How Bunbathers got to be worn by New Zealand’s Youth Artistic Swimming Team
Sometimes the best opportunities arrive quietly - with a single message.
A few years ago, I received a Facebook message from someone whose young daughter was involved with Artistic Swimming New Zealand. They’d seen Bunbathers and wondered if our caps might work for their youth team.
At the time, I didn't know much about artistic swimming (formerly known as synchronised swimming) in New Zealand. I'd just seen it on TV at the Olympics - a sport that blends strength, grace, and precision. What I didn’t know was just how well Bunbathers would fit into their training routine.
A first swim in rose gold
I sent them a batch of our first caps in rose-gold caps to try.
It wasn’t just about style - although the metallic finish looked cool - it was about function. Artistic swimmers train with their hair gelled into tight, smooth buns for performance. A normal swim cap often won’t fit comfortably over that style, and if it does, it can wreck the careful work.
The Bunbathers fit the way they needed - snug over the bun, keeping everything in place - so the team could train without undoing their performance hair.
Custom black caps with a silver fern
Shortly after, they asked if we could create a custom design: black caps with the iconic New Zealand silver fern logo for their youth development squad (Pikopiko) to wear when they go to international competitions. Of course, we said yes. Producing these caps for a national team was an honour - a way to celebrate New Zealand’s young artistic swimmers while showcasing what Bunbathers could do.
Why artistic swimmers love them for practice
Performance days are all about artistry. Hair is slicked, gelled, and often adorned to match costumes. But in practice? Athletes still need to protect that style while putting in hours of work in the water.
Here’s where Bunbathers really shines because it provides room for the bun. Our caps are designed to fit comfortably over gelled hair without pulling or flattening, keeping the style secure.
Twice the trust
Since that first delivery, I’ve supplied the NZ Youth Artistic Swimming Team twice, and each time the team has looked amazing wearing them. They’ve even shared videos and photos of the caps in action, which make me so happy to see.
Thai association reminds me that Bunbathers isn’t just a product - it’s a small part of a bigger picture: supporting women and girls to feel confident, comfortable, and free to enjoy the water and swimming on their own terms.
Watch their videos here and here
Artistic swimming in NZ — small but growing
While artistic swimming in New Zealand is still a niche sport, it’s growing - and on the world stage, it’s huge. New Zealand made a significant return to the Olympics in artistic swimming during Paris 2024, after a 16-year absence. A duet represented the nation, marking only the third Olympic artistic swimming pair ever for New Zealand. It's great to see that squads are growing at a local and national level.
It's exciting to see that the inaugural Oceania Open Artistic Swimming Championships is scheduled to be hosted in Wellington from 19–23 September 2025.
When I first created Bunbathers, artistic swimming didn’t cross my mind. I was thinking about women swimming in the ocean, pool, lake or jacuzzi. It’s awesome to know that there’s another great use for this customised product and I’m proud that Bunbathers has played a small role in helping these talented young athletes train at their best.
Looking to the US
I've now added a version in white for my Bunbathers swimcaps because that's the colour used by youth artistic swimming for the 'figures' portion of their competitions.
If your club or team needs a swim cap that truly works with long hair, you can take a look at the product here or email me about custom orders at hello@bunbathers.com.