132-623: Speedo International Limited is an Australian-British distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories based in Nottingham , England. Founded in Sydney , Australia in 1914 by Alexander MacRae , a Scottish emigrant, the company is now a subsidiary of the British Pentland Group . Today, the Speedo brand can be found on products ranging from swimsuits and goggles to wristwatches. The Speedo brand
264-420: A girdle , to reduce muscle movement. This was designed to help the swimmer maintain the proper angle in the water for longer periods of time. Popular Science magazine named the suit one of their "100 Best of What's New '08" list, calling it "The fastest swimsuit in the world". Subsequent research revealed another reason for the suit's success: tiny air bubbles tended to be trapped between the swimmer's body and
396-630: A shark , Fairhurst told the BBC that she was "looking to develop a fabric that mimics nature". Both the Fastskin and Fastkskin FS II are textured with bumps and ridges in key places, similar to those on a shark's skin. These ridges are claimed to channel the water over the swimmer's body in a more efficient manner than traditional material suits. However, research in 2012 has suggested that the artificial sharkskin patterning does not benefit human swimmers, whose body movement
528-412: A wetsuit or drysuit such as cold water swimming, water skiing , scuba diving , surfing , and wakeboarding . Swimsuits may also be worn to display the wearer's physical attributes , as in the case of beauty pageants or bodybuilding contests, and glamour photography and magazines like the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue featuring models and sports personalities in swimsuits. There
660-532: A "racer-back costume" was introduced. The following year, a naming contest held among the MacRae staff yielded the slogan "Speed on in your Speedos." The brand name was born. The contest winner, Captain Parsonson, was awarded £5 for his slogan and the company was renamed Speedo Knitting Mills . The controversial yet revolutionary racerback style's open shoulder and exposed back allowed greater range of motion in water and
792-437: A Bath or Baths within this City by day or by night without a decent Shift on their bodies. The Expedition of Humphry Clinker was published in 1771 and its description of ladies' bathing costume is different from that of Celia Fiennes a hundred years earlier: The ladies wear jackets and petticoats of brown linen, with chip hats, in which they fix their handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their faces; but, truly, whether it
924-482: A bottom that "extended from the midriff to the upper thigh" and was "held up by shoestring laces that make a halter around the neck." Some credit Gernreich's design with initiating, or describe it as a symbol of, the sexual revolution . Warnaco Group Intimate Apparel Group: Swimwear Group: Distribution: The Warnaco Group, Inc. was an American textile/clothing corporation which designed, sourced, marketed, licensed , and distributed
1056-467: A countersuit accusing Klein of trademark libel for not only maligning Warnaco but also Calvin Klein's own products. The suit was settled in 2001 and sealed with a "fashionista air kiss" on the steps in front of a New York courthouse. While the agreement remains confidential, some of the terms have been made public. Warnaco was able to retain its Calvin Klein licenses, but Calvin Klein was able to regain some of
1188-519: A cut-down version of the "Super Elite" goggles are still sold today. As of the Rio 2016 Olympics, Speedo's lineup of suits consisted of its flagship "LZR Racer X", known for an "x" pattern of silver kinetic taping; a second generation Elite dubbed the "LZR Elite 2"; and an entry-level "LZR Pro". The LZR X performed slightly better than the FS3 in terms of swimmer preference, but Speedo failed to capture much attention at
1320-559: A fine yellow canvas, which is stiff and made large with great sleeves like a parson's gown; the water fills it up so that it is borne off that your shape is not seen, it does not cling close as other linning, which Lookes sadly in the poorer sort that go in their own linning. The Gentlemen have drawers and wastcoates of the same sort of canvas, this is the best linning, for the bath water will Change any other yellow. The Bath Corporation official bathing dress code of 1737 prescribed, for women: No Female person shall at any time hereafter go into
1452-483: A high-waisted suit that utilises the space in between the belly button and waist of the male swimmer. The core of Speedo's advertising campaign for the new line touted the benefits of "becoming one" with the suit. Speedo advertises up to 16.6% drag reduction and 11% improved oxygen economy. The system was sold featuring "fit point markers", allowing the swimmer to line up the suit, cap, and goggles to achieve an ideal fit and appearance. FINA approved this suit shortly after it
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#17328701302541584-463: A leader in swimwear manufacturing and once again drew controversy when its two-piece was banned by Australian beach inspectors. In 1951, Speedo Knitting Mills (Holdings) Ltd. incorporated and went public , selling its stock on the Sydney Stock Exchange . In 1955, nylon was used for the first time in the company's swimsuits and the next year, the increasingly popular swimsuit brand returned to
1716-564: A line of beach games equipment not offered on the SpeedoUSA website. The Speedo brand can be found on a wide variety of footwear including sandals, flip-flops , and water shoes. Speedo USA offers waterproof sneakers for aqua fitness training. The Speedo Digital line of accessories includes the waterproof Aquabeat and LZR Racer Aquabeat digital music players and related accessories, which are manufactured by South Korean consumer electronics company Iriver . Speedo's electronics offerings also include
1848-544: A line of designer fashions. Teams of students from the London College of Fashion , University College Falmouth and the University of Huddersfield have reused the material to create a complete fashion line including casual slacks, jackets, and even different forms of swimwear. This was not the company's first foray into recycled high fashion, though. In September 2010, sustainable fashion label, From Somewhere announced
1980-503: A line of men's underwear and Speedo Australia features a line of underwear called Speedo Underbody for men and women, sold only in select David Jones retail stores. Speedo offers a broad range of swim accessories including more than seventy models of goggles, several models of watches, sunglasses, and towels. In addition, Speedo offers several lines of aquatic fitness aids and swim aids for children and adults as well as scuba masks, snorkels and swimfins . Speedo International offers
2112-559: A looser fitting square-cut or swim brief. Germs, bacteria, and mold can grow very quickly on wet bathing suits. Medical professionals warn that wearing damp swimwear for long periods of time can cause a number of infections and rashes in children and adults, and warn against sharing bathing suits with others. They suggest that changing out of a wet bathing suit right away can help prevent vaginal infections, itching and/or jock itch. In public swimming pools in France for reasons of hygiene, it
2244-459: A new line of dresses made from Speedo's surplus. Speedo started its YouTube channel dedicated to Speedo and its products specifically in the context of "life in and around the water" on 2 March 2007. One of the initial videos was aimed at journalists and providing them with a literal and virtual feel for what the athletes wearing the LZR Racer at the 2008 Summer Olympics felt by letting members of
2376-409: A press conference that their swimmers would be allowed to wear the futuristic neck to ankle covering suits, but would do so "at their own risk". Coates later stated that the ruling he sought was whether the suits should be classified as costumes or devices. Professor Emeritus of Exercise and Nutritional sciences at San Diego State University , Brent S. Rushall claimed in a report sent to CAS that
2508-631: A product of the fibers of the Mexican Ixtle plant. By 1876, this new, more flexible design had grown in popularity so much so that the company moved its manufacturing operations to Bridgeport , CT , where approximately 1,200 people were employed to produce approximately 6,000 corsets daily. In 1883, Harper's Bazaar advertised the four most popular corsets in America as Dr. Warner's models The brothers claimed patents and trademarks on "health corset" and they had international manufacturing. The success of
2640-451: A rebranded FS3 cap to go along with the launch. Speedo's most controversial move came with 2008's unveiling of the LZR (pronounced " laser ") Racer. The super smooth suit, which was optimised with the help of NASA wind tunnels , uses welded seams and multiple woven fabrics to reduce drag by up to six per cent. In addition, the LZR, like the Fastskin, utilises a core stabiliser, which acts almost as
2772-478: A settlement in its three-year-long investigation of Warnaco and its auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers . The investigation stemmed from an overstatement of $ 145 million worth of inventory on Warnaco's 1998 Form 10-K . The SEC alleged that Warnaco knew about this overstatement when they released a press statement lauding the company's "record results" for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ending 1998. This overstatement would force Warnaco to restate its earnings for
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#17328701302542904-572: A significant surplus stock. The obsolete competition suits have found new life, though. London's Chelsea College of Art and Design received a donation of 600 suits, 200 of which were turned into the Chelsea Xpo Pavilion as part of the 2010 London Festival of Architecture project. The pavilion can be seen on the college's campus at the Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground. Another collaboration between Speedo and academia netted
3036-503: A wide range of underwear , sportswear , and swimwear worldwide. Its products were sold under several brand names including Calvin Klein , Speedo , Chaps , Warner's, and Olga. On 31 October 2012, the company announced that it would be acquired by PVH for $ 2.8 billion in cash and stock. The deal gave PVH more control of the Calvin Klein clothing brand as it will unite Calvin Klein formal, underwear, jeans and sportswear lines. It
3168-521: Is a "quick fix". The most recent list of FINA approved swimsuits, which was published in January 2011 lists 78 specific Speedo brand swimsuits among 45 worldwide brands and nearly 720 models. Among them, 71 are Fastskin models and 13 are LZR series suits. Several Speedo designs have been removed from the FINA list including the original LZR Racer, and multiple Fastskin models. FINA's ban on LZR Racers left Speedo with
3300-454: Is a very wide range of styles of modern swimsuits available, which vary as to body coverage and materials. The choice of style may depend on community standards of modesty , as well as current fashions , and personal preferences. The choice will also consider the occasion, for example whether it is to be worn for a passive occasion such as sunbathing or for an activity such as surfing or swimsuit competition . Swimwear universally covers at least
3432-716: Is an item of clothing designed to be worn by people engaging in a water-based activity or water sports , such as swimming , diving and surfing , or sun-orientated activities, such as sun bathing . Different types may be worn by men, women, and children. A swimsuit can be described by various names, some of which are used only in particular locations or for particular types of suit, including swimwear , bathing suit , bathing attire , swimming costume , bathing costume , swimming suit , swimmers , swimming togs , bathers , cossie (short for "costume"), or swimming trunks (usually worn by men), besides others. A swimsuit can be worn as an undergarment in sports that sometimes require
3564-708: Is becoming more common as a durable, lightweight fabric for swimsuits, although it is not as stretchy as spandex. Some companies have started to focus on recycled materials for their swimwear. They are working with companies that transform fishnets, nylon waste, and recovered plastic from shorelines, waterways and coastal communities into textile components. In Western culture, men's swimsuit styles include boardshorts , jammers , swim trunks , briefs also known as " Speedos ", thongs , and g-strings , in order of decreasing lower body coverage, and women's swimsuits include one-piece , bikinis , or thongs . While they go through many trends in color, pattern, length, and cut, there
3696-406: Is desired, and prevailing fashions . Almost all swimsuits cover intimate body parts including genitals and pubic hair , while most except thongs or g-strings (also called Brazilians) cover much or all of the buttocks . Most swimsuits in western culture leave at least the head, shoulders, arms, and lower part of the leg (below the knee) exposed. Women's swimsuits generally cover at least
3828-423: Is different from sharks. In addition, the suits are custom designed for the type of stroke the swimmer will use as well as being engineered differently for women and for men. These high-tech suits make use of elastic compression materials to limit muscle oscillation and to compress the swimmer's body, while in other areas a more flexible fabric is used to allow greater range of motion. Leaving no detail overlooked,
3960-461: Is in shambles right now and they better do something or they're going to lose their guy who fills these seats. That would be my recommendation to him, to not swim internationally... The mess needs to be stopped right now. This can't go on any further. The vague decision by swimming's governing body stated that suit materials would need to be textile, rather than polymer -based, but offered no specific deadline for this changeover to occur. The reason for
4092-532: Is no evidence that they were used for swimming. All classical pictures of swimming show nude swimmers. In various cultural traditions one swims, if not in the nude, in a version in suitable material of a garment or undergarment commonly worn on land, e.g. a loincloth such as the Japanese man's fundoshi . In the United Kingdom, until the mid-19th century there was no law against nude swimming , and each town
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4224-425: Is not much modification to the original variety of suit. A recent innovation is the burqini , favored by some Muslim women, which covers the whole body and head (but not face) in a manner similar to a diver's wetsuit . These are an updated version of full-body swimwear, which has been available for centuries , but conforms with Islam 's traditional emphasis on modest dress. In Egypt , the term " Sharia swimsuit"
4356-436: Is only permitted to wear closer fitting styles of swimwear. Men, for instance, must wear "Speedo"-style bathing suits and not baggy shorts or trunks. In classical antiquity swimming and bathing were done naked . There are Roman murals which show women playing sports and exercising wearing two-piece suits covering the areas around their breasts and hips in a fashion remarkably similar to the present-day bikini. However, there
4488-498: Is owing to the steam that surrounds them, or the heat of the water, or the nature of the dress, or to all these causes together, they look so flushed, and so frightful, that I always turn my eyes another way. Penelope Byrde points out that Smollett's description may not be accurate, for he describes a two-piece costume, not the one piece shift or smock that most people describe and is depicted in contemporary prints. His description does, however, tally with Elizabeth Grant's description of
4620-557: Is the principal advertiser for the Fastskin3 line of suits, as Ryan Lochte has been reported to prefer the older Fastskin LZR Elite suits. In succession to the LZR Pro and Elite, Speedo switched the branding for their technical suits from "Fastskin LZR Racer" to "Fastskin", continuing the trend they left off in 2008 when they debuted the LZR Racer. The male suit is available as a normal-cut suit and
4752-406: Is the sponsor of several national swim teams. Speedo also offers sponsorships to some High School and College ( NCAA , NAIA , Junior college ) Leagues as well as non-profit recreation leagues such as YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs . In addition to team and league sponsorships, these are the several celebrity athletes that are currently being sponsored by Speedo. Swimsuit A swimsuit
4884-477: Is used in competition, the manufacturer of such swimwear must submit the swimwear to FINA and obtain approval of FINA". Speedo's latest version of the LZR Racer series, the LZR Racer Elite, carries the FINA stamp of approval. The Elite series, like its predecessor utilises welded seams and compression material to sculpt the swimmer's body. The SpeedoUSA website specifically denies the new generation of LZR Racers
5016-488: Is used to describe full-body swimwear. Swimsuit color affects swimmers' safety . A blue, white, or gray swimsuit may be nearly invisible when the swimmer is underwater, which can make it more difficult for a lifeguard to spot a drowning swimmer. The most visible swimsuits underwater have large, solid blocks of bright neon colors , such as neon pink or neon orange. Solid neon colors are more visible than red or multi-colored swimsuits. In other cultures (particularly
5148-460: Is without prejudice to the positions of the parties as to the meaning of the license terms. When Linda Wachner forcibly took over the reins of Warnaco, she reduced the company's debt by 35% within four years. After the mid-1990s acquisition spree, Wachner led the clothing powerhouse once again to the brink of collapse. It was under her management that in 1995 Warnaco failed to make the Fortune 500 for
5280-563: The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta , GA . By 1991, Warnaco's lingerie division had license agreements with Valentino, Ungaro, Scaasi, Bob Mackie , Victoria's Secret and Fruit of the Loom . The menswear division produced shirts, sweaters, neckties and other accessories under names including Christian Dior , Hathaway, Chaps by Ralph Lauren , and Jack Nicklaus . At the end of 1991, the company produced $ 195.4 million in gross profits and Linda Wachner
5412-555: The NASA technology in the LZR Racer suit Michael Phelps wore at the Beijing Olympics was the subject of great media scrutiny. In 2000, British designer and former competitive swimmer Fiona Fairhurst was named as a finalist for European Inventor of the Year . Fairhurst helped Speedo's Aqualab design team invent the first-of-its-kind Fastskin swimsuit. Inspired by the varying skin texture of
Speedo - Misplaced Pages Continue
5544-400: The areola and bottom half of the breasts . Both men and women may sometimes wear swimsuits covering more of the body when swimming in cold water (see also wetsuit and dry suit ). In colder temperatures, swimsuits are needed to conserve body heat and protect the body core from hypothermia. Competitive swimwear refers to the swimsuit , clothing, equipment, and accessories used in
5676-425: The brassiere - a move which helped boost revenues to $ 12.6 million by 1920. The Jazz Age and Flapper movement of the 1920s saw the desire for less restrictive fashions. Women had a more care-free attitude toward life and ditched the corset and pantaloons in favor of breast-binding bandeaus and step-in panties . This was a difficult time for the company. Sales through the decade declined and efforts made by
5808-503: The "LZR PURE" collection, the lineup consists of two suits: a new high-end LZR Pure Intent, designed to replace the LZR Racer X, borrowing many technologies like hamstring taping from Mizuno's suits, and intended to compete with Mizuno's ST variant of their GX-Sonic series; and a flexible LZR Pure Valor, designed to replace the LZR Elite 2 and compete with the dual-layered MR variant of the GX-Sonic series. Speedo has also released new goggles and
5940-633: The 15 swimming records broken in the 2000 Sydney Olympics were by athletes wearing Speedo. Three years later, Speedo celebrated its 75th anniversary with special limited edition lines endorsed by Jerry Hall , Naomi Campbell and others. In 2004, Michael Phelps wore the Fastskin II, the latest evolution of the Fastskin series, in Athens to become the first swimmer to earn eight medals. Phelps followed up this performance four years later, earning eight golds at Beijing , while wearing Speedo's LZR Racer suit In 2010,
6072-422: The 1870s as "a pair of very short red and white striped drawers". Female bathing costumes were derived from those worn at Bath and other spas. It would appear that until the 1670s, nude female bathing in the spas was the norm, and that after that time women bathed clothed. Celia Fiennes gave a detailed description of the standard ladies' bathing costume in 1687: The Ladyes go into the bath with Garments made of
6204-540: The 1930s, and the company was the first to introduce the use of nylon in the 1950s and later nylon/elastane in the 1970s. Speedo's most recent technological advances are found in the Fastskin, Fastskin FS II series and the LZR Racer suit. Throughout the company's history, though, it seemed each design innovation was met with great controversy. Clare Dennis was nearly disqualified from her record-breaking Olympic meet because her suit showed too much skin; early Speedo bikinis were banned from some Australian beaches; more recently,
6336-447: The 1930s, new materials were being developed and used in swimwear, particularly latex and nylon , and swimsuits gradually began hugging the body, especially women's swimsuits. In the 1960s, spandex (Lycra) began to be used in swimsuits, usually combined with nylon, to make them fit snugly to the body. However, spandex is not particularly strong or durable, especially in chlorinated water in swimming pools and hot tubs. Polyester
6468-630: The 1950s by exporting to the United States and exploring potential opportunities in South America, Europe, New Zealand and Japan. The end of the 1950s also saw the beginning of a long-lasting business partnership which continues to this day. In 1958, Speedo began the manufacture of American Warnaco's White Stag ski-wear line. In exchange, in 1961, White Stag became the exclusive US distributor of Speedo swimwear. Through White Stag, Speedo's product line expanded to include men's and women's sportswear. By
6600-448: The 1970s. By the middle of the decade, Warnaco had become a multi-national clothing conglomerate with almost 20 divisions. Despite the company's diverse portfolio, however, Warnaco was struggling to turn a profit. Recognizing the potential failure, Field handed management of the company over to James Walker and Philip Lamoureux. Walker was named CEO in 1977. Lamoureux and Walker turned the company around quickly and in 1982, Lamoureux left
6732-491: The Auquashot waterproof digital camera . Speedo USA's men's collections are categorised as: Competition, Racing, Boardshorts and Swim Trunks , Fashion, and Lifeguard . Speedo International's men's offerings also include wetsuits. Both Speedo USA and Speedo International also offer a wide range of children's styles including performance, racing, fashion and beginner lines. Swim records were broken in Speedo brand silk suits in
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#17328701302546864-576: The Calvin Klein brand accounted for 75% of the Warnaco Group's $ 2 billion net sales in 2009. At the end of 2010's second quarter (ending 3 July), Warnaco reported that all three divisions — Intimates, Swimwear and Sportswear — contributed to its 14% growth in net revenues to $ 519.3 million and industry analysts expect continued growth. In August 2010 The Motley Fool named Warnaco one of its Top 10 Values in Consumer Durables, citing
6996-414: The Calvin Klein brand name by producing merchandise that was not authorized or approved by Calvin Klein and that Warnaco was distributing Calvin Klein jeanswear through unapproved discount outlets, such as warehouse clubs , like Costco and BJ's . Klein , himself appeared on CNN 's Larry King Live shortly after the suit was filed and stated these practices have been taking place since Warnaco acquired
7128-582: The Company generated approximately 45% of the Company's revenues during Fiscal 2009. Brand names the Company licenses for a term generated approximately 55% of its revenues during Fiscal 2009. Owned brand names and brand names licensed for extended periods (at least through 2044) accounted for over 89% of the Company's net revenues in Fiscal 2009. The Company's highly recognized brand names have been established in their respective markets for extended periods and have attained
7260-507: The Games as Mizuno , a Japanese manufacturer, had introduced a new suit (the "GX-Sonic III") designed to circumvent the FINA regulations and aid the swimmer in new ways. Specifically, the Mizuno suit comes in two variants: a sprinter ("ST") variant with stiff taping on the inside of the suit along the hamstrings, designed to help the upbeat of a kick at the end of a race as a swimmer's energy fades, while
7392-603: The Mizuno suit over any of Speedo's offerings and won many golds in that suit. Additionally, the de facto trademark appearance of some collegiate teams like the Texas Longhorns at the NCAA National Championships is in Mizuno now, as opposed to Speedo. To combat the rapid uprise of choosing Mizuno among high-performing swimmers, Speedo released a new lineup of suits in 2019, in advance of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Dubbed
7524-604: The Olympics when its home country hosted the Melbourne Summer Games . The Speedo sponsored Australian men's swim team took home eight gold medals and brought a new worldwide level of notoriety to the company which debuted the swim briefs that would become synonymous with the brand name. By 1957, Speedo had the exclusive licence to manufacture and distribute Jockey brand men's underwear in Australia. The company finished off
7656-467: The UK), the term "trunks" is used to describe swim briefs, although it has been increasingly common for any men's swimwear to be generically described as "trunks". Swimsuits can be skin-tight or loose-fitting. They are often lined with another layer of fabric if the outer fabric becomes transparent when wet. Swimsuits range from designs that almost completely cover the body to designs that expose almost all of
7788-675: The Warners' designs had made the brothers millionaires and in 1894 they retired and turned control of the company over to De Ver's son, D.H. and the Warner Brothers partnership was changed to a corporation. The turn of the century saw even greater success for the company in the hands of the founders' sons. New products included the rust-proof corset and combination corset and hose-supporter. By 1913 sales reached $ 7 million and profits averaged $ 700,000 annually Two years later, The Warner Brothers Corset Co. paid $ 1,500 for Mary Phelps Jacob's patent for
7920-413: The aquatic sports of swimming , diving , artistic swimming , triathlon , and water polo . Some swimsuits are designed specifically for swimming competitions where they may be constructed of a special low resistance fabric that reduces skin drag. Most competitive swimmers wear special swimsuits including partial bodysuits , racerback styles, jammers and racing briefs to assist their glide through
8052-423: The area from the navel to the knee, and women's counterparts from the shoulder to the knee. Some swimmers use a specialized training suit called drag suits to artificially increase drag during practice. Drag suits are swimwear with an outer layer of looser fabric – often mesh or nylon – to increase resistance against the water and build up the swimmer's endurance. They come in a variety of styles, but most resemble
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#17328701302548184-446: The athlete in swimming competitions. They reduce friction and drag in the water, increasing the swimmer's forward motion efficiency. The tight fits allow for easy movement and are said to reduce muscle vibration, thus reducing drag. This also reduces the possibility that a high-forward dive will remove a diver's swimwear. Starting around 2000, to improve the effectiveness of the swimsuits, engineers have taken to designing them to replicate
8316-433: The ban, it had not been scheduled to go into effect until the following spring. The delay in FINA's hi-tech prohibition and Phelps's unexpected second-place finish (his first loss since 2005) led Phelps's coach Bob Bowman to threaten a boycott of international swim competitions. In the first three days of the eight-day competition, 15 world records were set. I'm done with this. It has to be implemented immediately. The sport
8448-452: The body. The choice of swimsuit primarily depends on the activity of the wearer, from tight briefs for men for competitive diving and water polo to boardshorts for surfing; although ironically female competitive divers usually wear full one-piece suits while female competitive surfers often wear bikinis. Secondary considerations are personal and community standards of modesty depending on the location and social setting, how much sun protection
8580-586: The communist country's return to the Olympics for first time since 1958. Throughout the decade, the brand expanded its reach in Europe by licensing production in Italy, Spain, Sweden and other nations, bringing its total distribution to 112 countries. In 1990, British sportswear firm Pentland Group , which had just sold its shares of sneaker company Reebok , acquired a significant stake in Warnaco offshoot Authentic Fitness, which
8712-528: The companies named in the suit. The workers further claimed that they were forced to sign "shadow contracts" waiving basic human rights, including the freedom to date or marry. And they emphasize the poor working and living conditions for workers. The suits allege they work and live in crowded, unsanitary factories and shanty-like housing compounds that are in flagrant violation of federal law. Almost immediately, Warnaco denied any wrongdoing, stating that they hire subcontractors that strictly follow U.S. law and in
8844-663: The company approximately $ 25 million. In 2008, the company also ceased operations under the Michael Kors and Nautica labels, citing a collective $ 1.7 million in losses from the two brands. In further efforts to boost its swimwear line, Speedo renewed its contract with 8-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps , extending his endorsement through the next Summer Games . Warnaco provides private label swimsuits for Victoria's Secret. In order to strengthen its "core intimates" group, (Warner's, Olga, Calvin Klein Underwear),
8976-531: The company launched Speedo Sculpture ShapeLine, a new line of body-shaping swimsuits for women. Although the brand name Speedo is often genericised to refer to any style of men's swim briefs, these account for less than 2% of the company's sales. The Speedo name can be found on a wide range of swimsuit styles for men, women, and children focusing on performance and style. Speedo also offers a range of sportswear, footwear, and accessories ranging from swim goggles to electronics. Additionally, Speedo International offers
9108-600: The company pioneer the use of elastane (spandex) and the brand's use in Olympic record breaking continued at the 1972 Munich and 1976 Montreal games, the latter of which Speedo was an official swimwear licensee. On Australia Day , 26 January 1981 the Australian Institute of Sport opened in Canberra , with Speedo as its first official sponsor. Also early in the decade, Speedo provided equipment and training to China to aid
9240-463: The company shed private label GJM and high-end lingerie brand Lejaby. Since emerging from bankruptcy, Warnaco Group's annual income Reports have shown steady growth. Calvin Klein continues to be a strong performer for the company in both the jeans and intimates sectors. As of 2 January 2010, the company operated over 1,000 Calvin Klein retail stores worldwide as well as three online stores. It also licenses or franchises an additional 624 stores and
9372-461: The company that revolutionized corsetry revolutionized the brassiere by assigning letters to various cup sizes. The ABC Alphabet Bra set the standard for bra sizing that is still used today. By the early 1940s, the company was profitable again, bringing in $ 1 million by 1947. Sales of bras, girdles, and the cross-promotion of the Merry Widow line of corselets with the 1952 Lana Turner movie of
9504-442: The company to adapt to these changing times were met with little success. The Great Depression of the 1930s was difficult on the clothing industry and Warner was no exception to this financial suffering. Even as the boyish figure of the previous decade's Flappers fell out of style and curves made a return to fashion, Warner struggled. By 1932, the company had lost more than $ 1 million. The company's troubles were only made worse by
9636-487: The company's foothold in the sportswear market. Warner Brothers went public in 1961 and was soon generating revenues in excess of $ 100 million. In 1966, it acquired another large clothing maker, the White Stag Manufacturing Company . The Warner Brothers Company changed its name to Warnaco, Inc. in 1968, and continued to grow its business exponentially through various mergers and acquisitions throughout
9768-470: The company. A year later, Walker died unexpectedly. That year brought in $ 28.3 million. However, some of the cost-cutting measures implemented by Lamoureux and Walker — including cutbacks in research and in advertising — hurt the company more than helping it. In 1986, after being away from the company for nine years, former lingerie division president Linda J. Wachner engineered a $ 550 million hostile takeover . Wachner had previously risen through
9900-532: The creation of the low-drag S2000 suit, the chlorine resistant Endurance line as well as the Aquablade series which was worn by more than three-fourths of medal winners at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. Speedo began the 21st century with the introduction of its Fastskin swimsuit and, again, broke world records when the Summer Games returned to the swimwear leader's home town. The company website boasts that 13 out of
10032-598: The creative control he had ceded in the original license. The agreement opens: IT IS HEREBY AGREED by and between Calvin Klein and Warnaco as follows: 1. Calvin Klein and Warnaco agree to work together for their mutual benefit under their existing license and other agreements, except to the extent that those agreements are modified by the terms of this Settlement Agreement. 2. a. Beginning in calendar year 2002, Warnaco will limit its annual gross sales of Calvin Klein jeanswear to mass merchandisers (defined as, for example, KMart, Wal-Mart and Target) and/or warehouse clubs so that
10164-474: The delay, FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu told the AP , is to give manufacturers enough time "to pass from polyurethane to textiles". The ambiguity continued when FINA was unable to define textile. The most specific aspect of the ruling returned men to bare chests and ladies to bare shoulders. The current rule (GR 5.4), as posted on FINA's website, states "Before any swimwear of new design, construction or material
10296-460: The design team also uses low-profile seams. According to author Frank Vizard, the Fastskin suits reduce drag by up to four per cent. Speedo adapted this new fabric technology for the 2006 Winter Olympics . The full-bodied Fastskin FSII Ice suits were debuted by the silver medal winning American women's bobsled team . By the time the bobsledders were given the opportunity to don their Fastskin suits,
10428-450: The division's inventory costing control system was inadequate to ensure the accuracy of Warnaco's books and records and failed to ensure that proper internal controls were in place. " Stanley P. Silverstein, who was Warnaco's general counsel at the time was also named, as he, too, signed off on the report. PricewaterhouseCoopers settled with the SEC and agreed to pay a $ 2.4 million penalty. Wachner
10560-544: The exposure of people in swimsuits, especially to people of the opposite sex. In the United States, beauty pageants of women in bathing costumes became popular from the 1880s. However, such events were not regarded as respectable. Beauty contests became more respectable with the first modern Miss America contest held in 1921, though less respectable beauty contests continued to be held. Miss America ended its swimsuit competition in 2018. The 1907 Sydney bathing costume protests were carried out in Australia after an ordinance
10692-434: The figure-hugging nature of these garments, glamour photography since the 1940s and 1950s has often featured people wearing swimsuits. This type of glamour photography eventually evolved into swimsuit photography exemplified by the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue . Beauty contests also required contestants to wear form-fitting swimsuits. Louis Réard , a French automobile engineer and clothing designer, introduced
10824-496: The first time in nearly 30 years. Time magazine referred to Warnaco's reacquisition of Authentic Fitness as "financial gymnastics that helped prop up Wachner's bank account but ultimately loaded Warnaco's balance sheet with an extra $ 600 million in debt." " Between 1998 and 2000, Warnaco's stock had lost about 75% of its value, yet Wachner continued to draw a base salary of $ 2.7 million with an additional $ 12.5 million in bonuses and private stock. Upon her ouster as CEO, Wachner
10956-603: The garment factories — located in Saipan , Northern Mariana Islands , a United States Commonwealth — regularly employed immigrant laborers who were duped into paying a "recruiting fee" of up to $ 7,000 so they can work in The United States. Upon arrival in Saipan, the workers are forced to surrender their passports and work off the money they owe, in effect making them indentured servants . These factories produce clothing for
11088-439: The guide's costume at Ramsgate in 1811. The only difference is in the fabric the costumes are made of. Flannel, however, was a common fabric for sea bathing costumes as many believed the warmer fabric was necessary in cold water. In the 18th century women wore "bathing gowns" in the water; these were long dresses of fabrics that would not become transparent when wet, with weights sewn into the hems so that they would not rise up in
11220-609: The knee. Women's suits could not extend past the shoulders or go below the knee. However, by that time, swimmers wearing the suit had already broken at least 46 world records. FINA's ban on the LZR Racer and all "hi-tech" suits came shortly before Michael Phelps's 200 meter freestyle loss to Germany 's Paul Biedermann at the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships in Rome, Italy. Wearing Arena's polyurethane X-Glide suit, Biedermann broke two world records that day and beat Phelps by more than one second. Even though FINA had already approved
11352-676: The legality of these suits. Ultimately, the suits were approved for use in the Sydney Olympics and in December 2000 the super-suit earned a place on Popular Science 's "100 Best of What's New", alongside the US Navy 's F-16 replacement and Kodak's Smart Digital Picture Frame with built-in modem . Four years later, the FSII debuted in the Athens summer games. While this next stage in swimwear evolution
11484-521: The license for Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein retail stores through its takeover of Designer Holdings, Inc. The license for Calvin Klein children's clothing was purchased from Commerce Clothing Warnaco closed out the 1990s by selling off its underperforming Hathaway label and reacquiring Authentic Fitness. The company's success peaked in 1998 with $ 1.95 billion in revenue. Soon after, however, sales dropped rapidly and — saddled with debt from all
11616-454: The license three years prior. Calvin Klein had sought to regain control of its jeanswear license. Warnaco's initial response to the suit, which King read on the air, called the complaint "without merit." The statement further accused Calvin Klein of "throwing stones at Warnaco," in a "desperate attempt... to cover up and distract focus from the highly deteriorated business state of CKI". In response to Klein's television appearance, Warnaco filed
11748-705: The line had already gone through several evolutions including the Fastskin FS-II and Fastskin FS-Pro. From the very beginning, these drag reducing suits were met with great resistance. At issue was Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) rule 10.7, which stated "No swimmer shall use any device that may aid his speed, buoyancy, or endurance during a competition (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins etc). Goggles may be worn". Early in 2000, Speedo hand-delivered their new Fastskin suits to 150 Olympic hopefuls and promised 6,000 more would be made available for Olympic trials. Fearing
11880-478: The media try the suits on in person in Beijing and sharing that experience virtually via YouTube. For swimmers, videos posted cover a wide range of topics including swimming technique overviews and breaking down the process of designing and making swimwear. Speedo's channel also features high profile athletes at different points of their journey as a professional swimmer such as at the end of a World Championships. Speedo
12012-648: The men's Australian swim team featured shirtless swim trunks for the first time. Also in 1936, Alexander MacRae became involved in the Surf Life Saving Association . To this day, Speedo continues to support the Australian volunteer organisation. After devoting most of its resources to the War effort during World War II , Speedo enjoyed a great post-war demand for swimsuits, specifically the recently invented bikini style. The company quickly reestablished itself as
12144-486: The middle of the 1960s, Speedo had acquired 30% of Nottingham , England textile manufacturer Robert Shaw & Company and had established a European subsidiary. Licences were also granted to Japanese and South American corporations. The 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics saw 27 of the 29 gold medalists—22 of which set world records—wearing Speedo brand swimsuits. Speedo began the next decade by completing its acquisition of Robert Shaw & Company in 1971. The 1970s also saw
12276-528: The modern two-piece bikini on July 5, 1946. He introduced his design four days after the first test of a nuclear weapon at the Bikini Atoll . The newspapers were full of news about it and Reard hoped for the same with his design, hence the name. Through the 1950s, it was thought proper for the lower part of the bikini to come up high enough to cover the navel . From the 1960s on, the bikini shrank in all directions until it sometimes covered little more than
12408-787: The multi-racer ("MR") uses two layers of the FINA-approved textile to decrease air permeability drastically, thereby trapping considerable excess air and making a swimmer more buoyant just like with the original LZR Racer (see below). Not much marketing material has appeared in the West, as the GX-Sonic has only been primarily aimed at the small Japanese market and required special importing internationally, so there are no numerical performance claims available, but many unsigned standout swimmers like Joseph Schooling (since signed by Speedo), Caeleb Dressel (since signed by Speedo), and Anthony Ervin (signed by Finis but allowed to choose his own suit) chose to wear
12540-487: The nearly 4,000 striking workers — who were organized as part of the International Textile Workers of America union — accepted the management's offer of a 12.5% raise and eight-hour days. One worker was reported injured during this strike. Connecticut newspaper The Day reported "a Miss Jones...who is believed to have objected to the [negotiation] proceedings, is said to have been roughly handled by
12672-400: The nipples and genitalia, although less revealing models giving more support to the breasts remained popular. In 1964, the monokini, also known as a "topless bikini " or "unikini"), was designed by Rudi Gernreich , consisting of only a brief, close-fitting bottom and two thin straps; it was the first women's topless swimsuit . Gernreich's revolutionary and controversial design included
12804-584: The other strikers, and to have had her clothing almost torn from her." No one was arrested for this attack. Early in 1999, Warnaco was one of 18 companies initially named in three class-action lawsuits filed under US Federal RICO statutes. The lawsuits were filed by several labor and human rights groups on behalf of more than 50,000 workers from China , the Philippines , Bangladesh and Thailand . Ultimately 26 U.S. companies and 23 Saipan garment factories would be named as defendants. The suits claimed that
12936-410: The percentage of such sales does not exceed ***% of Warnaco's total gross sales of Calvin Klein jeanswear in 2002 (and the percentage of sales other than excess and close-outs to such channels does not exceed ***% of total gross sales) and ***% in 2003 and thereafter (and the percentage of sales other than excess and close-outs to such channels does not exceed ***% of total gross sales). ***.This provision
13068-431: The personal deterioration of CEO, D. H. Warner, who was known as a depraved womanizer. After his wife died in 1931, D.H. continued to finance his debauchery with company profits and drink to excess before dying in 1934 at the age of 66. Control of the company was handed to his son-in-law, John Field. With the corset all but extinct by the mid-1930s, the company's new leadership focused on developing new products. In 1937,
13200-584: The possibility of Speedo-clad race winners being stripped of medals due to challenges, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to examine the legality of the FINA-sanctioned suits. In May that year, a CAS-appointed arbitrator backed the FINA ruling allowing use of the suits for Olympic tryouts. Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates, however, said in
13332-460: The ranks at Max Factor , making the declining cosmetics company profitable again within just two years. She wasted no time at Warnaco and right away went to work streamlining the company's fifteen divisions into just two categories: menswear and underwear. In 1990, Wachner formed a new corporation, Authentic Fitness Corp. , for the purpose of separating Warnaco's activewear lines including Speedo and White Stag ski clothing. Wachner's intention
13464-596: The recent acquisitions and mergers — in 2000, the company lost $ 200 million. In 2001, Warnaco filed for Chapter 11 protection and Wachner was fired. On 4 February 2003, Warnaco emerged from bankruptcy. As part of its restructuring, the company sold its White Stag trademark to Wal-Mart and later decided to exit the designer swimwear market and focus on strengthening its Speedo products. The company sold off Ocean Pacific to Iconix Brand Group after just three years of ownership. Also sold, were Catalina , Anne Cole and Cole of California brands. This netted
13596-718: The same name , led to record profits. A partnership between DuPont and Warners lead to the 1959 invention of Lycra , which allowed for new designs in shapewear and more snug-fitting bras. The late 1950s also saw Warner Brothers diversify its product lineup to include menswear and accessories, as well as sportswear for both men and women. Distribution was expanded by sales in large chain department stores such as JC Penney and Sears . The company also expanded production, opening manufacturing facilities in South America and Europe . In 1960, Warner Brothers Company purchased major American shirt manufacturer C.F. Hathaway strengthening
13728-442: The sea, men swam in the nude, where the practice was common. Those who did not swim in the nude stripped to their underwear. The English practice of men swimming in the nude was banned in the United Kingdom in 1860. Drawers, or caleçons as they were called, came into use in the 1860s. Even then there were many who protested against them and wanted to remain in the nude. Francis Kilvert described men's bathing suits coming into use in
13860-407: The skin of sea-based animals, sharks in particular. In July 2009, FINA voted to ban non-textile (non-woven) swimsuits in competitive events from 2010. The new policy was implemented to combat the issues associated with performance-enhancing swimsuits, hindering the ability to accurately measure the performance of swimmers. Subsequently, the new ruling states that men's swimsuits may maximally cover
13992-462: The sleeves were attached. Despite this, FINA did not approve TYR's armbands. In 2004, 47 medals were won by swimmers wearing Fastskin II. In late 2011, in time for the holiday season, Speedo introduced a new Fastskin3 suit. This suit comes in two styles, Elite and Super Elite. Speedo developed the Fastskin3 as a racing "system", consisting of a newly introduced cap, goggles, and competition suit. Michael Phelps
14124-472: The spring of 1999, was among the first companies to settle. By 2004 all remaining companies – with the exception of Levi Strauss whose case was ultimately dismissed – had settled without admitting to any wrongdoing. The Saipan garment workers had won a collective $ 20 million as well as better oversight and improved working conditions. On 11 May 2004, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced
14256-481: The stock's low price-to-earnings multiples as well as its low risk and its potential for growth. During the summer of 1915, approximately 1,300 women and girls employed by The Warner Brothers Corset Company factory in Bridgeport, Connecticut , walked off the job . The strike , which was one of 179 strikes recorded that year, was in favor of eight-hour work days and a 20% increase in wages. On 18 August that year,
14388-402: The suit, lifting the swimmer slightly so that they benefited from lower friction against air as compared to water. Speedo's website boasts that the LZR Racer was "so fast, it was banned from competition". Indeed, the LZR Racer was banned from international competition by FINA in 2009, along with all full-body polyurethane suits. Men's suits were also banned from extending above the waist or below
14520-416: The suit, the SEC specifically names William Finklestein, who was vice president and CFO at the time of the allegation, claiming "As CFO, Finkelstein directed the offsetting of cash against debt. He also reviewed and signed the quarterly report. " Linda Wachner was also named in the suit as she was president and CEO at the time. In its press release announcing the settlement of the suit, the commission stated "at
14652-424: The suits were – by FINA's definition and based on manufacturer's claims – in fact devices, rather than costumes and are therefore in violation of the FINA rule, which disallows equipment such as fins or flippers. In the report, Rushall equally criticises Adidas (who had a similarly designed bodysuit) and Speedo for giving FINA members presents and declares that these members should recuse themselves from ruling on
14784-576: The swimwear industry, the word Speedo has become a generic trademark for racing bathing suits. Company founder Alexander MacRae emigrated from Loch Kishorn in the western Highlands of Scotland to Sydney, Australia in 1910. Originally working as a milkman , he founded MacRae and Company Hosiery four years later, manufacturing underwear under the brand name Fortitude (taken from his family crest ). The Australian Army 's need for socks during World War I provided MacRae with enough business to expand and in 1927 his first line of swimwear, called
14916-491: The three prior years. The commission complained Warnaco "falsely portrayed the inventory write-down as a part of the company's write-off of deferred start-up costs under a new accounting pronouncement. " The complaints filed by the SEC claim PwC's role in this alleged cover-up was that they caught the error during an audit but they "failed to object" to Warnaco's "mischaracterization" of this error and that PwC incorporated this mischaracterization into their own audit report. In
15048-425: The time she approved and signed the 1998 annual report, Wachner knew or should have known that the restatement of the company's financial results was caused by material flaws in the cost accounting and internal control systems at one of the company's largest divisions and was not related to the write-up of deferred start-up or start-up related costs." The commission also found that "Wachner knew or should have known that
15180-813: The time. After seeing how little influence his lectures had on women's attitudes towards fashion, he returned to his New York home and began a more aggressive approach to fighting the ills caused by the corset. In 1873, he designed a corset that provided both the shape desired by women and the flexibility required to allow some movement and reduce injuries caused by previous designs. The next year, Lucien Warner and his brother Dr. Ira De Ver Warner gave up their medical practices and founded Warner Brothers Corset Manufacturers. Dr. Warner's Coraline Health Corsets, as they were marketed, were made up of two pieces of cloth which were laced or clasped together. These revolutionary undergarments also featured shoulder straps and more flexible boning and lateral bust supports made of Coraline,
15312-667: The water thus gaining a speed advantage. For diving in water temperatures above 25 °C (77 °F), special bodysuits called " dive skins " are worn. These suits are made from spandex and provide little thermal protection, but they protect the skin from jellyfish stings, sunburn, and abrasion. This kind of suit is also known as a 'Stinger Suit'. Some divers wear a dive skin under a wetsuit, which allows easier donning and (for those who experience skin problems from neoprene) provides additional comfort. Unlike regular swimsuits, which are designed mainly for aesthetic appearances, swimsuits intended to be worn during competitions are manufactured to assist
15444-502: The water. The men's swim suit, a rather form-fitting wool garment with long sleeves and legs similar to long underwear , was developed and would change little for a century. In the 19th century, the woman's double suit was common, comprising a gown from shoulder to knees plus a set of trousers with leggings going down to the ankles. In the Victorian era , popular beach resorts were commonly equipped with bathing machines designed to avoid
15576-544: The wearer's crotch area. For males, swimwear today usually leaves the upper body uncovered, while swimsuits for females usually cover at least the nipples, except in the case of a topless swimsuit . Prior to the 1930s, swimsuits were typically made of wool ; however, such suits did not hug the body and became heavy with water. Rayon began to be used in the 1920s in the manufacture of tight-fitting swimsuits, but its durability, especially when wet, proved problematic, with jersey and silk also sometimes being used. In
15708-462: Was acquired by PVH in Feb 2013. In November 2023, PVH sold the Warners and Olga brands to Basic Resources, Inc. In the late 19th century, Dr. Lucien Warner, a prominent physician gave up his Cortlandville, New York , practice to begin a new career on the medical lecturing circuit, specializing in women's health issues. Dr. Warner lectured about the harmful effects of the rigid steel-boned corsets of
15840-488: Was arrested for indecent exposure because her swimsuit showed arms, legs and the neck. Kellerman changed the suit to have long arms and legs and a collar, still keeping the close fit that revealed the shapes underneath. She later starred in several movies , including one about her life. She marketed a line of bathing suits and her style of one-piece suits came to be known as "the Annette Kellerman". The Annette Kellerman
15972-492: Was considered the most offensive style of swimsuit in the 1920s and became the focus of censorship efforts. Despite opposition from some groups, the form-fitting style proved popular. It was not long before swimwear started to shrink further. At first arms were exposed and then legs up to mid-thigh. Necklines receded from around the neck down to around the top of the bosom. The development of new fabrics allowed for new varieties of more comfortable and practical swimwear. Due to
16104-525: Was denied her contractual $ 25 million golden parachute . She sued the company and in 2002 she accepted $ 3.5 million in new Warnaco stock and $ 200,000 in cash, which she said she would donate to cancer research. Wachner stayed on the board of directors until her term expired in 2003. Adapted from the Warnaco 2009 Annual Report : [Warnaco Group, Inc.] owns and licenses a portfolio of highly recognized brand names. The trademarks owned or licensed in perpetuity by
16236-481: Was found to have caused the oversight and was ordered to pay $ 1.3 million in disgorgement . Finkelstein was ordered to pay $ 189,464 in disgorgement as well as a civil penalty of $ 75,000. He was barred for four years from serving as an officer or director of a public company. Silverstein was censured and ordered to pay $ 165,772. On 30 May 2000, Calvin Klein, Inc. filed suit against Warnaco Group, Inc. and its CEO, Linda Wachner. The suit alleged that Warnaco had diluted
16368-473: Was free to make its own laws. For example, the Bath Corporation official bathing dress code of 1737 prescribed, for men: It is Ordered Established and Decreed by this Corporation that no Male person above the age of ten years shall at any time hereafter go into any Bath or Baths within this City by day or by night without a Pair of Drawers and a Waistcoat on their bodies. In rivers, lakes, streams and
16500-536: Was launched, and the suit was anticipated to be used at the London 2012 Olympics by a majority of athletes, along with the Arena PowerSkin Carbon Pro suit, which debuted in early 2012. However, a series of high-profile seam failures and high costs for poor performance gain meant that the suit was a commercial failure. Most swimmers, including Phelps, ended up using a revamped version of the LZR Elite. The cap and
16632-459: Was named Business Woman of the Year by Fortune . The remainder of the decade saw Wachner take her company on a buying spree, acquiring designer labels Calvin Klein Underwear, Body Slimmers (purchased from Nancy Ganz, wife of Mitchell S. Steir ), ABS by Allan Schwartz, as well as private label sleepwear manufacturers GJM Group, French lingerie company Lejaby-Euralis. Warnaco also acquired
16764-530: Was previously manufactured for and marketed in North America as Speedo USA by PVH , under an exclusive perpetual licence, which had acquired prior licensee Warnaco Group in 2013. In January 2020, the Pentland Group purchased back the rights from PVH for $ 170 million in cash, subject to regulatory approval. In accordance with its Australian roots, Speedo uses a boomerang as its symbol. Due to its success in
16896-453: Was proposed that would have required males to wear a skirt-like tunic. In 1935, a similar ordinance was proposed, requiring males to wear the Spooner bathing costume instead of the 'disgraceful' swim trunks . In 1907, the swimmer Annette Kellerman from Australia visited the United States as an "underwater ballerina", a version of synchronized swimming involving diving into glass tanks. She
17028-580: Was quickly adopted by competitive swimmers , despite being banned by some beaches. In 1932, Speedo made its Olympic debut when 16-year old Australian Clare Dennis won the Women's 200 metre Breaststroke at the Los Angeles Olympic Games . After nearly being disqualified for "showing too much shoulder" in her regulation silk Speedo brand swimsuit, Dennis went on to set a world record time of 3:06.3. The 1936 Berlin Summer Games also saw some controversy as
17160-408: Was quickly approved by FINA, it was not without controversy. Speedo competitor TYR developed a similar full body suit with detached sleeves, which the company calls Aqua Bands. Both TYR's detached Aqua bands and Speedo FSII's attached sleeves are designed to essentially "grip" the water on the inner forearm. TYR maintained that essentially the only difference between their suit and Speedo's was whether
17292-448: Was the exclusive North American licensee of Speedo. Pentland followed this move with the purchase of 80% of Speedo (Europe) Ltd. Early the next year, Pentland completed its aggressive entrance into the global swimwear market by wholly acquiring Speedo Australia and Speedo International. Under Pentland's ownership, Speedo expanded its line of swimwear to include more fashion-oriented beachwear as well as triathlon accessories. The 1990s saw
17424-453: Was to transform Speedo from swimwear label to retail concept. Authentic fitness went public in June 1992 and opened its first Speedo Authentic retail store five months later In 1993, Authentic Fitness had a licensing deal with Oscar de la Renta, Ltd. and had acquired swimwear labels Cole, Catalina, and Anne Cole — each from bankruptcies . That same year, Wachner secured a sponsorship deal for
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