Vilebrequin to launch womenswear

Legend has it that Vilebrequin founder Fred Prysquel cut his first pair of swimming shorts from table cloth on the Cote d’Azur. 

Founded in Saint Tropez, France in 1971, Vilebrequin in was of the only luxury beachwear brands dedicated entirely to menswear. But it’s a boys’ club no more.

Select global boutiques including St. Tropez, London, Rome, New York, and Hong Kong stocked the debut women’s capsule collection, which hit stores earlier this summer, and which is set to be followed up by a full womenswear range.  

This November the brand will unveil a 30-piece collection of women’s swimwear and ready-to-wear priced between €120 and €300. Featuring the classic Vilebrequin trunks in a more feminine cut, and the label’s summerly linen shirts, the designs are a response to continued female interest: 

“Women already represent half of our traffic in-store,” explained chief executive officer Roland Herlor to WWD; “We wanted to offer the Vilebrequin ‘spirit’ to her,” he added. 

The brand is also expanding in Asia, where a Beijing pop-up will be open from July to September, and a Singapore store is planned for 2014.

jt/cm