As one of the only categories where sales of top-end technical garments are rising significantly, companies are outdoing themselves and each other with innovations for next year’s lines. We had a chance to sit down with boardshorts makers from across the industry and pick their brains about what trends, design elements, and special features will make their 2010 boardshorts must haves.
In case you missed it, make sure to check out our boardshorts preview and all of our past product previews.
Alpinestars – Alipnestars Sales Team
We have designed a group of shorter, slimmer trunks that directly address a poolside mentality. They include a retro set in the waistbands which means that the draw cord in the waist is on the inside and not on the outside like the newer styles. Therefore the drawstring is invisible). We also have a focus on 4-way stretch fabrics.
Ergo – Damon George; VP of Sales
We are going into Spring 2010 with extremely eye-catching prints as well as some more basics with ergonomically placed piecing. All of our boardshorts feature a no-Velcro Lycra fly so there is no chafe – you could live in these things!
Factor 54- Ted Wueste; Co-owner/National Sales Manager
We have blatantly ignored all key trends in an efforts to remain unique. We build ultra functional boardshorts on our terms and send them to HI to get worn by people who rarely have to pay for boardies and as such will be brutally honest about how our gear works in real conditions. Our graphics are our own thought streams that we dig on and not a trend, cut, or style that is a “must have” in our line.
Fox- Tony Sanchez; Merchandising Director
One of the biggest differences is the expansion of the Fox Tech series of boardshorts where we bring form and function together. As a technologically driven company, we have put together an incredible balance of quality and technology along with a great visual impact to create boardshorts that are unique and speak to our customer.
Globe – Oliver Cousins; Apparel Designer
We took a modernist approach to the line, keeping the details clean and functional. Zips were concealed or were laser cut and heat sealed. Internal waistbands were mesh lined for comfort and we incorporated stretch fabrics for functionality. Print wise we kept it clean and not overly branded. Still using colour but not eye burning fluro craziness. Guys like Rinzen, Never Now studio from Sydney and Shark Eats Deer studio from Melbourne all worked on the line. British X-Ray photographer Nick Veasey also played a big part in providing some amazing photos and x-ray images for us to work with, giving us a fresh approach to classic boardie looks like plaid and polka dots.
Honolua- Mike Makos; Sales and Marketing Manager
Honolua Board shorts are both premium & authentic, we are all about the fit, the fabric & the finishing. Our unique color palette & cleaner design mantra reflects the waterman ethic (having fun no matter what the medium) & we are successfully drawing our own lines by staying true to our culture.
Insight – Larry Castro; National Sales Manager
Insight’s Spring 2010 men’s collection introduces two stories titled “Young Nomads” and “A Paradise Lost”. Tightening up our collection, this season’s uninhibited, weathered street chaos and married it with tough graphics, ship-wrecked in a tropical oasis.
Lightning Bolt – Jonathan Paskowitz; President Lightning Bolt, USA
Going into Spring 2010 means sticking to the basics for Lightning Bolt. We will continue to carry our classic boardshort styles while expanding with different colorways. Compared to other brands we offer a shorter length on our boardshorts and a sturdier, more durable fabric as several of our shorts styles are made from 100% Cotton Twill. All of these elements provide a clean, simple yet stylish look with each piece featuring a bold and distinct Lightning Bolt logo.
Matix – Lori Epner; Marketing Manager
We are using some new 4-way stretch fabrics and poly micofibers. Also we have contoured waist pieces with Velcro-free fly, side pockets with zipper closure, and comfort mesh on the inside waist. Mesh flows thru most side panels ad we’ve also updated our “Pollution Solution” biodegradable trash bag that comes standard on every boardshort.
O’Neill – Shawn Peterson; Men’s Director of Design
Spring 2010 is all about highlighting the stretch feature of our boardshort line. O’Neill’s boardshort innovations started with the Superfreak, and currently have evolved into the Hyperfreak. The Hyperfreak series is constructed with Hyperstretch fabric which is 150% stretch, and has propelled this style into the leading boardshort innovation in the market. In our Superfreak series, we’ve introduced the Essential, an introductory price point style that retails at $55.00, and is built with more stretch than most competitors stretch boardshorts. Another key category for O’Neill is the Hybrid series; these styles have a dual use as a functional boardshort and trend right walkshort.
Patagonia – Jason McCaffrey; Head of Patagonia Surf Division
We treat our board shorts as equipment thus we’re not seeking trends nor gratuitous seasonal changes but every season we go over each product with a fine toothed comb finding its strengths and weaknesses and improve accordingly. It’s a really interactive process with our friends, colleagues and ambassadors scrutinizing each piece.
It’s easy to notice that our trunks don’t have the bells, whistles, cell phone and platinum grillz pockets that a lot of other companies have, but we’re happy with them. They’re light, they dry fast, they’re tough, and they’re not covered in skulls, hammers, or neon 80’s geometric throwbacks. We could build that stuff, but there are so many other people chasing that cool and they can have it.
Quiksilver – Steve Fontes; Quiksilver Design Director
World’s Best Surfers, World’s Best Boardshorts. Redefining what’s possible through performance technology with next-level features like Diamond Dobby DLX? fabric, low profile seams and innovative closure systems to enhance surfing functionality.
Reef – Ty Logan; Sales Manager
Some key trends for Spring/ Summer 10 are tropical exotic scenes and color. Design is safe in this down economy but on the styles you can be creative it has to be well thought out. Designing into simplicity and executing the cradle to grave philosophy.
RVCA
ANP artist prints are always a key focus for us in each season. This Spring 2010 season we have prints from Kelsey Brookes, Ed Templeton, Matt Furie, George Thompson & Kevin Ancell (who helped develop & created the art for the 3 signature trunks. We balance all those with some simple stripes and logo prints. Aesthetically we keep the line very clean and not too “Techy”. For us, less is more when it comes to overall board short concept.
Vans – Luciano Mor; Director, Mens Core Apparel
Collaborations with bands/artists are big in 2010 we’ve teamed up with the Sex Pistols, Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies and No Pattern. Along with collaborations stretch fabrics are huge right now. This season we have our first 4 way stretch board short featuring art by No Pattern. Also we have our 2nd Joel Tudor boardshort (new silhouette) and use Recycled Poly throughout the line.