Size and fit guide
Originally created as a run of only 18. We loved Rafa so much, we asked Patricia to make it one more time.
The Rafa Hand Beaded Bikini Bottom brings intricate artisan detail to an unapologetically feminine, low-rise silhouette.
Designed to sit low across the hips, Rafa is finished with wide handkerchief-style side ties that create softness and movement against the body. Along the waist, tonal embroidery and rows of ivory and warm gold hand-beading add just enough shimmer to turn an otherwise effortless silhouette into something extraordinary.
Cheeky, low-slung, and designed for long days in the sun, it pairs perfectly with the Rafa Hand Beaded Bikini Top, carrying its intricate craftsmanship through the entire set.
The Hands Behind It
Every Rafa Bikini Bottom is handcrafted by Patricia and her team of women artisans in Cartagena, Colombia.
The embroidered and beaded detailing that follows the waist is completed slowly by hand, with individual beads carefully applied to build texture and pattern across the piece. Even the smallest details require precision, patience, and the practiced hands of artisans who understand how to make embellishment move beautifully with the body.
Why It's Priced This Way
On Rafa, even the smallest detail represents hours of skilled work.
The beading that traces the waist isn't printed, glued on, or machine-produced. It's created by hand, bead by bead, before the bikini is complete. That slower process allows the craftsmanship to become part of the garment rather than simply decoration added to it.
We choose to pay for the time and skill required to make Rafa properly, supporting fair wages for Patricia and her team rather than stripping away the handwork to make the piece faster or cheaper to produce.
Limited Production
Rafa began as one of our smallest releases: just 18 pieces. But sometimes we love a design enough to break our own rule once.
We asked Patricia if Rafa could have one final production, and she agreed. That brings the entire lifetime run to only 40 pieces. Once they're gone, this design retires for good. No third batch. No restock. No reproduction.
Let’s get one thing straight: we’re not a fast-fashion brand and we’re not interested in pretending to be. We don’t do disposable trends or pieces that lose their spark after a season. We choose a slower, intentional path. One that honours artistry, empowers the women who craft each piece, and delivers swimwear designed to outlast the moment and elevate every getaway.
Each piece is crafted by women artisans worldwide, combining craftsmanship with confidence-inspiring designs.
We curate unique, small-batch swimwear designed to stand out. Why settle for ordinary?
We focus on quality with ultra-soft fabrics, flattering fits, and durable designs that last season after season.
I grew up on the shores of St. Lucia, where the water is warm, the days are long, and the women are strong. That island spirit shaped me. It gave me an eye for beauty, a love for bold colour, and a deep respect for women who do it all with grace.
Sandy Bottom started with a simple idea: what if I could create something that honoured the women I grew up around and the woman I was becoming?
When my daughter left for university, I decided to show her something important: that reinvention doesn’t have an age limit. That it’s never too late to build something from scratch. That betting on yourself is always worth it.
But this brand isn’t just about me. It’s about women everywhere. The artisans from Colombia to Italy, Bali to Brazil who hand make every piece with skill, heart, and tradition. The women keeping generations of craftsmanship alive while shaping futures of their own.. And the customers who choose slow fashion over fast trends, and impact over impulse.
Every Sandy Bottom piece is carefully curated and helps support real women with real stories. Women earning fair wages. Women preserving culture and craft. Women lifting each other up.
This isn’t fast fashion. This is swimwear with soul. This is resort wear with resonance. This is style with a purpose.
This is an international sisterhood.
xoxo,
Sanya.
Founder, Sandy Bottom Swimwear
Each piece is crafted by women artisans worldwide, combining craftsmanship with confidence-inspiring designs.
We curate unique, small-batch swimwear designed to stand out. Why settle for ordinary?
We focus on quality with ultra-soft fabrics, flattering fits, and durable designs that last season after season.
