Estevan Ramos Dives Into Swim
Los Angeles designer Estevan Ramos is taking on swimwear with a new collection of men’s swim trunks he quietly launched this summer.
The swim collection started as a one-time project for photographer Jonathan Skow, according to the designer. Ramos designed a few pieces for a fashion spread Skow was shooting. When Skow’s wife, designer Trina Turk (and longtime friend of Ramos), saw the designs, she asked to carry them in her retail store in Palm Springs, Calif. When the styles sold out, Ramos found himself in the swim business.
Currently there are eight styles in the line, carrying such film-idol names as “Troy,” “Tab,” “Burt,” “Rock” and “Cary.”
Fabrics include rip-stop nylon, poly/cotton blends and 100 percent cotton. There are also styles available in assorted vintage prints.
Wholesale prices range from $45 to $62.
The styles recall swimsuits from the early ’60s through the volleyball shorts of the early ’70s. Ramos said the cut of the trunks is shorter and sexier than a typical boardshort, although he added that he will be including a few longer styles in the Spring line.
Ramos is planning a full-scale launch of the collection for Spring and will include windbreakers, T-shirts and tanks. He said he’s planning to offer silk-screened styles and versions that will mix printed and solid fabrics. He will also be offering scaled-down versions of the swim trunks for women.
“It’s a market I’ve never tapped,” said Ramos, who is best known for his form-fitting tailored women’s line and his sexy denim styles. “I think there’s a need for it—a designer swimsuit,” he added. “It’ll be interesting to see where this market takes me.”
The men’s swim line has even inspired Ramos’ women’s collection.
“My women’s sportswear I’m doing for Spring is based off the men’s swimsuits,” he said. “On the pegged skirts and the A-line skirts and the miniskirts, I took the details from the men’s trunks and translated it to womenswear in the same fabric.”
Ramos described the result as “streetswimwear-dressy.”
For more information about the Estevan Ramos swim line, call (323) 663-6013. —Alison A. Nieder
