It has been decades since we've seen this 'controversial' piece of swimwear be a part of the everyday world of fashion - but it looks like budgy smugglers are making a comeback.
Although movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a devotee for multiple decades, the world has been remiss of the Speedo for many years with many men opting for looser swimming shorts on their holidays.
Some say that the garment never went away though and anyone who's found themselves on a beach in France will know that split second of surprise when you look up from a book and see a pair of tiny trunks staring back at you.
Now it looks like we could soon see more smugglers around the pool as Speedo, the original producer of the tiny swimwear, claims that sales and orders in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are up more than 200 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022.
Sales in the United States have also seen a big increase, with the brand claiming a 54 per cent gain in sales from 2020 to 2021.
In an interview with CNN, Speedo's Vice President of Global Brand Marketing, Kirsty Saddler, called the Speedo short 'classic, iconic, and known around the world.'
She added: 'They're also very practical and the lightest and most comfortable item to wear when swimming.'
Speedo's swimming briefs were created by Australian artist and designer Peter Travis, who also worked as a potter, kite-maker, and ceramics instructor. His design flew off the shelves and onto men's behinds, with his creation being so popular that many people now refer to the tiny swimwear simply as Speedos.
A slew of celebrity fans has contributed to the swimwear's cultural popularity as well. James Bond Daniel Craig as well as footballers David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo have all been seen wearing a pair on the beach.
Olympic diver Tom Daley, singer Ricky Martin, and designer Giorgio Armani are also fans and have been spotted sporting a pair. Even Zac Efron wore a stars and stripes 'freedom' version during a Super Bowl ad in 2017.
While French men are known for their affinity with budgy smugglers, the little shorts are also popular in Brazil where men often wear 'sunga' at the beach.
So, is the reign of baggy board shorts and trunks over and are Speedos going to be all over the beaches this summer? The jury's out in the EVOKE office...
