Designer Spotlight: Heavy Manners

With the tagline, “Do what feels good for you and do things your own way. Life is what you make it”, Heavy Manners has quickly become the go-to swimwear brand for “It Girls” across the globe. Founded by fashion outsider Lisa Caprio, this vintage-inspired apparel brand is known for its iconic prints and retro silhouettes. This chic ethically-made New York City-based brand has been seen on celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, Madison Beer, Hailey Bieber, and more.

Heavy Manners is at a super exciting point in its brand history as it’s still slightly shrouded in mystery while also being a buzzworthy label for those in the know. This is the perfect point in time to grab a style from this New York brand before it inevitably rockets into being a household name. Heavy Manners keeps its downtown chic allure by creating high-quality products in small batches. Their styles often sell out, giving their designs a desirable air of exclusivity. Follow along to get the scoop on this trendsetting brand and become the ultimate fashion insider.

The History of Heavy Manners

Lisa Caprio founded Heavy Manners in 2019 when she was only 28 years old. While she always had a passion for great style, she never went to fashion school. Instead, she got her start in New York doing editorial hair and makeup for major brands like Urban Outfitters and Kith. 

An avid fan of vintage clothing sellers and their DIY approach on Instagram, Lisa soon started creating a following with stylish self-produced photoshoots of her handmade designs. Lisa would model her designs herself and then sell them directly to consumers. Lisa admitted on the popular podcast Call Your Friends that it took her years to acknowledge herself as a designer due to her atypical path into fashion design. Caprio hopes that her journey and success inspire those who are hesitant to follow their dreams. As she notes on the Heavy Manners website, “...With no background in fashion or guidance in this industry I hope Heavy Manners inspires and reminds you that you don’t have to do things the “right” way or by the handbook”.

Heavy Manners’ Influences

Italian-American founder and designer, Lisa Caprio, often cites her nostalgia for her New Jersey childhood, and her love of vintage movies, songs, and clothing as the inspiration for her brand’s aesthetic. As she explained in her Crea Dose Magazine interview, “...The idea behind Heavy Manners is just creating pieces that speak to me and how I would dress on a daily basis”.

Caprio designs her collection based on her own aesthetics and what items she’d like to wear out. While Caprio is aware of the trends, she does not base her collection on the latest fashion trends and instead focuses on creating pieces that feel authentic to her.

Only a short few years after its founding in 2019, the Lower East Side-based Heavy Manners is now a celebrity-beloved brand that is often featured in elite fashion magazines like Vogue and major news publications like the New York Post and Yahoo. Vogue Singapore listed Heavy Manners as one of their top “10 Celebrity-Approved Swimwear Brands to Take a Dip In on Your Next Seaside Getaway”.

Just this spring, Vogue Scandinavia excitedly covered Heavy Manners’ brand-new collection with model Elsa Hosk calling it “the summer’s hottest swimwear collaboration”. A true Heavy Manners fan, Hosk explains “People know that this is the swimwear I wear…I’ve even seen comments on my Instagram saying, ‘When is the collab coming?’ It was just so organic”. This perfect partnership resulted in a bestselling collection of 48 new swim pieces in to-die-for prints and shades.

Today, Heavy Manners ships their designs worldwide from their website in addition to being carried by major retailers like Free People and FRWD.

Spotlight on Heavy Manners’ Designs

The fashion world can seem super intimidating. Designer and founder Lisa Caprio knows this sentiment well. What I find so charming about this American apparel and swimwear brand is that it’s not trying to be the next couture fashion house or a slave to trends. It’s truly an embodiment of Caprio’s interests and lived experience. In the past, this unbridled approach to creativity was far more common. Today, so many fashion brands are operated by committees and are tethered to performance metrics and shareholder interests versus creative vision. Every piece from Heavy Manners feels like it was made for Lisa, making their designs effortlessly cohesive and authentic. Heavy Manners is a brand made for the woman who thrives in the city, is full of ambition, and is always on the move, just like Lisa Caprio. 

I also appreciated Heavy Manners’s commitment to making smaller, limited-edition collections. Not only is this a genius marketing move and better for the environment, but it makes each piece feel more special and gives its customers an air of exclusivity. When you wear a Heavy Manners bikini on the beach, you’ll likely be the only one wearing that exact swim style which is not something you can experience when you purchase your swimsuits and bikinis from major fast fashion brands. That ability to be unique makes wearing Heavy Manners even more desirable.

Cherry Cute

Life is sweet in the Heavy Manners’ “Cherry On Top!” Double String Top and matching “Cherry On Top!” High Cut Full Bottoms. Double-lined and made in Portugal, this printed bikini set is summer personified. Caprio’s nostalgia for summers at the Jersey shore and her love of vintage clothes is on full display with this retro cherry print. I adore the bright color of the print and the red trim on the flattering ultra-high cut bottoms. The thoughtfulness of the trim and the sexy silhouette elevate what could be a juvenile style into an editorial coquette look. The quality of the print and its saturated color add to the expensive feeling of this swim style. Nothing makes a swimsuit look cheaper than faded or muddy colors.

The top of this swimsuit is a streamlined triangle bikini with adjustable cups. The minimalist nature of this bikini top adds edge to the look and perfectly balances out the playful print. Caprio’s genius lies in her ability to walk the line between feminine and masculine when it comes to her design choices, giving each style an effortless, cool girl vibe. Pair this sexy bikini with your favorite baseball cap to radiate that off-duty model look. Heavy Manners is a brand that adores whimsy but could never be considered a try-hard when it comes to their aesthetic. 

Blue Summer

Worn by style icon, Kendall Jenner, the Racing Blue Triangle Front Tie Top and matching Side Tie Bottoms is a classic bikini everyone should own. This fuss-free swim style is fabulously simple in a classic shade, making it an investment-worthy piece that you can wear for multiple seasons or vacations. The side ties of the bottom also allow you to customize the fit. You can wear these bikini bottoms high or low, so you can flatter your figure with the cut that works best for your figure.

While Heavy Manners has gained fame for their retro-inspired prints and floral designs, this brand also does solids really, really well. If you’re interested in purchasing luxury swimwear but don’t know where to start, this double-lined swimsuit is ideal. You can easily pair it with shorts for an effortless sporty summer look. 

MySwimLook’s Picks From The Elsa Hosk Collection

Heavy Manners is quickly becoming one of the most in-demand independent fashion labels on Earth, so don’t be surprised when you start to see more and more high-profile brands and celebrities creating collaborative collections with this New York-based apparel and swim brand. 

In May 2024, Heavy Manners created a 48 piece swimwear collection with eight new prints and two metallic shades with former Victoria’s Secret Angel, Elsa Hosk. As we discussed earlier, this Swedish supermodel has been one of Heavy Manners’s most loyal customers since the brand’s inception in 2019, making their collaborative swimline a natural partnership. Make sure to buy your favorite styles from this line quickly as it is sure to sell out!

Tina Carlyle

Thanks to Charlie XCX’s smash hit album, the internet has declared this “Brat Summer” and lime green is quickly becoming the go-to shade for the season. While we’re sure that was not the inspiration for this stylish shiny swimsuit, it’s perfectly on time when it comes to the trends. This easy-to-fit green bikini top features adjustable triangle cups and adjustable shoulder straps. The matching 90’s inspired high-cut bottoms are sexy and make the most of your curves. Prepare to be bombarded with compliments when you wear it this summer and beyond.

La Piscine

Brighten up your swimwear collection with this sunshine yellow bikini set. The vintage-inspired print reminds us of Pucci in their heyday and has that chic mod-60s look that never goes out of style. Made in Portugal, this bright swimsuit is dazzling in the sun and flatters most skin tones.

Where To Buy Heavy Manners

The best place to shop for this buzzworthy apparel and swim brand is on the Heavy Manners website. Heavy Manners now ships worldwide, making it easier than ever to get your hands on its celebrity-loved styles. You can also find this New York-based brand at major retailers such as Free People and online retailer, FRWD.