Orlebar Brown

Last updated
Orlebar Brown
IndustryFashion
Founded2007
FounderAdam Brown and Julia Simpson-Orlebar
HeadquartersUK,
London
ProductsClothing
Parent Chanel
Website www.orlebarbrown.com

Orlebar Brown is a British clothing brand specializing in tailored men's swim shorts.

Contents

The company was founded by photographer Adam Brown in March 2007. Orlebar Brown is directed by Brown and Paul Donoghue, the CEO of the company. It is based in West London and employs over 50 people.

Products

Orlebar Brown specializes in men's swim shorts based on the 17-piece pattern of a pair of traditional men's suit trousers. They feature a four-part shaped waistband, zip fly closure, and side fasteners. [1] The Italian zippers on the fly and the back pocket are applied by hand, although the pocket itself and darts are machine applied. [1]

While Orlebar Brown is best known for its swimwear, 55 percent of the company's sales are from its other products [2] with the company offering a selection of rash guards, shorts, polo shirts, long and short sleeve shirts, jumpers, sweatshirts and waterproof shoes. [3]

In 2018, Orlebar Brown introduced Summer Sport, a capsule collection featuring technical fabrics, designed to equip customers for summer activities such as beach volleyball and surfing. The campaign was fronted by Jeremy Jauncey, founder of Beautiful Destinations.

The company has an app, #SnapShorts, which allows customers to design their own swim shorts by uploading a photograph. Their design can be made into a bespoke pair of shorts or shared on social media. [4]

History

In summer 2006, Adam Brown had the idea for Orlebar Brown on holiday in India and decided to partner with an old acquaintance, Julia Simpson-Orlebar, to launch the brand. [5]

The Orlebar Brown website officially launched in March 2007, selling to 105 countries. [1] [6]

Julia Simpson-Orlebar left the business amicably in 2008, but she remains a shareholder. [5]

In 2011, the Orlebar Brown US website was launched, expanding their horizons internationally. Today, 30 percent of their business comes from the US. [2]

In August 2013, Orlebar Brown raised £8 million (US$12.4 million) from private-equity firm Piper, in exchange for a minority stake [7] and appointed Paul Donoghue as global commercial director. [8]

In 2014, the business made £12m, up from £7m the year before. [1] The brand expects to reach £20 million (about US$28.8 million) in revenue in 2016. [7]

In September 2018, it was announced that Chanel had acquired the company with Adam Brown retaining his role as creative director. [9]

Online and offline presence

Physical shops

Orlebar Brown opened their first shop on Ledbury Road in Notting Hill, London in 2011. [10]

They now have shops in Notting Hill, Mayfair, Canary Wharf, [11] Wimbledon, Sloane Avenue, Harrods and Bicester Village. [12]

Orlebar Brown also has a physical international presence with shops in Cannes and St Tropez in France, Mykonos in Greece, Soho and East Hampton [13] in New York City, Miami and Palm Beach, Turkey, Noosa, Bondi Beach and Brisbane in Australia, Kuwait and Dubai.

As well as multiple physical shops [14] and an online presence, Orlebar Brown also has over 300 wholesale accounts, including Selfridges, Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys New York [1] and franchises around the world [7]

Infrastructure

Orlebar Brown's headquarters and offices are located in West London. In 2013, they appointed Torque, a logistics company, to manage all of their European distribution. [15] Orlebar Brown operates a 550,000 square feet distribution center in Wortley, Leeds. [15]

Orlebar Brown's swim shorts are made in Portugal by the factory Petratex, where they pass through a minimum of 12-stage manufacturing process. [1]

Celebrity endorsement and collaborations

Daniel Craig wore Orlebar Brown sky blue 'Setter' shorts in the role of James Bond in the 2012 film Skyfall . [16] [17]

Various celebrities have been seen wearing Orlebar Brown swim shorts, including Jay-Z, Hugh Jackman, Sir Paul McCartney, David Gandy, [4] Cristiano Ronaldo, Johannes Huebl and Gary Lineker [18]

In March 2018, Orlebar Brown collaborated with Australian Formula 1 racing driver Daniel Ricciardo for a collection of limited-edition swim shorts. [19]

In July 2018, Orlebar Brown partnered with EON Productions for an exclusive collection of four swim shorts using iconic poster art from the James Bond films Dr. No, Thunder ball, You Only Live Twice and Live And Let Die. [20] [21]

In June 2024, Orlebar Brown collaborated with La Double J for a summer collection consisting of "34 genderless—a first for both luxury brands—pieces." [22]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Luke Leitch (25 April 2015) Inside The Luxury Swim Shorts Boom, Esquire. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  2. 1 2 "Making a splash: Orlebar Brown founder talks bagginess, Stateside growth and being laughed at". CityAM. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Verano deportivo y con estilo". www.elfinanciero.com.mx. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 Stephen Doig (16 May 2015) Summer's best swim trunks, The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  5. 1 2 Orlebar Brown: Forget board shorts — here is swimwear to make a real splash, Evening Standard, 13 January 2014. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  6. ↑ "News: Piper Invests £8M in Orlebar Brown". Piper.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 August 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 3 Why Orlebar Brown Turned to Franchising, The Business of Fashion, 2016
  8. ↑ Orlebar Brown seeks overseas expansion, Drapers Online, 2013
  9. ↑ Chanel Acquires Orlebar Brown, The Business of Fashion, 2018
  10. ↑ "Orlebar Brown to open London flagship store". Fashion United. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. ↑ "Orlebar Brown opens biggest UK store". Fashion United. Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. ↑ "Bicester Village unveils 30 new retail units". Drapers .
  13. ↑ "Where to Find Heidi Klein's Fashions and Orlebar Brown's Swim Shorts". Hamptons . Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  14. ↑ Popping up everywhere, The Economist, 2015
  15. 1 2 Torque wins European distribution deal with Orlebar Brown, The Business Desk, 2013
  16. ↑ Orlebar Brown stirred by 007 effect, The Telegraph, 2014
  17. ↑ Baker, Lindsay (6 November 2013). "Online retailers move into High Streets". BBC News. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  18. ↑ The swimwear designer on surfers and Savile Row, The Wall Street Journal, 2013
  19. ↑ "Daniel Ricciardo Has Dropped A New Line Of Swim Shorts With Orlebar Brown". gq.com.au. Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  20. ↑ James Bond Swim Shorts: Orlebar Brown collaboration unveiled
  21. ↑ "Orlebar Brown Just Turned Your Favorite James Bond Movies Into Swim Trunks". Esquire .
  22. ↑ Shatzman, Celia. "Orlebar Brown And La DoubleJ Team Up On A Genderless Summer Fashion Collection". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-07-06.

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