When designing swimsuits, I incorporate shaping elements that serve to sculpt and shape the body in specific ways. Some of the techniques are: cutting and orienting fabrics at a specific angle so the swimsuit hug the body and offer evenly distributed compression for a supportive fit without pinching, using 4 way stretch fabric for both inner and outer layer, adding ruching details, V shape waistline, middle seam in the back, etc.

Middle seam - this design allows the fabric to be cut in a way that follows the natural curve so the swimsuit can lay flat and follow the contours of the body smoothly, which prevents the sagging effect.

Ruching (scrunch) - fabric is gathered in the back which is known to accentuate and enhance glutes.

I am frequently requested to add ruching to bottoms that already have a middle seam, but this is not an ideal choice. The middle seam is cut to shape the glutes and adding a scrunch won't enhance the fit. In fact, it can result in unnecessary bulkiness. These two sewing techniques (middle seam and ruching) have the same purpose, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference and style.