Somewhere on the road from Nîmes to St-Tropez, Yvette and Fred met, fell in love and opened their very first store. The year was 1971. Yvette had spent most of the 60s chasing down the latest fashions for her yé-yé-mad friends. Fueled by his love for motor racing, Fred had been busy seeing the world as a Formula 1 reporter.
As he hurried back to get the girl, a wave of freedom was on the horizon. The French Riviera look tended to be short and fitted, but Fred wanted to pull out all the stops for Yvette. Fred was ready to debut his Moorea trunks on the sands of St-Tropez. Stars and friends instantly wanted in. Yvette took no convincing. There was no stopping them.
Choose a decade
- 1971 Fred Prysquel creates Vilebrequin
- 1976 Fred Prysquel sponsors Jean-Louis Trintignant
- 1979 Yvette and Fred register the trademark
- 1990 The founders sell the brand
- 1992 Launch of the iconic Moorea swim short
- 1995 Vilebrequin reference in men’s swim trunks
- 2000 Vilebrequin turtles
- 2008 St-Barth store
- 2012 Roland Herlory
- 2013 Launch of the women’s line
- 2016 Te mana o te moana
- 2016 Collaboration Massimo Vitali
- 2019 Launch of the Denim capsule
- 2018 Vilebrequin is committed to the RED organization
- 2019 Recycled Man swimwear
- 2019 Collaboration Vilebrequin X JC de Castelbajac
- 2021 Vilebrequin 50th anniversary
- 2019 Collaboration Vilebrequin X OFF-WHITE™
1971
Yvette et Fred register the trademark Vilebrequin. In their first store in St-Tropez, the spiral staircase reminds Fred of the shape of a “Vilebrequin” (French for “crankshaft”). This piece, found at the heart of a motor car engine, gave him the idea for the brand name and the shape of the original logo.
1976
Fred Prysquel sponsors French actor Jean-Louis Trintignant who enters in the Rallye du Var with his Opel Kadett GT/E.
1979
Yvette and Fred register the trademark in the United States and set off to conquer the world.
1990
The founders decide to sell the brand. Vilebrequin embarks on a new journey.
1992
Loïc Berthet acquires the brand and launches the iconic Moorea swim short.
1995
Over the years, Vilebrequin innovates with design and materials. The brand becomes the reference in men’s swimwear. Vilebrequin introduces the ‘father and son’ concept back in the 90s. Fun, family and fantasy have continued to shine through in our collections ever since.
2000
First appearance of the sea turtle, now an icon of the brand.
2008
Opening of the first store in St. Barths.
2012
G-III Apparel Group, the leading American clothing company behind licenses and property brands (DKNY, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld Paris) acquires Vilebrequin. Having previously spent 20 years at Hermès, Roland Herlory joins Vilebrequin as Chief Executive Officer.
2013
Launch of the women’s line: a wide range of inclusive swimwear in new fabrics, cuts, shades, and prints.
2016
Since 2016, Vilebrequin remains committed to helping Polynesian nonprofit Te Mana O Te Moana save sea turtles. Every year, the organization rescues turtles, providing them with the care needed before releasing them back into the wild. In 2016 and 2017, Vilebrequin donated over $ 50,000 from sales of the «World Map Dots» swimsuit.
2016
Vilebrequin collaborates with photographer Massimo Vitali to create a unique technical swimsuit with a 360° print.
2019
Launch of the Denim Capsule and re-release of the original 1971 Vilebrequin logo.
2018
Vilebrequin joins forces with nonprofit organization RED to help stop the tide on AIDS. $15 from the purchase price of every (Vilebrequin)RED swimwear goes directly to supporting work on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa through the Global Fund.
2019
A new generation of shorts, stretch swimwear, sustainably made using 100% recycled polyester yarn from plastic waste recovered by Mediterranean fishing boats. For every MAN swimsuit made, 200g of plastic is removed from the oceans.
2019
For this collection, legendary French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac revisits the fresh and carefree spirit of the 70s – an aesthetic that’s never felt more relevant. A limited edition that’s pop, sensual and ultra-refined.
2021
Vilebrequin celebrates turning 50 with the launch of an exclusive anniversary collection of collector’s edition swimsuits.
2019
Vilebrequin and Off-White present a limited drop of five swimsuit styles available at selected doors worldwide. The swimsuits highlight the perfectly tailored yet casual charm of Vilebrequin and bold, counterculture aesthetic of Off-White.
1971
Yvette et Fred register the trademark Vilebrequin. In their first store in St-Tropez, the spiral staircase reminds Fred of the shape of a “Vilebrequin” (French for “crankshaft”). This piece, found at the heart of a motor car engine, gave him the idea for the brand name and the shape of the original logo.
1979
Yvette and Fred register the trademark in the United States and set off to conquer the world.
1992
Loïc Berthet acquires the brand and launches the iconic Moorea swim short.
2000
First appearance of the sea turtle, now an icon of the brand.
2012
G-III Apparel Group, the leading American clothing company behind licenses and property brands (DKNY, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Karl Lagerfeld Paris) acquires Vilebrequin. Having previously spent 20 years at Hermès, Roland Herlory joins Vilebrequin as Chief Executive Officer.
2016
Since 2016, Vilebrequin remains committed to helping Polynesian nonprofit Te Mana O Te Moana save sea turtles. Every year, the organization rescues turtles, providing them with the care needed before releasing them back into the wild. In 2016 and 2017, Vilebrequin donated over $ 50,000 from sales of the «World Map Dots» swimsuit.
2019
Launch of the Denim Capsule and re-release of the original 1971 Vilebrequin logo.
2019
A new generation of shorts, stretch swimwear, sustainably made using 100% recycled polyester yarn from plastic waste recovered by Mediterranean fishing boats. For every MAN swimsuit made, 200g of plastic is removed from the oceans.
2021
Vilebrequin celebrates turning 50 with the launch of an exclusive anniversary collection of collector’s edition swimsuits.
1976
Fred Prysquel sponsors French actor Jean-Louis Trintignant who enters in the Rallye du Var with his Opel Kadett GT/E.
1990
The founders decide to sell the brand. Vilebrequin embarks on a new journey.
1995
Over the years, Vilebrequin innovates with design and materials. The brand becomes the reference in men’s swimwear. Vilebrequin introduces the ‘father and son’ concept back in the 90s. Fun, family and fantasy have continued to shine through in our collections ever since.
2008
Opening of the first store in St. Barths.
2013
Launch of the women’s line: a wide range of inclusive swimwear in new fabrics, cuts, shades, and prints.
2016
Vilebrequin collaborates with photographer Massimo Vitali to create a unique technical swimsuit with a 360° print.
2018
Vilebrequin joins forces with nonprofit organization RED to help stop the tide on AIDS. $15 from the purchase price of every (Vilebrequin)RED swimwear goes directly to supporting work on the ground in sub-Saharan Africa through the Global Fund.
2019
For this collection, legendary French designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac revisits the fresh and carefree spirit of the 70s – an aesthetic that’s never felt more relevant. A limited edition that’s pop, sensual and ultra-refined.
2019
Vilebrequin and Off-White present a limited drop of five swimsuit styles available at selected doors worldwide. The swimsuits highlight the perfectly tailored yet casual charm of Vilebrequin and bold, counterculture aesthetic of Off-White.