Speedo, the world’s leading swimwear brand, has unveiled its stunning fashion collaboration with award winning ethical fashion designers From Somewhere.
Produced using surplus stocks of its revolutionary Speedo LZR Racer suit and unsold swimwear, the range features retro 50s styling with a playful modern twist, combining practical swimwear with high-end fashion trends to create a look that’s equally at home on the beach or at a party.
The unveiling of the full range follows a preview at Esthetica, the British Fashion Council’s ethical fashion area, at London Fashion Week in September 2010. Launching in Selfridges stores on March 21st 2011, the UK release of the collection will coincide with Climate Week. On International Earth Day, April 21st 2011 the collection will reach an international audience at the virtual store and worldwide exclusive online retail partner yoox.com, the collection will headline part of the site’s permanent eco-focused ‘YOOXYGEN‘ section.
In addition to the wider range, two styles will be available exclusively at Selfridges and two styles will be exclusive to yoox.com, all proceeds from the Barbie Dress will be donated to Green Cross International, YOOXYGEN’s partner.
Orsola de Castro, co-owner of From Somewhere, said: “After unveiling the first of our Speedo LZR Racer collaborations at London Fashion Week in September 2010, we have had an enormous amount of fun in designing and producing these latest pieces, and we feel that we’ve learned a lot about how far we can go, building our confidence, introducing lots of colour and creating designs we’re extremely proud of. The range comprises a wide variety of products, taking in eveningwear made from over 60 swimsuits, to the super wearable ‘Swimdress’, a new concept in swimwear as daywear, and we’re sure fashion followers will be delighted with the results.”
The From Somewhere collection is the latest in a series of creative and sustainable collaborations implemented by Speedo since FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation), the world’s governing body of swimming, introduced new rules regarding swimsuit design in January 2010. Left with a surplus of the record breaking Speedo LZR Racer suit, the world’s leading swimwear brand instead opted to write a new chapter in the rich history of the suit rather than send the remaining stock to landfill.
David Robinson, President of Speedo International said: “Speedo is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and it’s fantastic to see the Speedo LZR Racer reworked into these high fashion creations. The release of the ‘From Somewhere with Speedo’ collection gives the public an opportunity to own these exciting and inspiring designs, and I have every confidence that the collection will prove to be very popular with fashion conscious consumers at the beach or in the pool throughout this summer.”
In addition to its release in Selfridges stores in the UK and online exclusively at yoox.com, the ‘From Somewhere with Speedo’ collection will also be available at Hallelujah in Brussels, Belgium, and in Tokyo’s Beams outlet.
The liveeco team
