The world’s first Bikini Art Museum is opening in Bad Rappenau, Germany on July 5, 2020 aka International Bikini Day!

On July 5th, 1946, just a few days after the devastating atomic bomb tests by the USA at the Bikini Atoll, a "bomb" of a completely different kind detonated in the middle of France. On this day, French swimwear designer Louis Réard had announced a fashion show at the well-known Parisian public swimming pool “Molitor”. There, he presented the smallest swimsuit that the world had ever seen: the "Bikini". The bikini - at the time an absolute sensation - had been symbolically associated with the explosive power of nuclear bomb tests. And no other name would have been more appropriate, because Réard's "invention" hit society like a bomb. It was an outrageous scandal that spread like wildfire around the world in the days that followed.

The bikini is the most beloved and at the same time the most polarizing female garment. Now, it has been given a home. The BikiniARTmuseum is the first museum for swimwear and bathing culture worldwide.

The BikiniARTmuseum “BAM”) is the world's first central location where all the historical and contemporary knowledge from around the globe on the subject of swimwear and swimwear culture is gathered and presented to the public.

Featuring historically authenticated items and the most valuable swimwear in the world, the BikiniArtmusuem collection spans items from 1870 through today. The collection starts with the beginnings of public bathing and the historical full-body garments are among the greatest rare finds from swimwear history. It includes highlights from traditional companies such as Triumph, Naturana and Jantzen, unique swimwear from luxury labels (Dior, Chanel, Pucci, etc.) as well as unparalleled one-of-a-kind items such as the "Christ bathing suit" banned by the bishop.

The crowning glory of the collection are the twelve original swimwear pieces by Louis Réard, the inventor of the bikini. In particular: The only surviving one-off, the world's most historically valuable bikini: "The Golden Réard". 

Louis Réard is considered the inventor of the bikini and the few swimwear pieces he created that are still accessible today are the most valuable historical pieces of the time. The BikiniARTmuseum owns an incredible total of twelve Réard originals. Another three are family-owned and two are on display in the Musée Galliera and Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Louvre.

Ghislaine Rayer, the world's leading expert in lingerie and swimwear, and author of “Bikini, la légende”, explains: “Louis Réard, the creator of the bikini, was incredibly visionary and far ahead of his time. His swimsuits were worn by the great international stars of the time or by women of high society. Since they were mainly made to measure (not mass production), they are hard to find. The BAM is the only museum in the world that houses several of Louis Réard's exclusive works. ”

There is only one surviving one-off production by Louis Réard: "The Golden Réard". The others are series productions. The Golden Réard was created especially for the winner of the "Miss Réard" competition in 1948. world.

“A Réard bikini is the core of every swimwear collection, but the Golden Réard is the jewel!” Ghislaine Rayer, the world's leading expert in lingerie and swimwear.

Another highlight of the exhibition is Marily Monroe’s black velvet and lace swimsuit, known from the advertising shoot with photographer Frank Powolny for the post-war comedy "Love Nest”.

PinUp stars such as Bunny Yeager, Bettie Page and Jayne Mansfield, along with German style icons such as Elke Sommer, Marlene Dietrich and Claudia Schiffer influenced the revolutionary two-piece and are also represented in the BikiniARTmuseum.

The Museum’s mission speaks about “Woman Power! The Liberation,” according to their press release, “Our mission is therefore to encourage women of all ages, shapes and skin colours to be "courageous". A woman is most beautiful when she feels well and is satisfied with herself - completely independent of the "ideal figure" promoted by the advertising-world. The BikiniARTmuseum is a homage to the determined predecessors and pioneers of yesterday and today.” In accordance with this statement, the musuem organizers have created "JANARA", a symbolic figure, who stands for women’s liberation.

“Swimwear has to do with enjoying freedom. When a woman goes off to buy a bikini, she has the most positive things in mind. She thinks of the beach, the sea, the sky or love." says Jacqueline de Biase, SALINAS.

According to founder, Alexander Ruscheinsky, “We are all equal at the beach, there are no social barriers, everyone wears their most intimate piece of clothing and a special sense of community is created. This spirit can also be felt in the BikiniARTmuseum. The BikiniART-museum is a community that unites all those who love that ‘beach feeling’ and - in line with our mission - support an untroubled swimming experience. We live inclusivity and welcome EVERYONE to the world's first BikiniARTmuseum.”

Ruscheinsky has brought together an advisory board of high-caliber experts known as the "International Board of Swimwear History" including:

Ghislaine Rayer is one of the world's leading swimwear experts. She is also the author of the most important French book on the history of swimwear: "Bikini, la légende". Their opinion is regularly in demand on expert committees and in TV programs. Together with her partner Patrice Gaulupeau she owns the world-famous lingerie and corset collection "Nuits de Satin". Ghislaine Rayer is closely involved in the development of the BAM. In 2017 she was appointed to the "International Board of Swimwear History".

Helmut Schuster is an art expert who is in great demand around the world, with a focus on Berlin, Miami and New York. In 2018 he opened the WEAM in Miami as curator. He advises the University of Florida on art-related topics. He is intensively involved in the field of art for the BikiniARTmuseum. He succeeded in acquiring valuable unique pieces from photography and to bring the success from California "PinUp" as the first special exhibition to the BikiniARTmuseum. Helmut Schuster was admitted to the "International Board of Swimwear History" in 2018.

Roger  Fritz  is  a German photographer, actor, and filmmaker based in Munich. For Zeitschriften  Stern, Münchner Illustrierte, Bunte, Quick, Jours de France as well as for französische  Vogue he undertook numerous reportage trips. Under the director Luchino Visconti he played alongside Romy Schneider and Sophia Loren in  the film Boccaccio 70. But his passion is photography, his camera accompanied him in all situations. The BikiniARTmuseum shows its diverse national and international acquaintances in a special atmosphere. Roger Fritz is nominated for the "International Board of Swimwear History".

Dieter Braun is former managing director of the global player  "Triumph", one of the largest international lingerie, nightwear and swimwear manufacturers. Twelve years ago, Dieter Braun, a member of the owner families, revised a raw manuscript by his father Curt Braun (1903-1996) with the support of Textilwirtschaft-Verlag and published it as an illustrated book entitled "Vom Mieder zum Dessous - eine Kultur- und Produktgeschichte der Miederwaren in Deutschland" (From corsetry to lingerie - a cultural and product history of corsetry products in Germany) at ließ es Dieter Braun generously opened the doors of the BikiniARTmuseum to the interessanten Triumph archive with historically relevant exhibits of 1886 in the württembergischen Heubach gegründeten global corporation. 

Patrice Gaulupeau, a French graduate of the Beaux-Arts School, was a producer and im Fernsehen for 20 years before specializing in historical swimwear and lingerie from 1870 onwards, he became a collector of lingerie and beachwear. Together with Ghislaine Rayer he created the unique, private collection "Nuits de Satin", and curated exhibitions in Europe as well as in the USA and China. Patrice Gaulupeau is one of the important historical advisors of the BikiniARTmuseum.

Jürgen Kraft has been a passionate collector of rarities around the theme of swimwear for around 25 years. His productions are shown in exhibitions and also on television. Due to his residence in the seaside resort of Ahlbeck on the island of Usedom, the focus of his collections lies in eastern and northern Germany. Jürgen Kraft provides the BikiniARTmuseum with essential collection items and is an important advisor on historical topics.

Cidinho Ferreira is the most important personality in the field of swimwear in South America. He has been the owner of the Bikini-Labels  Bum Bum Ipanema for almost 40 years, now with shops in California and Ibiza. He is represented in all important historical compilations. Among his milestones were the opening of the first pure swimwear shop and the first brand shop in South America, as well as the invention of the "Asa Delta" style. Cidinho is closely associated with the BikiniARTmuseum.

Magda Cotrofe is a famous Brazilian model, "Musa de Carneval", actress and journalist. In the 80s she was called a pioneer of the "Fio Dental" - in German "Zahnseidenbikini". Magda has contributed to the history of the bikini in Brazil with many advertising campaigns, books and exhibitions. Magda Cotrofe opened up the South American region for the BikiniARTmuseum with her extensive contacts.

Ursula Templin looks back on a successful career as a fashion designer. After her training at the Werkkunstschule Hannover, she worked for decades as a swimwear designer for international companies such as Heinzelmann, Jantzen and Triumph. She also developed collections for women's outerwear. Ms Templin advises the BikiniARTmuseum on the historical treatment of fabrics, cuts and decorations.

Dr. Christine Bodydell is a senior volunteer research fellow at the  De Montfort University  in British Leicester, where she also lectures. The design historian curated numerous exhibitions such as "Horrockses Fashion" or "Taking the Plunge". For the Snibston Discovery Museum she dedicated two exhibitions to the history of swimwear. For the Fashion & Textile Museum in London (2015) she organized "Riviera Style: Resort and Swimwear Since 1900". She also worked as a consultant for the Leicestershire Museum and Keele University. Dr. Christine Boydell advises the BikiniARTmuseum on the historical reappraisal of the English-speaking world.

Heloisa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto Pinheiro, or Helô Pinheiro (*1945), is one of the most famous women in South America. She became famous through the song "Garota de Ipanema" (later "Girl from Ipanema") by Tom Jobim and Vinicius de Moraes. This Bossa Nova hit is one of the most played songs in the world. At the age of 17, Helô Pinheiro strolled in a bikini past the favorite pub of the composer Tom Jobim and inspired him to compose the hit song. She had become famous as a popular Brazilian model, actress, journalist, television presenter and business woman with her own swimwear label, of course called "Garota de Ipanema".

Bruce Wigo was President and CEO of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF) in Fort Lauderdale, USA, from 2005 to 2019, where he played a key role in shaping the organization. He is a sought-after lecturer, author and expert in the historical reappraisal of swimming worldwide. Bruce Wigo advises the BikiniARTmuseum on topics related to the history of swimming and the role swimming played in changing swimwear.

Dr. Janara Morenna studied fashion and design in Rio de Janeiro. She specializes in beachwear, both in terms of the historical review of swimwear and future developments. For the BikiniARTmuseum, Janara did different elaborations, especially socio-political ones, about prohibitions and restrictions in swimwear. She also initiated a research project in which BAM and various institutions from Rio de Janeiro are involved.

Priscila Lago worked very successfully for various swimwear brands in Brazil. She's currently a manager at Blue Man. Together with Sharon Azulay, the Blue Man owner, she established the brand young, colorful and high quality for the next generation. They also developed a joint collection "Blue Man by Pikinni".

Rose da Silva is an artist and on Sundays she is represented at the famous picture market "Hippie Feira" at General Osorio in Ipanema. She established many important contacts and thinned through vintage shops, old libraries and art galleries for the BikiniARTmuseum and visited numerous exhibitions on swimwear in Brazil.

Katerine Torregrosa is a young designer of swimwear from Colombia. She studied at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, where she founded the brand "The Velvet Party" in 2014 and received an award for the most marketable concept. The Velvet Party has been published in various digital publications and has also been responsible for the dancers' wardrobe at music awards such as the BET Hip Hop Awards and Latin Grammy. Katerine advises the BAM on the subject of swimwear hotspot Miami Beach.

The BIKINIARTMUSEUM FOUNDATION strives to contribute to sustainability goals. Every hour in Germany, about 320,000 disposable cups end up in the garbage. The BAM has developed beautifully designed, reusable Coffee-To-Go cups. The summery design makes you feel good and the coffee tastes even better. Furthermore, 30 cents are donated to CLEAN OCEAN with every purchase of the drinking cups.

The museum offers a wide variety of restaurants: dean&david, lifestyle fresh cuisine, breakfast offers, homemade burgers, café, and a regional wine bar. With an eye to becoming a new urban meeting point, a place where culture and pleasure meet. DJ bookings and live music evenings are also planned for Friday and Saturday evenings. 

The gift shop "STORE Pikinni" offers a great range of products around the museum theme! Holiday, sun, beach and sea - our lifestyle collection makes you feel good. Discover over 200 products. Take a look at the beautifully designed swimwear and apparel for all your giftwear needs.

The BikiniARTmuseum is located at Buchäckerring 42 - 74906 Bad Rappenau, between Frankfurt and Stuttgart in Bad Rappenau, the capital of swimwear, directly on the A6 motorway. Close to Paris, Prague, and near Heidelberg, in the gravitational field of 8 other international visitor magnets (A6 Boulevard). Sign up for their newsletter and follow on Facebook to get updates on the pre-sale and great Early Bird discounts!