Lspace bets on a late-summer drop as swim moves beyond the season

Californian swimwear brand Lspace launched its Afterglow collection in September, after peak swim season, in a move it frames as a response to customers buying swim and resortwear all year.

"Our customers are shopping swim and resortwear year-round," Alissa Bristow, vice president of creative and design at Lspace, told FashionUnited. "We're less about following a traditional seasonal calendar and more focused on how the perfect fit is everything."

The collection was designed for the transition from summer to autumn. "While September marks the end of peak swim season in many markets, for us it opens the opportunity to reconsider how customers may be shopping for swim and resortwear pieces," Bristow said.

The late-summer drop follows the August launch of Everyday by Lspace, a line of athleisure and essentials aimed at customers outside of swim season. "Lspace has always been rooted in the feeling of escape, but we wanted to bring that same effortless energy into everyday life with pieces that can be worn year-round," Bristow said.

Afterglow's palette draws on tropical twilight and citrus tones. According to Bristow, the brand's design team typically sets the direction for each collection a year ahead of launch.

Best-sellers shape new product

Lspace uses sales data and the performance of existing styles to guide development. Its latest launch, the Dame Top, is built on the silhouette of its best-selling Sunrise Shell Top, which Bristow said "has sold more than 15,000 units since launching in 2024."

The new style keeps the original's monochromatic look and beaded hardware while adding a straight-across neckline. It is also designed to pair with bikini bottoms customers already own.

"For us, this is where customer insight and design come together," Bristow said.

Retail expansion, US focus

The brand operates an e-commerce site, two stores in Newport Beach and San Diego, and seasonal activations. In February, it opened a pop-up in Miami Beach, its first retail location outside of California.

"We definitely have plans to expand our retail presence, with a focus on key lifestyle markets where we can connect with both loyal customers and new audiences," Bristow said. The company will continue to evaluate opportunities across owned retail and wholesale, she added.

Lspace ships to more than 65 countries and regions, though its priority remains the domestic market. "While we remain open to expanding our global reach, our current focus is on deepening the foundation in the U.S.," Bristow said, adding that the brand is strengthening its connection with the Southern California community.