Invista is to launch a year-long celebration of the iconic bikini at this year's Lyon Mode City. Using nine designers from around the globe, Invista has commissioned an exclusive bikini range to celebrate 60 years of the famous two-piece swimwear.

The original 'bikini’ appeared in July 1946. Such was the stir at the time that the two-piece swimwear was named after the infamous atoll in the Pacific, because of its 'explosive' nature. Similarly, Lycra revolutionised the swimwear market in the 1950s replacing rubber which had been used up until then, and brought much needed fit, comfort and shape to swimwear for both men and women.