In the swim of fashion & function
MANILA, Philippines - The all-new High Street Central came alive as Speedo presented its 2012 spring/summer collection in a fashion show at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheatre, the ideal setting for the launch of the Fastskin3 racing system in a prelude to the London Olympics.
The extensive collection showcased several lines of swimwear and accessories like Play & Fun, Health and Well-Being, Swim Fitness and Competitive. Focusing on “light” and “identity,” the products echoed the fluidity of water and provide free and unrestricted movement.
The Play & Fun collection targets leisure swimmers and includes beach sports staples, taking inspiration from the brand’s heritage on the beach. Bright and retro-inspired bikinis, tankinis, boardies, and watershorts are cool and multi-functional for active sports lovers or for just relaxing on the beach.
New this season is the Speedo Aquapack, a compact short that is packaged in its own pocket for ease of carrying and storing. The range also features the Speedo LZR Racer Xpress Dry watershorts, which dries three times faster than conventional fabric, combining lightweight design with strength and durability. Also in this range is Speedo’s Aussie collection for beach lovers. Playful and sophisticated, it reflects the brand’s appeal — young, energetic and confident.
Another range is the Swim Fitness collection, which is aimed at those who swim regularly to keep fit. Fusing style and function, the collection offers a choice of silhouettes in a variety of color ways and is manufactured using hardwearing 100-percent chlorine-resistant Speedo Endurance+ fabric. Key products include the new HydroSprint Splice, HydroGleam suits and Speedo Superiority range designed in response to consumer research that identified comfort, freedom of movement and bust support as the key requirements for fitness swimwear. For men, a selection of jammers, aqua shorts and classic Speedo briefs is available in colors matching the women’s range.
Speedo’s Health & Wellbeing collection features products for those who enjoy water-based activities. H&W suits provide extra support and hold where you need it most. A staple suit in the range is the Aquaspir suit, which features a new “control print” design adding not only an attractive and on-trend detail but also greater hold. For underwater cycling or water running, the Cross Back two-piece will provide better flexibility of movement and increased bust support.
World-class athletes working toward their goals in 2012 inspired the Competitive range this season. This comprehensive collection features hardwearing suits made from Endurance+ fabric for training and the world’s first racing system created for the optimum performance for competition.
Speedo launched a new innovation for which it has secured full FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) approval. Another world’s-first concept in the sport of swimming, the Fastskin3 Racing System includes cap, goggle and suit engineered to work together as one offering a cohesive, hydrodynamic solution to cut through the water with maximum efficiency.
The Speedo Fastskin3 collection features three levels of technology, each tailored to the needs of swimmers of differing abilities: Super Elite for professional athletes; Elite for advanced competitors; and Pro for intermediate swimmers.
Walking the ramp alongside the models were prominent athletes and national swimmers Charlie Walker, Philippine Men’s 100m Freestyle record holder and varsity swimmer from the University of the Philippines (UP); UAAP Men’s 50m Freestyle record holder Kendrick Uy, also from UP; Dhill Anderson Lee, who holds the Arafura Games Men’s 200m Butterfly record; and De La Salle University’s Johansen Benedict Aguilar, Philippine 50m Backstroke record holder.
Joining them were female athletes and national swimmers’ Anna Celina Gonzales, UAAP Women’s 50m Butterfly record holder and 2011 UAAP Most Valuable Player from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and Jasmine Ong; Women’s Rookie of the Year in 2010 UAAP and Women’s 50m Freestyle record holder, also from ADMU. Last year’s UAAP Women’s Rookie of the Year and UAAP Women’s 400m Freestyle record holder, Atenean Kim Uy, also joined the group. St. Paul’s Pasig varsity swimmer and WNCAA Women’s 100m Breaststroke record holder Cana Guanio completed the pool of national champions who modeled the Fastskin3 Racing System.
Special guests at the launch included the Pentland Group’s Mike Ball together with Speedo International Ltd.’s VP for International Business Development Michael O’Donnell, business development director for Asia and the Middle East Barry Halpenny and business development manager Harry Singh.
Also at the launch were British Embassy Manila’s Merete Page, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., Philippine Swimming Inc. president Mark P. Joseph, Triathlon Association of the Philippines president Tom Carrasco Jr., triathlete and sports enthusiast Senator Pia Cayetano, and City of Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, sports anchors Anthony Suntay and Quinito Henson, model Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez, Speedo Philippines’ youngest sponsored swimmer Justin Daniel Junio and national triathlete Nikko Huelgas.
Speedo concept shops are located in Abreeza Mall, Alabang Town Center, Ayala Center Cebu, Bonifacio High Street, Chimes Davao, LimKetKai Mall, Lucky China Town Mall, Marquee Mall, Gateway, Glorietta 4, Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Robinsons Place Bacolod, Robinsons Place Manila, SM City Cebu, SM City Davao, SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, The Podium and TriNoma.
