The Berliner likes to wear 1979 SWIMWEAR for swimming at Wannsee. The Potsdam photographer Jürgen Angelow takes some bikinis and bathing suits with him on his annual trips to Havana and photographed them there on dancers from the Tropicana Ballet.
The timeless design with a slight understatement and the muted colors of the collection suddenly shine differently in this exotic atmosphere. The models in Berlin appear ladylike, timeless and classic – in Havana the colors seem more colorful and lively and the Cuban dancers somehow display the swimwear differently.
It is inspiring and it looks alive. You can tell when a woman feels comfortable in her bathing suit or bikini, which brings us to an important key point of the collection.
Designer Suzanna Kuhlemann makes no compromises when it comes to the quality and fit of the line. The design and an excellent cut are important to her – and that with a size range of six sizes as standard.
The collection has three different styles of panties, of which the high-waisted bikini panties are the most popular classic. Integrated corset boning, textile-covered buttons, breast inlays for bathing bowls and leg cuts of different heights are some of the variants within the overall collection. Some details in the cut of the bathing suits were specially developed for women with a longer upper body or strong thighs.
The selection of basic colors available all year round is classic – some of the limited seasonal colors are bright but muted.
Of course, the valued manufactory production developed in neighboring Poland. Small editions, transparency and direct contact between the designer and customers and distributors are just as important to Suzanna Kuhlemann as sustainable materials and production from day one and the beginning of her label. Back in Honolulu she sewed the first bikinis out of Hawaiian shirts, but more on that another time.
Swimwear www.1-9-7-9.com
Photography www.Angelow-photography.com
The words of Jürgen Angelow
Why not take a picture of a place that is looking for a connection and is not yet spruced up like western metropolises: whose bizarre charm oscillates in an enchanting light between beguiling colonial architecture, formerly glamorous mafia hotels and stinking ruins, its inhabitantsinside, fairer or colored, of all shades, including Asian and Native American faces.
Photographing in Havana is an adventure: concepts are difficult to realize there, spontaneous ideas are all the better. There is no regulated market for fashion photography. The interplay of designersinside, stylistinside, photographerinside and magazines, which the western world has known since the invention of Vogue, is just emerging there. You need personal contacts and trust if you want to be successful.
You can see Havana’s talents on the street, beautiful models can be found there – but also in the dance shows or fashion shows that are organized for tourist purposes. But expression and emotionality are not for sale here. They are as honest and genuine as maybe nowhere else. In terms of fashion, Havana has made its way. Why not take pictures there?
The photographer Jürgen Angelow has been in Havana regularly for over 15 years, where he works with designersinside, models, dancersinside, makeup artistinside/stylistinside and producers together. He has published his recordings in various magazines, including Kaltblut, EnVie-Fashion, and Elegant-Magazine. In 2022 he photographed dancers from the famous Tropicana show in Havana for the “1979” label.
