The US$120,000 swimsuit

By Xiao Changyan (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-02 14:47

It could be the most expensive swimsuit ever made. Valued at more than 800,000 yuan (US$117,647), the sparkling suit was unveiled this week by top Chinese model Mo Wandan on behalf of Hosa, the sponsor of the water cube complex.

This undated handout photo shows top Chinese model Mo Wandan wearing the most expensive swimsuit. [China Daily]

Designer Huang Yinyun says it took her and her colleagues more than a month to create this little beauty, with its shining water cube patterns made up of numerous Swarovski crystals.

"The most difficult step was to attach the expensive crystal to the high-tech swimsuit fabric. The temperature had to be strictly controlled, as the glue could have spilled at high temperature, but the crystals could have fallen off if the temperature had been too low."

"It is the first swimsuit in China made with crystals and we have applied to the Guinness Book of World Records for it be listed as the most luxurious swimsuit in the world."

The swimsuit will be saved by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne in Sweden after the Olympics. Hosa has also released new swimsuit collections for this summer, focusing on seamless cutting and using the high-tech fabric once only worn by professional swimmers. Called "Speed Wing", the collection features tight, rigid body suits with a unique fabric mimicking shark skin and Olympic elements like lucky clouds and bird's nest patterns.