UNIKA is a custom swimwear brand housed in a beautiful Yorkville storefront and studio. The all-women team makes bathing suits in-house for ladies of all shapes and sizes, all year ‘round.

Founder and designer Betsy Campos spent her summers in Brazil growing up, so she’s always noticed a very particular gap in the Toronto market.

Not only are swimsuits available in-store for just a season, they’re also quite limited in terms of styles, sizes and fits — not to mention quality.

Her store offers the opposite: an infinite number of styles, sizes and fits with high-quality craftsmanship, thanks to their customizing service.

Here’s how it works. You start your private appointment by picking some basic silhouettes. There are one pieces with halter necklines, classic string bikinis, cheeky bottoms, underwire tops... you name it.

Then, you try on sample sizes to be pinched and pinned just right for your body and personal preferences. Any additional design details can be noted here, too (I asked for extra ruffles, and I got extra ruffles).

You can even request an entirely different style that looks nothing like their basic silhouettes. Whatever you say goes at UNIKA.

From there, you pick a colour or print from their wall of over 150 options. Everything from the tropical prints to the array of solids can be turned into your dream piece of swimwear. You may need to return for additional fittings and alterations, so the entire process typically takes an average of 8 - 10 days.

If your next vacation is coming up soon, you can choose to pay for a rush order, which can be ready as soon as the following business day. Everything is handmade by the designers and seamstresses right in the studio half of the open-concept store.

Latin for "unique," UNIKA bases their philosophy on individuality.

"I cater to everyone, but the brand’s inspiration comes from the women who walk into stores and leave disappointed because can’t find anything that fits them off the rack."

Through UNIKA, Betsy hopes to help people embrace what makes them different and feel good in their own skin.

The women-owned and operated business is proud to service those with cup sizes AAA to H, as well as accommodate special cases like mastectomies, ileostomies, colostomies, and scars or burns from surgeries.

Though made-to-measure is their holy grail, off-the-rack swimsuits are also available at UNIKA. Pieces range from $80 - $100 and can be purchased without an appointment. The custom swimwear pricing is about 30 per cent higher.