Facekini

File:Facekini.jpg

The facekini ({{zh|s=脸基尼|p=liǎnjīní}}) is a mask designed for swimmers and beachgoers that covers the head and face, revealing only the eyes, nose, and mouth.{{cite news|first=Tianzhou|last=Ye|title=Facekini craze hits China beach|url=http://behindthewall.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/21/13391303-facekini-craze-hits-china-beach-as-swimmers-try-to-avoid-a-tan?lite|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=NBC News|date=21 August 2012|archive-date=23 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823151221/http://behindthewall.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/21/13391303-facekini-craze-hits-china-beach-as-swimmers-try-to-avoid-a-tan?lite|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Farrier|first=John|title=Fashion trend: The face-kini|url=http://www.neatorama.com/2012/08/21/Fashion-Trend-The-Face-Kini/|access-date=22 August 2012|newspaper=Neatorama|date=22 August 2012|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809203100/https://www.neatorama.com/2012/08/21/Fashion-Trend-The-Face-Kini/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=The facekini: China's new beach trend |url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/471291 |publisher=The Sun Daily |access-date=24 August 2012 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The mask is made of stretchy fabric commonly used in bathing suits,{{cite news|last=Chittley|first=Jordan|title=Facekini: The newest beachgoing craze at Chinese beach|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/facekini-newest-beachgoing-craze-chinese-beach-183126867.html|access-date=22 August 2012|newspaper=Yahoo news, Canada|date=21 August 2012|archive-date=24 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824051912/http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/facekini-newest-beachgoing-craze-chinese-beach-183126867.html|url-status=live}} and comes in different colors and patterns.{{cite news|last=Wilkinson|first=Isabel|title=Here's the face-kini, summer's new trend|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/19/here-s-the-face-kini-summer-s-craziest-new-trend-photos.html|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=The Daily Beast|date=21 August 2012|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716110449/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/08/19/here-s-the-face-kini-summer-s-craziest-new-trend-photos.html|url-status=live}} They are often worn in combination with various sun protective clothing, such as body suits with long sleeves, sunglasses, visors, or umbrellas.{{cite news|last=Newcomb|first=Tim|title=The Face-Kini: The Bizarre Art of Covering Up|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2012/08/21/the-face-kini-the-bizarre-art-of-covering-up/#vanity-first|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=Time Newsfeed|date=21 August 2012|archive-date=23 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120823000019/http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/08/21/the-face-kini-the-bizarre-art-of-covering-up/#vanity-first|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Face-kini, Face Mask Bathing Suit, Is Popular On Chinese Beach|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/facekini-face-mask-bathing-suit-china_n_1817491.html|access-date=21 August 2012|newspaper=Huffington Post US|date=21 August 2012|archive-date=22 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822114058/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/facekini-face-mask-bathing-suit-china_n_1817491.html|url-status=live}}

Origins

The facekini was invented in 2004 by Zhang Shifan, a former accountant from the coastal Chinese city of Qingdao,{{cite news|title=China's famous 'face-kini' gets Peking Opera-inspired facelift|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-life-facemasks-idUSKCN0PP0X820150715|access-date=15 July 2015|work=Reuters|date=15 July 2015|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031205424/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-life-facemasks-idUSKCN0PP0X820150715|url-status=live}} which became the hometown of this fashion trend.{{Cite web|last2=Campri |first1=Monica |last1=Kim |first2=Luca |date=31 August 2017 |title=Meet the Facekini—China's Best Beauty Accessory for the Skin-Savvy Beachgoer |url=https://www.vogue.com/projects/13535517/qingdao-china-beach-facekinis-bathing-suit-trend-skin-sun-protection/ |access-date=12 September 2020 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} The people of Qingdao use the garment to protect against ultraviolet rays, as well as jellyfish, insects, and other irritants at the beach.{{cite news |last=Festa |first=Jessica |title=China's popular beach trend: The Facekini |url=http://www.gadling.com/2012/08/23/chinas-popular-beach-trend-the-facekini/ |access-date=24 August 2012 |newspaper=Gadling |date=24 August 2012 |archive-date=2 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202203514/https://gadling.com/2012/08/23/chinas-popular-beach-trend-the-facekini/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Levin |first=Dan |title=Beach Essentials in China: Flip-Flops, a Towel and a Ski Mask |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/world/asia/in-china-sun-protection-can-include-a-mask.html |access-date=21 August 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=3 August 2012 |archive-date=5 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805011949/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/04/world/asia/in-china-sun-protection-can-include-a-mask.html |url-status=live }}

Fashion trend

The facekini garnered increased attention from Western press in 2012, when creator Zhang Shifan began developing high-fashion masks.{{Cite web|date=29 June 2017|title=A Brief History of the Chinese Facekini|url=https://radiichina.com/a-brief-history-of-the-chinese-facekini/|access-date=12 September 2020|website=RADII - Culture, Innovation, and Life in today's China|language=en-US|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027065327/https://radiichina.com/a-brief-history-of-the-chinese-facekini/|url-status=live}}

Fashion magazine CR Fashion Book published several sets of photos in 2014 with models wearing facekinis paired with designer Alexander Wang and Michael Kors swimwear and jewelry.{{Cite news|last=Kirkpatrick|first=Nick|title=The 'facekini': From the beaches of China to pages of a fashion magazine|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/29/the-facekini-from-the-beaches-of-china-to-pages-of-a-fashion-magazine/|date=29 August 2014|access-date=12 September 2020|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028024553/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/08/29/the-facekini-from-the-beaches-of-china-to-pages-of-a-fashion-magazine/|url-status=live}}

In 2019, its creator launched new models that cover the whole body, not just the face and neck.{{Cite web|title=Facekini is back, this time even more bizarre|url=http://chinaplus.cri.cn/photo/china/18/20190806/326606.html|access-date=12 September 2020|website=chinaplus.cri.cn|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729132506/http://chinaplus.cri.cn/photo/china/18/20190806/326606.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=6 August 2019|title=New facekini designs hit the beaches of Qingdao|url=http://shanghai.ist/2019/08/06/new-facekini-designs-hit-the-beaches-of-qingdao/|access-date=12 September 2020|website=shanghaiist|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108025221/https://shanghai.ist/2019/08/06/new-facekini-designs-hit-the-beaches-of-qingdao/|url-status=live}}