Sundek

If you want a swim short with genuine surf heritage rather than a generic trunk, Sundek tends to earn its keep. The brand pioneered quick-dry nylon swim trunks for surfers and its Rainbow boardshorts are built from triple-stitched quick-dry nylon, so they are made to be swum in, not just sat in. You are paying for a recognisable icon with real technical roots, which is why it sits in the premium tier of beachwear.

Both are premium swim brands, but they pull from different worlds. Sundek grew out of 1960s and 70s surf culture in California, with a slimmer, sportier feel and the famous rainbow stripe across the back, while Vilebrequin leans toward French Riviera prints and a more relaxed cut. If you want retro surf flair with a technical pedigree, Sundek is usually the more characterful pick.

They are the piece that made the brand. Introduced in 1972, the Rainbow boardshort was built with triple-stitched quick-dry nylon and colourful curved stripes, and that unmistakable rainbow detailing has anchored the label ever since. It started as a surfer's tool and has since become a beachwear classic recognised on sight.

Because of one detail done consistently for decades: the curved rainbow stripes that first appeared on the 1972 boardshorts. Sundek embedded itself in surf culture during the 1960s by sponsoring surfers and expanding into Hawaii and the US East Coast, so the rainbow reads as a genuine surf signature rather than a fashion gimmick.

Both chapters are real. Sundek was founded in San Francisco, California in 1958 and grew up inside American surf culture, but around 2010 it had a strong revival in Italy thanks to a fashion-forward take on beachwear. The dual story, Californian roots with an Italian relaunch, is part of why the brand feels both surfy and stylish today.

Sundek was founded in 1958 in San Francisco, having originally launched under the name Sun-Dek in the late 1940s. It became one of the first dedicated surfwear brands by innovating nylon swim trunks tailored to the needs of surfers, which set the template for everything that followed.

Since 2020, Sundek has been owned by Italian entrepreneurs Simona Barbieri and Tiziano Sgarbi, who acquired the brand and led a comprehensive relaunch. Under their ownership it expanded into more than 1,500 multi-brand retailers and opened standalone stores across Italy, with further outlets in France, Spain, the United States and Kuwait.

Quite a lot more than people expect. Alongside its boardshorts and walkshorts, Sundek designs swimwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children, including T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, dresses and skirts, plus hats and towels. The swim shorts are the icon, but the brand dresses you for the whole beach day.

If you only buy one thing, make it a Rainbow boardshort. It is the brand's defining product, carries the heritage that everyone associates with Sundek, and its quick-dry nylon construction means it works just as well for actually swimming as it does poolside. From there the walkshorts and T-shirts are easy add-ons.

Look for the signature rainbow detailing and the quality of the make. Authentic Rainbow boardshorts use triple-stitched quick-dry nylon with the distinctive curved stripes, so neat stitching and a properly finished rainbow are good signs. Buying from Sundek's own stores, its e-commerce, or its established multi-brand and department-store stockists is the safest route.

Swimwear is seasonal, so the widest choice of colours and fits usually lands at the start of spring and summer. If you are after a specific Rainbow boardshort size or shade, shopping early in the season tends to beat the picked-over selection that follows once the warm-weather rush is underway.