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Swimming costume designed by Speedo Australia
Made by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd in Australia, Oceania, c. 1935.Summary
Object No.
A10198Object Statement
Swimming costume, mens, wool jersey / cotton corduroy / metal, designed and made by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd, Australia, c. 1935Physical Description
Pair of mens black wool jersey swimming trunks that have an overlay front and white stripes down the side seams. There is a wide waistband with a white cord belt and metal buckle. There is a small flap pocket at the right waist. The trunks are machine sewn and unlined.Marks
Label at centre back 'Speedo/This garment is protected by one or more Australin patent nos, 16506/28/2245/29/5893/32/1602/34/22310/35/made in Australia/PALMERS/PARK ST & 390 GEORGE ST/SYDNEY/ALL WOOL'.Short URL
https://ma.as/169110Dimensions
Width
420 mmProduction
Made
Speedo Australia Pty Ltd Australia, Oceania c. 1935Notes
This swimming costume was made by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd in Australia.This swimming costume was made c.1935.
History
Notes
This pair of daring, bare-chested, wool jersey men's swimming costume trunks with a modesty skirt were made in Australia by Speedo Australia Pty Ltd. First seen at the 1936 German Olympic Games, this style of swimsuit shorts quickly took over from the one-piece suits with shoulder straps.Speedo began manufacturing its brand of racing suits in 1929 and was very successful in setting up alliances with surf lifesaving clubs around Australia. Nylon tricot replaced wool in 1960. Note the classic Speedo logo sewn at the right hip.
In the early twentieth century, Australia's enjoyment of the beach was marred by prohibitions on mixed bathing, bathing during daylight hours and laws relating to appropriate beachwear.
By the 1920s and 1930s these moral injunctions were relaxed. The growing popularity and acceptability of sea bathing, combined with the belief that exercise and exposure to the sun held healthy benefits, saw the voluminous bathing suits of the early century replaced with a range of fashionable swimwear styles.
Source
Credit Line
Gift of St Vincent De Paul Society Centre Orange, 1984Acquisition Date
2 May 1984Cite this Object
Harvard
Swimming costume designed by Speedo Australia 2019, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, accessed 8 December 2019, <https://ma.as/169110>Wikipedia
{{cite web |url=https://ma.as/169110 |title=Swimming costume designed by Speedo Australia |author=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences |access-date=8 December 2019 |publisher=Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences, Australia}}This object is currently on display at the Sydney Observatory.
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