Westminster Menswear Archive lends rare swimwear to Design Museum’s Splash! exhibition

The Westminster Menswear Archive (WMA) at the University of Westminster has contributed several rare and historically significant pieces to the upcoming Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style exhibition at the Design Museum in London. Opening on 28 March 2025 and running until 17 August, the exhibition will explore the cultural and design history of swimming over the past century, featuring over 200 objects from across Europe.

Among the key loans from the WMA is an exceptionally rare pair of swimming trunks from Vince, the pioneering London menswear shop, dating from 1968. Vince played a crucial role in reshaping British menswear during the 1960s, introducing a refined yet relaxed aesthetic that defined the era’s new approach to casual dressing. These trunks provide valuable insight into the evolution of men’s swimwear at a time when attitudes towards leisure, sport and style were rapidly changing.

Also on display from the WMA’s collection will be a striped woollen swimsuit from 1933, produced under the Bukta label, and a Burberrys towelling top with a matching bag from the 1980s. The Burberrys ensemble reflects a moment when branded luxury and practicality intersected in men’s swimwear, demonstrating how established fashion houses adapted to the growing popularity of resort wear.

Curated by historian Amber Butchart, Splash! examines the evolving relationship between swimming, design and culture, from the early 20th-century lido boom to contemporary issues of bodily autonomy and environmental sustainability. Other highlights include Pamela Anderson’s iconic Baywatch swimsuit, a banned Speedo LZR Racer suit and one of the earliest surviving bikinis from 1951.

Professor Andrew Groves, Director of the Westminster Menswear Archive, said: “We are delighted to contribute some of the rarest examples of British men’s swimwear to Splash! The Vince swimming trunks are a particularly important piece, reflecting a key moment in British menswear history. This exhibition provides a fascinating opportunity to explore how swimwear has continuously evolved, responding to technological advancements, social change and shifting ideas about masculinity and leisure.”

Since its founding in 2016, the Westminster Menswear Archive has become a vital resource for researchers, designers and curators, with a growing collection of over 3,000 garments documenting the evolution of British menswear.

Find out more about the exhibition at the Design Museum website.