When Michelle was unable to find anything suitable to fit the bill, she realised that she was well placed to plug that gap – and to do so brilliantly. She says, ‘After a failed attempt to find something I liked either in-store or online, the idea of creating a fun, high-quality product took hold. I had learned a fair amount about swimwear over the years in Australia – I’d seen how most swim trunks took ages to dry when friends left huge puddles of water under the café seats; and in those days, even in beach-fanatical Australia, there was extraordinarily little choice for men or boys beyond the baggy knee-length, surf-brand boardshorts. There was definitely room in the market for an altogether more flattering and versatile swim trunk – one that could be worn all day long, either in or out of the water.’
And thus Tom & Teddy was born, named after Michelle and Jelle’s two sons, and inspired by Australian beach life. The designs are bold and bright and, crucially, come in matching designs for men and boys. Never again need anyone searching for a fun Father’s Day gift flounder; every one of Tom & Teddy’s designs begins as a bespoke artwork, whether produced by hand or digitally, and eventually finds its way onto excellent quality bathers.
But while Australia may have provided the muse, Tom & Teddy isn’t limited to the Antipodes when it comes to inspiration. The latest collection is one big celebration of the Mediterranean, as evidenced in its gorgeous azure colours and a new set of prints – think sailing boats, shrimps and fish – that make us sigh wistfully for holidays by the seas. With Father’s Day right around the corner and the prospect of overseas holidays a tentative reality once more, this is, surely, the perfect gift for beloved patres familias everywhere. Shop the whole collection here.
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By Nancy Alsop
June 2021
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Enter Tom & Teddy Giveaway: closes 13 June 2021
