Vilebrequin

Vilebrequin was founded in Saint-Tropez in 1971 by Fred and Yvette Prysquel. The French swimwear label began with a longer men’s swim short, bringing the ease of surfing clothes into the social life of the Riviera. Its name, the French word for crankshaft, reflected Fred’s interest in motor racing.

Colorful prints became a defining part of the brand. The swim trunks offered room to move and a recognizable alternative to close-fitting styles, making the beach wardrobe a place for individual expression. The turtle became an enduring emblem, linking that visual identity to the sea.

The collection expanded beyond men’s swimwear into clothing for children and women, along with resort separates. Matching father-and-son trunks helped make a family holiday part of the brand’s imagery. Linen shirts and other beach clothes extended its original product into a wardrobe for time away.

G-III Apparel Group acquired Vilebrequin in 2012. The business developed internationally while maintaining its Saint-Tropez identity, with headquarters in Switzerland. Partnerships with artists and fashion labels brought new interpretations of its familiar swim short, while work with marine conservation organizations connected its products to the environment they are made to be worn in. Its place in menswear rests on making swimwear a recognizable category of luxury dress.