A bigger splash: Vilebrequin summer 2023

Quintessentially French swimwear brand Vilebrequin releases a summer collection evoking the spirit of Saint-Tropez

Style 8 Mar 2023

Swimwear from Vilebrequin's summer 2023 collection

Swimwear from Vilebrequin's summer 2023 collection

Throughout the 20th century, artists and writers such as Pablo Picasso and Jean-Paul Sartre were drawn to Saint-Tropez. Many found themselves inspired by its narrow streets, tiny harbour and azure vistas. Henri Matisse’s 1904 painting Chapel of Saint Joseph, Saint-Tropez depicts a chapel’s austere façade. Beyond it is an orange roofscape, turquoise bay, and distant mountain ridge. The contrast between sunlight and shadow is so stark that the artwork itself assumes the French Riviera’s warmth.

It was amid such scenery that Fred Prysquel created swimming trunks with rainbow stripes in the early 1970s. Designed for his own comfort, these were looser and longer than the fitted men’s swimwear then à la mode. He and his wife Yvette registered the trademark Vilebrequin, and opened the brand’s first store in 1971, the same year Mick and Bianca Jagger had their rock’n’roll Saint-Tropez wedding.

Vilebrequin has been perfecting Southern France’s art of carefree living ever since. With a global reach now extending to over 60 countries, there’s little doubt this has all been going swimmingly. And it’s not just about shorts. From linen shirts and loungewear to accessories and beach games equipment, its range truly has you covered for all aspects of summer.

The quality of its products is strikingly obvious across the board. A large part of its catalogue is crafted using ultra-light, soft and breathable materials like the cotton pique and terrycloth from which its polo shirts are made. Its rash guard T-shirts are made from a practical UPF50+ technical fabric protecting against the sun. And its iconic swimming trunks come in a soft, lightweight polyamide specially treated to dry off quickly.

Like Matisse’s painting, Vilebrequin’s summer 2023 collection evokes the feeling of the Côte d’Azur. Featuring swimwear, denim, lace and faux fur, it’s as varied as the multifaceted gem that is modern Saint-Tropez. Just like the pastel tones of old façades and the extravagance of luxury superyachts presently berthed in the bay, Vilebrequin summer 2023 brings together elegant designs, warm colours and bright prints.

Vilebrequin summer 2023 combines warm tones with extravagant prints to reflect present-day Saint-Tropez
Vilebrequin summer 2023 combines warm tones with extravagant prints to reflect present-day Saint-Tropez

The collection also celebrates familial bonds cultivated during holidays dans le Sud. In 1995, Vilebrequin started manufacturing matching swim shorts for father and son. Since the launch of its women’s line in 2013, many designs have become available for both mother and daughter, too. There are matching towels and swimwear throughout this collection, marking the ability of summer vacations to bring loved ones closer together.

In spite of its penchant for carefree living, Vilebrequin is anything but casual when it comes to the blue economy. It supports Polynesian NPO Te Mana O Te Moana in rescuing sea turtles. Furthermore, in 2019, it produced shorts and swimwear using 100 per cent recycled polyester from plastic waste recovered by Mediterranean fishing boats. It even has an in-house atelier team who can repair any part of the swim shorts, so they need never be thrown away.

The new Fondation Vilebrequin endeavours to protect the ocean through several initiatives and accelerate the circular economy within the fashion industry. The summer 2023 collection is almost wholly sustainable, with more than 88 per cent of it crafted from recycled and organic materials sourced throughout the Mediterranean. The linen in the collection is coloured using natural, plant-based dyes in pastel tones. And in keeping with the collection’s joyful spirit, marine life is a prominent motif, some pieces adorned with the brand’s characterful sea turtle logo.

vilebrequin.com