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For a long time, I’ve watched women struggle to find wetsuits that fit them properly. I’ve seen it in surf schools, outdoor centres and surf shops - women wrestling with wetsuits that were not designed for them.
Women squeezing into men’s wetsuits, kids’ wetsuits, anything that might ‘do’. Built with no consideration for hips or thighs, bunching at the ankles and too long or short on the arms. I’ve seen how disheartening and embarrassing it can be for women to walk out of a surf shop feeling like the sport doesn’t have a space for them.
I believe that every woman deserves access to the water without feeling uncomfortable, embarrassed, or like an afterthought. The ZephaEco Womens Wetsuit project was born from that frustration.
In early 2024, we asked the women of North Devon their thoughts on Womens Wetsuits and the Wetsuit Industry.
Over 150 women took the time to respond to our survey. Many came into the shop to be measured and share their experiences. The good, the bad, and the frustratingly familiar. They told us what didn’t work, what they’d settled for, and what they wished existed but never had.
“There’s nothing more depressing than nothing being big enough,” one woman said.
“I often end up in a man’s wetsuit - but they’re too wide, I get cold, and my movement is restricted.”
“I’ve never owned a full wetsuit because I’m terrified of struggling to find one that fits.”
The message was loud and clear: the women’s wetsuit industry wasn’t built around real women’s bodies.
Sizing was inconsistent. Waists were too big, thighs too narrow. Leg and arm lengths didn’t make sense. Performance features that were standard in men’s suits were often missing.
And a familiar story in sports unfolded - women felt overlooked.
So we threw out the size charts and started again. With real data, real bodies, and real conversations.
The ZephaEco isn’t a tweaked version of an old suit. It’s a completely new fit. We redesigned the chest shape, reworked seam placement with fewer seams for greater comfort and durability, refined the zip length and positioning, considered the circumference of the wrists and ankles, created shape where women actually need it - the list goes on.
And then there’s sizing. During our research process, height was a constant issue.
“As a fairly short woman, I find it really difficult to find a wetsuit that fits properly.”
“I’m petite - the legs are always way too long and bunch up.”
“I’m tall and it’s impossible to find a ladies wetsuit in a tall.”
“Companies don’t offer short or tall sizes for women, but they do for men.”
Men have had short and tall options across every size for years. It has always baffled me that despite the huge variance between women's bodies, the size options were nowhere as extensive as could be found in mens wetsuits. We set out to change that.
The ZephaEco is available in 16 sizes, from size 6 to size 18, with short and tall options across the entire range, not just a token few. The first wetsuit in the industry to do so. Because women’s bodies are not just one shape or height, and they never have been.
As someone who’s struggled my whole life finding wetsuits that fit well, being 5’2”, this mattered to me personally as much as it did professionally.
Women also told us exactly what they didn’t want.
“Fit and function are the most important things - please don’t focus on cutesy colours.”
“We want performance.”
Women deserve high-quality, high-performance wetsuits. The ZephaEco is a chest zip suit with a soft premium thermal lining, fully taped seams, tapered wrist cuffs, drainage holes. All the details that make a real difference in the water.
We were also intentional about changing the narrative around how women’s wetsuits are marketed. For decades, surfing imagery and advertising have reflected deeply entrenched gender biases. Men are shown actively surfing, pushing limits, and performing athletically, while women are too often relegated to posing passively or conforming to beauty standards rather than being celebrated for their skill and strength in the water. Brands and the media have historically objectified female bodies and prioritised stereotypical femininity over athletic competence, a pattern rooted in broader advertising norms that undervalue women’s athleticism and participation.
Our campaign flips that script. We put women riding waves front and centre. Our campaign photoshoot featured incredible local female surfers, of all shapes, sizes, and styles, bringing authenticity, energy, and heart to the project. It’s about representation that reflects real women in the lineup, not just on the sand - challenging the outdated visual narrative that has long dominated surf marketing.
When we installed the campaign banner on the side of our store in Braunton, an image of local women surfers standing together, it sparked a meaningful response from the community. Shortly after, the founder of Wave Wahines, a surf club for women and girls, shared this moment:
“The importance of role models is so real! This morning my littlest Wahine stopped and couldn’t believe that she knew some of the famous ladies on this poster!!! …You really are inspiring a whole generation of young Wahines (& us less young ones too!)”
That moment captured exactly why representation matters. When young girls see women they recognise, admire, and relate to taking up space, not on the sidelines, but front and centre, it quietly reshapes what feels possible. This project was never just about wetsuits. It was about showing the next generation of Wahines that they belong in the lineup too.
I had the space at Tiki to develop something that really mattered to me. This project has been female-led from the very beginning - from the women who took part in the initial survey, to the wetsuit design itself, the branding and marketing, and right through to the end with lead photographer Bella Bunce helping bring the project to life.
I was intentional about championing women at every stage of the project, believing that we need to support women across all industries, including photography, which remains largely male-dominated.
If you’ve ever struggled to find a wetsuit that fits.
If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable or unseen.
If you’ve ever thought surfing wasn’t for you because the industry never made it accessible.
This one’s for you.
Tiki Design Coordinator
25th January 2026
