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 Top is intricate craftsmanship wrapped in an effortlessly feminine silhouette.
Set against soft ivory, layers of tonal embroidery and hand-applied beadwork create a rich, dimensional surface across each cup. Ivory and warm gold beads catch the light subtly, while the delicate scalloped edges soften the classic triangle shape. Look closely and the detail feels almost like jewelry built directly into the swimsuit.
Adjustable neck and back ties allow you to personalize the fit while keeping the silhouette beautifully simple. Pair it with the Rafa Hand Beaded Bikini Bottom for the full look, or let the top become the statement on its own.
The Hands Behind It
Every Rafa Bikini Top is handcrafted by Patricia and her team of women artisans in Cartagena, Colombia.
The intricate embroidery and beadwork are built slowly across each cup, with individual beads applied by hand to create the patterns, texture, and dimension that define Rafa. It's the kind of detail that reveals more the closer you look. A reflection of the patience and skill of the women behind every piece.
Why It's Priced This Way
Rafa isn't embellished after the fact. The handwork is part of the design itself.
From the intricate embroidery to the rows of individually applied ivory and gold beads, the surface of each cup is developed by skilled hands rather than reproduced by a machine. That means more time, more precision, and subtle differences that make each Rafa uniquely its own.
The price reflects the skilled craftsmanship, materials, and fair wages behind a piece made this way not the markup of mass-produced swimwear.
Limited Production
Rafa was originally supposed to end at just 18 pieces. When we saw the finished collection, we loved it enough to go back to Patricia and ask one question: can we make it one more time?
She said yes. That second and final production brings Rafa to only 40 pieces in total. There will not be another run. Once these sell out, Rafa will not be restocked or reproduced.
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.
