Anne Cole is an American swimwear brand most known for the invention of the tankini, a type of swimsuit. The brand's namesake founder, Anne Cole (1926–2017), was the woman who invented the tankini in 1998. The swimwear company was originally a division within

Cole of California Cole may refer to: People and fictional characters * Cole (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Cole (surname), including a list of people and fictional characters with the surname * Cole tribe ...

, a knitwear company founded by Cole's father, Fred Cole. Anne Cole began to work for Cole of California in sales and marketing in 1951. During that era, the brand attracted celebrities such as

Esther Williams Esther Jane Williams (August 8, 1921 – June 6, 2013) was an American competitive swimmer and actress. She set regional and national records in her late teens on the Los Angeles Athletic Club swim team. Unable to compete in the 1940 Summer Ol ...

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...

, and

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe ( ; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 August 4, 1962) was an American actress and model. Known for playing comic "Blonde stereotype#Blonde bombshell, blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex ...

. In 1982, after decades of designing women's swimsuits, Anne Cole created her own eponymous swimwear brand, Anne Cole Swimwear. Anne Cole designed several swimsuits for the

and Anne Cole Swimwear brand, including the “Scandal Suit,” a one-piece swimsuit with mesh inserts that became the first swimsuit to break $1 million in sales in 1964. Anne Cole also created the camisole "camkini" and the strapless "bandeaukini" swimsuit. Anne Cole expanded into ladies’ activewear in 2021 with Anne Cole Active. InMocean currently owns Anne Cole Swimwear.

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Swimwear brands American brands Year of birth missing (living people) {{US-company-stub