwear.

WWD identified tiger alongside zebra as an emerging alternative to leopard, pointing to its use by contemporary swimwear and fashion brands.

Its elongated stripes offer a different visual direction from leopard spots and zebra's high-contrast markings.

Tiger prints can work particularly well in warm brown, rust, and black combinations, creating an earthy palette that can be carried through matching swimwear and resort pieces.

Collection direction: Use tiger as a secondary print rather than introducing it across the entire assortment. A statement one-piece or bikini set can add variety while keeping the collection focused.

How to Build an Animal-Print Swimwear Collection

A trend does not need to become an entirely printed collection.

For brands developing their SS27 assortment, a more focused approach is to select one hero print, introduce complementary silhouettes, and use solid colors to create balance.

Start With a Hero Print

Choose the animal print that best reflects your target customer.

Leopard offers a familiar direction, zebra creates a stronger graphic statement, and tiger provides an alternative for brands looking beyond traditional spots.

Rather than developing every print across every silhouette, start with a small selection of styles that can be mixed and matched.

Balance Prints With Solid Colors

Animal prints can be used as an accent rather than the main feature.

Contrast binding, printed panels, and color-blocked designs allow brands to introduce the trend while maintaining a more minimal overall look.

For example, a black one-piece with leopard accents creates a different aesthetic from an all-over leopard swimsuit, even when both use the same print.

Use Proven Silhouettes

Print trends change faster than established swimwear shapes.

Instead of developing completely new patterns for every trend, brands can apply updated prints to silhouettes already suited to their customers.

Triangle bikinis, bandeau tops, high-cut bottoms, and one-piece swimsuits offer multiple ways to present the same print across a coordinated collection.

This approach can also reduce the amount of new pattern development required.

Introducing Bali Swim's Animal Print Edit

To help brands translate the SS27 trend into their next collection, we've curated 8 existing Bali Swim designs, including 3 one-pieces and 5 bikini sets.

Each design uses an existing Bali Swim pattern, allowing brands to focus on their preferred prints, color combinations, and collection direction.

For a more subtle approach, selected designs can also incorporate Vita solid colors through color blocking, using animal prints as accents rather than full-body patterns.

Brands can use the edit as a starting point for their collection or as a reference for developing their own custom print combinations.

Your SS27 Collection Starts Here

Whether you're building a complete animal-print collection or adding a few statement pieces to your existing assortment, Bali Swim's Animal Print Edit gives you a starting point using established designs.

Explore the Animal Print Edit and start planning your SS27 collection.