Nudist Day interviewed David and Laura of Houston, Texas, owners of a company that markets a unique new product: the Nudikini. It appeared to us to be a great idea for anyone who likes to skinny-dip or has to walk clothed to reach a nudist beach…
ND: How was the idea of the Nudi swimsuit hatched?
Nudi: Removing one’s bathing suit to skinny dip in the ocean is a quite common occurrence for people who generally do so discretely. It brings with it, though, the issue of what to do with the removed suit. We’ve all seen countless movies in which someone arrives to make off with the clothes of skinny dippers who have left them on the beach or at lakeside. If you carry it in the water with you, both hands are not free for swimming and there’s always the possibility of it accidentally being let do to sink to the depths below. Necessity being the mother of invention, I devised a concept that allowed a suit to be secured out of the way for skinny dipping, but returned to it’s original position when necessary. To be useful, it had to appear ordinary enough that it would not draw attention to its special qualities. Thus the user could be discrete on the beach but moments later naked in the water, with no one to be the wiser. It took a number of years to refine the concept. During that time, we were told that nudists would have no use for it, since they frequent locations where no suit is necessary. Our subsequent experience is to the contrary however. At least one clothing optional resort has only a pool, with an ocean dip requiring the use of the beach in the clothed portion of the resort. At another clothing optional resort, we showed our suits to a table of a dozen people, almost all of whom were clothed, some even in bathing suits. They cheered and applauded, and then went skinny dipping. We also feel that people who are not shy about skinny dipping may have friends who are not yet comfortable with nudity in the open, but who could be introduced to if the initial transition can be eased. My own limited experience is that if you can just get people to try it, pretty soon you can’t keep swim suits on them. If we really liked wet cloth hanging on us, that’s how we’d shower and bathe.
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Photos courtesy of Nudi Inc.©
Nudist Day: Are you yourselves nudists?
Nudi: We are not nudists, but enjoy going to a variety of locations that are both clothing optional and not clothing optional. Our suit gives us the ability to skinny dip at any location, therefore turning any beach, pool, lake or boating adventure into a clothing optional environment.
ND: Is it the first product of its kinds or is it an improvement over a previously existing invention?
Nudi: It is the only one of its kind, with US and foreign patent protection.
ND: Are the products available only through your web store?
Nudi: Currently they are only available through our website at www.nudi.com. There has not as yet been any formal product launch, or any formulation of either a publicity or distribution plan. Our hope is to create the demand so the retail and resort markets will embrace the idea of selling a swimsuit for skinny dipping.
ND: Is the men’s swimsuit also retractable?
Nudi: The men’s suit is also definitely retractable. Our product is for both men and women to enjoy individually or as a couple.
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“I seem to recall that AANR has about 50,000 members, but poles show that well in excess of 50,000,000 have been skinny dipping…”
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ND: Is there much danger that the chain might come undone while one swims in heavy surf?
Nudi: The suit is most definitely meant to be worn in the water folded. The entire premise of the suit is to be able to go in to the water, fold it up and go skinny-dipping. As for the chain, our suits have been tested extensively in heavy surf without any problems.
ND: Do the tops also unclip and tuck?
Nudi: The tops stow in the sleeve that retains the suit when it is folded. We determined that it’s easier for a woman to just take a top off than to manipulate it into its own sleeve.
ND: Is there any reason why your website does not feature nude or partially nude models, keeping in mind that your customers will be nudists and that the top is sold separately?
Nudi: The reason it does not feature nudity is to avoid the age 18 restriction. However, as indicated in the narrative, we expect that a substantial market exists “in the closet”, as well as with people who may never appear nude out of the water.
ND: How do you justify the cost of the products? (i.e. what should we compare it to ?)
Nudi: The cost of our products stems from their construction. Everything is hand made to ensure quality control. We use high quality four way stretch lycra fabric for durability. And all the hardware on the suits, the chain, buckles and hooks are all stainless steel and corrosive resistant. On the women’s bottoms, the chain is gold or rhodium plated stainless steel. The attachment clips are specially fabricated stainless spring steel, also gold or rhodium plated. The clasps at the side are zamac, an alloy that is almost impervious to salt water corrosion. The suit can be immersed in salt water for a week, rinsed, and look new. We use the highest quality swimwear fabric we could find in its weight range. It will not pill. Laura has worn her suits far more that most people. We spend a significant amount of time in the British Virgin Islands and on the Gulf Coast, where we take hour long ocean swims several times a week. The suits hardly look worn. The construction of the suit is far more difficult than an ordinary suit where the sleeve is constructed with more attention to detail so that it works properly. Therefore, you should compare it to a top of the line suit with expensive decorative items, then add a bit for the fact that it does something no other swim suit does, and does it well.
ND: How has the reception been so far?
Nudi: About 70% of the limited number of people who know about it say “Wow, what an ingenious idea”. Another 20% wonder why on earth anyone would want such a thing. The other 10% think we are going straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Hopefully the latter group will take care of publicity.
ND: Are you actively promoting/marketing the products in the “real” world?
Nudi: We are trying to figure out how to do so. I seem to recall that AANR has about 50,000 members, but poles show that well in excess of 50,000,000 have been skinny dipping. Hopefully skinny dippers will be the next significant group to come out of the closet. Therefore, while we don’t view it as a product especially for nudists, we feel that our interests are basically aligned.
Our first model used for the suit was from Argentina and is now living in Dallas. We took her to the Florida Swimwear Association trade show in Miami to demo the suit for buyers and it didn’t go so well. Number 1 – you have to be clothed at a trade show, so demonstrating the suit wearing a nude colored thong confused the buyers. Number 2 – she froze to death. Convention centers are notoriously cold!
ND: What are your plans for the future?
Nudi: Our plans for the future are to launch this great line of suits, add cover ups and then other products associated with beach fun and functionality.
Related Sites:
- Nudi web store
Related Articles:
Tags: swimming
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the suits I wear are so small you are almost nude wearing them!
mens swimwear