THE MAKING OF SEA OF LEO.

In Kilifi, life moves with the water. It was here, on the coast of Kenya, that Sea of Leo began.

Milly, based in London, and Ophelie, who calls Kilifi home, were brought together by a shared connection to the ocean and a search for swimwear that felt right. When they couldn’t find it, they decided to create their own.

Sea of Leo is a swimwear brand shaped by friendship, the sea and the coast of East Africa.

Our designs come from a simple desire to make swimwear that feels considered, natural and easy to wear. Designed in Kilifi, Kenya, and shaped by life on the East African coast.

We believe swimwear should feel effortless, move with the body and celebrate its natural shape. Every piece is designed to flatter, adapt and feel good on different bodies.

Getting our designs right has been a process of constant refining. Looking back at our early sketches and first samples, we can see how much has changed and how much of that process has shaped who we are as a brand.

Each piece has been tested, reworked and considered until it feels right on the body. This process led us to one of the defining elements of our swimwear: our signature one piece is made from a single layer of fabric.

Rather than building the swimsuit with multiple layers of fabric and structure, we allow the material to sit naturally against the body. The result is a piece that moves with you, follows the body’s natural shape and creates a beautiful fit across different body types.

The single layer construction has become central to the way we design. Simple in appearance, but carefully considered in the way it fits, moves and feels. It is one of the details that makes Sea of Leo different.

Finding the right manufacturer was just as important as perfecting our designs. Brazil felt like the natural place to bring our swimwear to life, with its incredible history and deep rooted culture of bikini and swimwear design.

We chose to work with a female led manufacturer who shares our values around responsible materials and fair working environments. Every piece is made with care, from the first cut to the final stitch.

For us, bringing together Kenya and Brazil is an important part of Sea of Leo. Two coastal cultures, two different ways of living by the water, coming together to create something new. We believe this exchange will continue to shape the brand over time, enriching our designs and allowing us to create pieces that feel truly special.

We’re proud of what we’ve created. Swimwear designed to feel natural on the body and made to be lived in.

Designed on the Kenyan coast, made in Brazil and created to move with you.