Speedo

Speedo manufactures swimwear for both recreational and competitive swimmers. The speedo swimwear (brand) originated in Bond Beach near Sydney, Australia. Currently, the speedo swimwear (brand) is owned by the London based Pentland Group and is headquartered in Nottingham. Alexander MacRae, owner of MacRae Knitting Mills, realizing the potential offered by the women swimwear target market launched Speedo swimwear in an effort to cash this opportunity in 1914. The swimwear brand was named speedo swimwear (or simply speedo) in 1928 when the company became the first in the world to have designed an athletic swimsuit. The name was recommended by Captain Jim Parsons who won the naming competition with his logo ‘Speed on in your Speedos.’ Speedo swimwear’s logo is a red bomerang. The production of speedo swimwear was stopped during World War II during which the company focused all its efforts on producing war related products (such as mosquito nets etc). However, production (of speedo swimwear) was resumed after the war and Speedo became a publicly traded company in 1951. Nylon was introduced into the fabric used to manufacture speedo swimwear in 1955. Men’s (swimwear) briefs that have become synonymous to the brand were introduced in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. After 1951, speedo swimwear quickly expanded into the international arena. In Olympic Games held in 1968, 1972, and 1976, more than 70 percent of swimming medals were won by athletes wearing speedo swimwear.

1970s and 1980s saw the addition of Lycra to the materials used to manufacture Speedo bathing suits. Aquablade and fastskin competitive bathing suits were added to the speedo bathing suits collection in the 1990s. The company claims that aquablade and fastskin competitive bathing suits reduce resistance underwater since materials used to manufacture them replicate biological skin characteristics of various fish (such sharks, whales etc). Although the speedo bathing suit collection still includes its trademark bathing suit designs (such as traditional briefs, jammers and racerback designs), it now places more emphasis on bathing suits providing increased or full coverage. Speedo’s high end bathing suits (such as Fastskin II and FS Pro Series) are really expensive.

In addition to extensive bathing suit collections (for men, women and kids) speedo bathing suits also manufacture various swimwear accessories. These among others goggles, earplugs, swim caps, towels, robes, sportswear and other logo clothing, watches, sandals, beach volleyball and triathlon products, lifeguard gear, and training supplies for competitive and recreational swimmers. Since it is the largest bathing suit brand in the world, speedo bathing suits are faced with intense competition with some of the largest (and most popular) sports wear and designer bathing suit brands around the world. Some of the speedo’s competitors are Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klien, Dolce & Gabbana and Tyr Swimwear etc).

Speedo swim suits have had the honor of sponsoring some of the most famous athletes around the world. Some of the athletes who have endorsed speedo swim suits include Grant Hackett, Michael Klim, Megan Jendrick, Greg Louganis, Janet Evans, Michael Phelps, Lewis Gordon Pugh, Natalie Coughlin, Amanda Beard, Dawn Fraser, and Kosuke Kitajima. Now let us analyze speedos, the type of (male) swimsuit that has taken its name from speedo swimwear. Simply put, speedos refer to any briefs style male (swimsuits) such as those worn by professional swimmers. Speedos are also known as competition briefs, swim briefs, bathers, posing briefs, or racing briefs. Speedos have a solid v shaped front and back and provide an excellent fit. The design of speedos also ensures adequate coverage saving professional swimmers from the embarrassment of removal of the bathing suit.