Charlie by Matthew Zink

Charlie by Matthew Zink was founded in New York in 2010 by Matthew Zink, who had previously led swimwear design at Victoria’s Secret. The label began with an interest in the sensuality of the 1970s, treating a swimsuit as a fashion choice in its own right. Its name reflected Zink’s attraction to the era’s androgyny and joy in the body.

The men’s collection developed around close-fitting swimwear, with proportions that gave an alternative to long, loose board shorts. Briefs and short trunks placed the cut of the garment at the center of the design. With so little fabric involved, the position of a waistband or the shape of a leg opening could change the entire effect.

Charlie introduced underwear in 2014, extending that attention to fit into a different part of the wardrobe. The range grew to include fitness clothing and casual pieces, connecting what a man wears at the beach to what he wears at home or while exercising. Recurring stripes and a restrained logo helped establish continuity across those settings.

Underwear and swimwear remain central to the label’s identity. Its imagery celebrates the male physique, drawing on Zink’s enduring interest in the visual culture of the 1970s and early 1980s. The appeal depends on confidence in the body and on clothing cut to make that confidence visible.