Tom & Teddy Boardshorts
2014 WATERWEAR
Tom & Teddy: Father-and-Son Boardshorts
Tom & Teddy is a premium swimwear brand that was created for men and boys—fathers and sons, uncles and nephews—to celebrate their bond and mutual love for the water. The contemporary active swim line includes colorful printed trunk shorts made with a snug-fit elastic waistline and mid-thigh length offering an elevated boardshort.
Husband and wife Jelle de Jong and Michelle L’Huillier launched the line in 2012 in Australia but with a global reach thanks to its e-commerce site (www.tomandteddy.com). The line is carried in a few Los Angeles boutiques, and, in 2014, the company is focusing on further building business in the U.S.
“The concept was born out of our experiences of living near the beach in Sydney,” L’Huillier said. “Our Australian lifestyle had a huge impact, both on the initial idea and the development of the product. We wanted to design something that was functional, fun and flattering to wear, and we felt the options at that time were fairly limited.”
The line also commemorates L’Huillier’s family lineage. The name Tom & Teddy was with them from the inception. “We were looking for a name that symbolized the relationship between a father and his son and that also resonated with us as a family,” L’Huillier said. Both Tom and Teddy are names that have been in L’Huillier’s family for generations. Her great-grandfather was named Thomas Edward, her grandfather’s name was Teddy (short for Edward), and her son is also called Thomas Edward. She also has cousins named Tom and Ted.
The line features original graphic prints of octopi, fish and turtles, as well as stripes and solids. And sizes range from 1-year-old up to men’s XXL.
“When we first put together the specifications for the fit models, we were very conscious of producing a length that would be extremely comfortable to wear—shorts that people could wear all day at the beach or pool without feeling the need to get changed after swimming,” L’ Huillier said. “Comfort, durability and quick-drying fabric were all key for us.”
Along with a functionality factor, Tom & Teddy swimwear offers side and back pockets with Velcro closures, rear eyelets for air circulation, a braided draw cord at the waist and an integrated microfiber/cotton mesh lining. The suits, which are produced in Shanghai, are saltwater and chlorine resistant as well as UV protected. Wholesale prices range from $30 to $55.
For sales information, contact Michelle L’Huillier at michelle@tomandteddy.com.
