Vilebrequin was established in Saint-Tropez in 1971 by Fred Prysquel - a photographer and automobile journalist - and Yvette, a fashion designer. Prysquel's original design, sketched on a café tablecloth and cut from spinnaker cloth, defined the brand's signature: a longer-cut boxer-short swimsuit in bright, quick-drying fabric. Prysquel is colourblind; Yvette directed the colour selection, establishing colour as a foundational design principle from the outset. The name Vilebrequin is the French word for crankshaft, reflecting Prysquel's automobile background.

In 1991, fellow Saint-Tropezian and textile worker Loïc Berthet acquired the brand and introduced refined functional hardware: a Velcro back pocket, Zamac eyelet holes, and a cotton lining. Boys' garments launched in 1994. Between 1990 and 2000, the brand expanded globally to London, Paris, Geneva, New York, Hong Kong, and Madrid. Women's and resort lines launched in 2013. In 2012, G III Apparel Group acquired Vilebrequin for approximately $106 million.

Print-forward, Mediterranean, and seasonally driven. Vilebrequin's design vocabulary is built on vivid colour and bold pattern rooted in Saint-Tropez resort culture. Artist collaborations (Derrick Adams, 2020; Fiat, 2025) signal an ongoing appetite for art-driven and product-driven limited editions. Colour selection remains a distinguishing creative constant, a direct legacy of the brand's founding co-design approach.

In 1971, Fred Prysquel, photographer and automobile [journalist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalist "Journalist"), sketched and cut out a swimsuit design from a paper tablecloth in a Saint Tropezian café. Inspired by the swimsuits of surfers at the time, he created a longer [boxer short](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxer_short "Boxer short") style much different than the shorter and fitted swimsuits of that period. Designed from [spinnaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinnaker "Spinnaker") cloth, his l swimsuit was bright, original and designed to dry quickly in the sun.

In 1991, fellow Tropezian and textile worker, Loïc Berthet, took over the brand and added new styles and models. To men's swim trunks, he added a back pocket secured with [Velcro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velcro "Velcro"), eyelet holes made from a stainless alloy, [Zamac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamac "Zamac"), and a cotton lining.

In 1994, Vilebrequin expanded its collection to include boys' garments.

Between 1990 and 2000, the brand expanded worldwide and opened locations in [London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London "London"), [Alassio](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alassio "Alassio"), [Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris "Paris"), [Geneva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva "Geneva"), New York "New York (state)"), [Hong Kong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong "Hong Kong") and [Madrid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid "Madrid"). The brand also developed a network of distribution partners in over 50 countries.

In 2012, Vilebrequin was acquired by the American company [G-III Apparel Group](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-III_Apparel_Group "G-III Apparel Group"), Ltd., which also licenses [Calvin Klein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_Klein "Calvin Klein"), [DKNY](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DKNY "DKNY"), and [Karl Lagerfeld Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Lagerfeld "Karl Lagerfeld").[^8] Roland Herlory, prior general director for [Hermès](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herm%C3%A8s "Hermès") Latin America and Caribbean, became the new CEO.[^9]

In 2013, after more than 40 years in menswear, Vilebrequin launched their first ladies' line and extended their product offering to also include resort wear as well as luxury beach accessories for both men and women.

In 2014, Vilebrequin opened stores with a particular focus on expansion throughout Asia with openings in [South Korea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea "South Korea"), [Thailand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand "Thailand") and [Singapore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore "Singapore").

In 2013, the brand released a men's [collector](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veblen_goods "Veblen goods") swimsuit embroidered in gold thread with solely 20 models available. In 2014, the model was replicated and [sapphire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapphire "Sapphire") elements were added.

In 2020, the brand collaborated with American artist [Derrick Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Adams "Derrick Adams") to create a capsule collection of swim shorts, inspired by Adams’ ‘Floaters’ series. [^10]

In 2025 [Fiat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat "Fiat") released the Topolino Vilebrequin Collector’s Edition "Citroën Ami (electric vehicle)") featuring a built-in shower among other things.[^11] [^12]

• Founded: 1971, Saint-Tropez, France
• Parent company: G III Apparel Group (acquired 2012)
• Distribution: 52 countries across 5 continents; 150+ stores (as of 2014)
• E-commerce: Europe and United States
• Key markets: Saint-Tropez, Paris, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Milan, Monte Carlo, Seoul, New York City, Washington DC

• Swimwear - men's, women's, kidswear
• Resort wear and ready-to-wear
• Luxury beach accessories
• Collector and limited-edition pieces

Vilebrequin operates branded boutiques across luxury retail and resort destinations globally, with direct e-commerce in Europe and the United States. As a subsidiary of G III Apparel Group - which also holds licences for Calvin Klein, DKNY, and Karl Lagerfeld Paris - the brand operates within a broader licensed fashion portfolio.

Luxury swimwear and resort lifestyle. Vilebrequin competes at the premium-to-luxury end of the global swimwear market through a network of branded boutiques in international resort and urban luxury destinations. Extensions into womenswear (2013), kidswear (1994), and beach accessories (2013) have broadened the seasonal offering. Distribution spans more than 50 countries.

Surface pattern design is central to Vilebrequin's brand identity. The original spinnaker-cloth swimwear was defined by its brightness - a deliberate visual signature shaped by Yvette's colour direction. Bold printed swimwear remains the brand's primary commercial product, with colourways, motifs, and print styles forming the seasonal design programme.

In 2020, Vilebrequin released a capsule collection of swim shorts in collaboration with American artist Derrick Adams, drawn from his Floaters series - an example of the brand's art-to-print approach. Collector pieces, including a 2013 swimsuit embroidered in gold thread (20 units) and a 2014 version with sapphire embellishments, demonstrate the use of decorative surface treatment as a luxury differentiator. In 2025, the brand partnered with Fiat on a Topolino Collector's Edition - extending print identity and brand aesthetics into product co-design.