The Speedo Lzr Racer Suit Revival Continues Following Design Collaboration With Students

Dec. 8, 2010 - PRLog -- Students at the London College of Fashion, University College Falmouth and the University of Huddersfield created their new designs from excess stocks of the revolutionary suit. The Speedo LZR Racer was rendered obsolete following a change in rules set out by the governing body of the sport of swimming FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) which prevented the use of body suits in competitive swimming.

The creations include several examples drawing on the suit’s heritage in the pool, including a patchwork watershort using the LZR Racer and other Speedo watershorts sourced on auction websites by Man Kit Au Yeung from London College of Fashion, and an ‘Afterlife’ creation featuring a cape inspired by superheroes and aimed at the high-end fashion market by Eva Hiu Wa Lai also from London College of Fashion.

Other designs saw the Speedo LZR Racer reworked for other uses, with University College Falmouth student Owen Bennett creating a buoyancy aid life jacket, and Adriana Margarita Ruiz, a London College of Fashion student, creating a Speedo LZR Racer inspired technical jacket.

President of Speedo, David Robinson, said: “This project has captured the technology and originality of the Speedo LZR Racer and combined it with unique cutting edge fashion. It is inspiring to see the creative and innovative approach the students have taken to produce their products. Creativity and innovation is valued highly at Speedo and we are pleased to see this quality of talent emerging from the universities that have taken part. Speedo is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and as such it is good to see the Speedo LZR Racer live on in these innovative designs.”

The collaboration with students is part of a wider project to explore new ways of utilising excess stock and a more responsible solution than sending the obsolete product to landfill; Speedo opted to write a new chapter in the history of the Speedo LZR Racer suit by providing the suits to a series of artistic and creative groups and institutions to use in a series of collaborative projects, ensuring that the suit will continue to make waves.

This latest project follows the preview of the ‘From Somewhere with Speedo’ collaboration at London Fashion Week in September 2010. Made from unsold Speedo stock the collection created by award winning sustainable fashion designers ‘From Somewhere’ is due to launch in early 2011.

The first art and design project, The ‘S_Pavilion’, was displayed at Chelsea College’s Degree Show and the London Architectural Festival in July and was made from 200 Speedo LZR Racer suits shaped around Forest Stewardship Council certified timber.

-ENDS-

For further information and images please contact:
Rae Young      rae@brandnation.co.uk   0207 940 7176

Notes to editors:

Case studies and images are available to accompany this press release.

The Speedo LZR Racer suit, launched in 2008, was the world’s fastest, most revolutionary swimsuit worn by the likes of the phenomenal Michael Phelps. Swimmers wearing the Speedo LZR Racer suit broke 91 world records between February 2008 and October 2009.

In July 2009 FINA announced changes to competitive swimsuits and, since January 2010, swimmers are only allowed to compete in fully textile suits. Due to this rule, the Speedo LZR Racer suit is no longer available for competitive swimmers.

About Speedo®

The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo® is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations. Supporting swimming from grass-roots through to elite level, including the phenomenal Michael Phelps, in the 1920s Speedo® made history with the Racerback: the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008 Speedo® redefined swimwear again with Fastskin® LZR RACER® - the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuit ever created. Speedo® is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; to find out more visit: www.speedo.com. SPEEDO, the ARROW device, FASTSKIN, LZR PULSE, SPEEDO ENDURANCE, FLIPTURNS, FASTSKINFSII, SPEEDO BIOFUSE, SWYM, SPEEDO SCULPTURE, AQUABEAT and LZR RACER are registered trademarks of Speedo Holdings B.V. The LZR RACER suit has worldwide design rights and patents pending.

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