Vilebrequin
 | |
| Industry | Retail |
|---|---|
| Founded | Saint-Tropez, France 1971 |
| Founder | Fred Prysquel |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
Key people | Fred Prysquel Loïc Berthet Roland Herlory |
| Products | Swim wear, Resort wear, Accessories |
| Parent | G-III Apparel Group |
| Website | www |
Vilebrequin () represents a French luxury label concentrating on men's and women's swimwear as well as ready-to-wear collections. Established in 1971 in Saint-Tropez by Fred Prysquel—an automotive journalist and photographer—and Yvette, a fashion designer, the brand is distinguished by its lively color palette, chosen by Yvette to accommodate Fred’s color vision deficiency. Vilebrequin maintains retail locations in prominent luxury destinations such as Saint-Tropez, Paris, Beverly Hills, Milan, Monte Carlo, Seoul, and New York City. The brand’s name originates from the French term for "crankshaft", reflecting Prysquel’s enthusiasm for automobiles.
History
Fred Prysquel introduced an extended boxer-short style swimsuit in 1971, inspired by surfer culture and crafted from spinnaker fabric to ensure rapid drying and vivid patterns.
In 1991, Loïc Berthet, a textile specialist native to Saint-Tropez, assumed leadership and refined the men's swim trunks by adding practical elements like Velcro-secured rear pockets, Zamac alloy eyelets, and cotton linings.
By 1994, the company broadened its range to include boys' swimwear. Throughout the 1990s, Vilebrequin expanded globally with stores opening in London, Paris, Geneva, New York, Hong Kong, and Madrid, supported by distributors in over 50 countries.
The American firm G-III Apparel Group, known for licensing brands such as Calvin Klein and DKNY, acquired Vilebrequin in 2012 for nearly $106 million. Roland Herlory—formerly general director of Hermès Latin America and Caribbean—was appointed as CEO.
In 2013, the brand debuted its inaugural women's collection and diversified into resort apparel and upscale beach accessories catering to both men and women. The Asian market expansion continued in 2014 with new outlets established in South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore.
Vilebrequin also created exclusive items including a limited edition men's swimsuit embroidered with gold thread released in 2013 (limited to 20 units), which was further enhanced with sapphire details in 2014.
In 2020, the brand partnered with American artist Derrick Adams to produce a capsule collection of swim shorts inspired by his ‘Floaters’ artwork series.
Looking forward to 2025, Fiat unveiled the Topolino Vilebrequin Collector’s Edition electric car featuring distinctive luxury touches such as an integrated shower system.
Distribution
By 2014, Vilebrequin had established a presence in 52 countries spanning five continents with more than 150 retail locations. Additionally, the brand operates e-commerce platforms serving customers across Europe and the United States.