Speedo Swimwear Fashions
Traditionally swimwear for men has received much less attention than that for women. However, over the years, fashion has evolved and designers began to create a much wider array
of choices for men.
Back in the 1800s swimming and public bathing flourished. But because of Victorian views women and even men had to cover up quite a bit. Swimwear consisted of long sleeve tops
and shorts that went down to the knees. It was unthinkable for a man to display a bare chest in public. These were, after all, very conservative times and it took many decades before the chest could be
displayed.
Throughout most of the 1900s attitudes changes and by the 1930s men began to bare a lot more than their chests in very skimpy tight suits. Boxer style swimming shorts came on the
market but were not popular. No doubt when the exposure increased many thought the suits to be scandalous and only the most daring men would wear them. But men soon found they were very comfortable to
swim in.
By the 1950s, the male bathing costume saw an explosion of colour, patterns and fancy artwork. More and more men began to pay attention to their looks and the fashion industry
created numerous fashions to cater to different needs and tastes.
Today there are many varieties to choose from. Swim shorts with knee-length coverage lead the pack and have remained number one for some time. More skimpy suits are
preferred for pool events because they aid the body in sliding through the water with minimum friction.
Originally known as 'The Great Aussie Cossie', the SPEEDO company was founded in Australia in 1928. Although SPEEDO is still worn by the world's top athletes, it has
also become the first choice of those who just want to hang out on the beach and swim for fun. Not to mention to show off their bods. It has become a generic term for tight trunks although today it has
many competitors.
Speedo kicked off the 21st century in style, launching the revolutionary FASTSKIN swimsuit. Its award winning sharkskin-based design was eagerly received by swimmers like Grant Hackett, Michael Klim, Inge
de Bruijn and Lenny Krayzelburg.
The 2000 Sydney Olympics saw 13 of the 15 World Records broken in the suit and 83% of medals won by swimmers.
In 2003
Speedo celebrated its 75th birthday. Speedo commissioned fashion designer Melissa Odabash to design a limited edition anniversary collection and was modelled on high profile names including Jerry Hall, Naomi Campbell and Yasmin Le Bon.
2004
saw Speedo launch the FASTSKIN FSII, an evolution of FAST-SKIN, which reduced passive drag by up to 4%. At the 2004 Athens Olympics Michael Phelps made history in FASTSKIN FSII by becoming the first ever swimmer to win 8 medals. More swimmers in Athens wore Speedo than all of the other brands put together.
Speedo also joined forces with Amir Slama founder of Brazilian swimwear brand Rosa Cha to create a vibrant fashion collection.
In 2005 Speedo launched a new collaboration with international fashion label Comme des Garcons.
Then in 2007, the legacy continued with the launch of Fastskin FS-PRO, the
fastest and most powerful lightweight suit on the market. 21 world records were broken within 6 months.
2008
In its 80th year, Speedo launched LZR Racer, the most technically advanced swimsuit in the world. The Beijing Olympics proved to be an unprecedented success for Speedo and the LZR Racer, with 92% of all of the medals won by athletes wearing the suit. Speedo sponsored athlete
Michael Phelps was star of the Games with a record breaking 8 gold medals. Links to Men's Speedo Swimwear
AQUAfashionBUZZ PHOTO GALLERIES: SPEEDO WEAR
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