The Naked Truth: A 21st-Century Exploration of Naturisms Rise and Evolution in Western Society
As we gather near the hot tub for the opening ceremony at British Naturism: Sunfolk, a 94-year-old naturist site relaunching after a modern makeover, we are greeted by Stéphane Deschênes, a twinkly-eyed Canadian with an impressive white handlebar mustache. As president of the International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI), he has traveled 3,000 miles to St Albans, a small historic city in London's commuter belt, which is home to three naturist clubs.
The five-acre site is bucolic, cocooned by mature woodland with landscaped lawns edged by rhododendrons and a tadpole-filled brook. There’s an inviting new sauna, a heated pool with floats and toys, and outdoor showers with a full range of toiletries. Five smart new glamping pods are nearby, as is a campfire area and a clubhouse with a communal kitchen and an honesty bar with snacks, drinks, and ready meals. It feels like a peaceful oasis, just an hour away from the grit and congestion of central London.
Despite the temperamental British weather (gray skies and gooseflesh are a seasonal hazard), most of the 40 or 50 bodies at this summer celebration are duly liberated. It’s a jolt at first, seeing habitually veiled organs out and about, but it’s easy to make the adjustment—look at faces, like you normally would. And if your eyes strike flesh when glancing downwards, slide them courteously right. Before long, the naked bodies feel as natural a part of the scenery as the veteran trees that have been surveying this site for close to a century.
“Naturism is about liberating your body and accepting who you are,” says Deschênes. “You feel free from the shackles, the bonds, of society, in terms of body shame and everything else.” But, arguably, naturist environments have more rules than mainstream society in a lot of ways. Naturism’s utopian ideals of non-sexual social nudity are founded on respect, community, egalitarianism, and harmony with nature.
In today’s era of OnlyFans and rampant individualism, those values can seem prim or quaint, particularly for younger people who don’t want to disrobe alongside people from their parents’ or grandparents’ generation. However, it’s by no means time for naturism to get its coat. A century on from the movement’s peak, there are several factors suggesting Western society could be ripe for a nude renaissance.
For instance, an independent survey commissioned by British Naturism in 2022 found that a surprising 14% of UK adults defined themselves as naturists or nudists, up from previous British Naturism surveys that found 6% in 2011 and 2% in 2000. The survey defined naturists as people who engaged in activities such as sunbathing or swimming without clothes. In the UK, at least, it seems there is a significant hidden appetite for getting bare and breezy. Around the world, we’re also in a boom time for opportunities for nude recreation, from naked yoga classes to clothing-optional cruises to flesh-friendly festivals.
One notable trend is that traditional club membership might be in decline. Younger generations are more interested in experiencing naturism through events and festivals rather than joining traditional clubs. This shift towards more casual participation could be a sign that the movement is evolving to better suit modern lifestyles and preferences. Additionally
