For the latest in Todd Snyder’s 10th Anniversary Editions series of limited releases, Todd has partnered with the iconic American surf brand Birdwell on an exclusive capsule, just in time for beach season. In Snyder’s hands, Birdwell’s 310 Board Short gets a modern refresh in sun-faded colors and an on-trend length meant to hit at mid-thigh. Like all of the company’s swim trunks, each pair is cut from Birdwell proprietary SurfNylTM fabric and includes a simple button fly and a tab closure for an adjustable fit. The shorts are sewn by expert craftspeople at their Santa Ana, California factory almost exactly as they were sixty years ago when Carrie Birdwell Mann sold her first pair.
“I always get excited about designing for great American heritage brands, and Birdwell is The OG from The OC when it comes to swim trunks,” says Snyder. “Carrie Birdwell Mann sold her first pair of baggies even before The Beach Boys hit the charts. I’m also incredibly inspired by the way she looked at the cutting-edge technical fabrics of her day including sail cloth to create what would become the go-to swimsuit for Southern California surfers, lifeguards and guys from Iowa who wanted to look like them.”
“This collection is a nod to our Southern California roots and Todd’s distinct New York sensibility,” says Brett Reynolds, Birdwell’s chief product officer. “Both brands share a commitment to craftsmanship, classic design and authenticity and this ethos is what makes this collaboration such an organic fit.”
The capsule includes one Woodland Camo pattern and four colors (Navy, Aqua, Paprika and Yellow). The silhouette of the shorts are based on Birdwell’s 310 body which holds closest to Ms. Birdwell’s original design but in a shorter length. This style is slightly modernized and to reflect over more than 50 years of field testing by lifeguards and surfers who depend on their Birdies to last a lifetime of waves. The shorts in this capsule are stonewashed, so they look and feel broken in from the first wear.
ABOUT TODD SNYDER
Birdwell is just one of several collaborations in which Snyder has partnered with an American icon. Others include Champion sweats, Converse sneakers, Timex watches and LL Bean field clothing. Since launching his eponymous label in 2011, he has redefined how modern American men can present themselves to the world in stylish, unexpected ways. From luxurious takes on essential items to bespoke tailoring, Todd’s creations show that good style can be attainable and even playful.
Prior to launching his own label, Todd held leading roles at Polo Ralph Lauren, The Gap and J.Crew. He has also been recognized twice by the Council
of Fashion Designers of America as a Menswear Designer of the Year nominee and a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist.
He has three stores, two located in Manhattan at Madison Park and Tribeca, and a third in East Hampton.
His clothes are also available on toddsnyder.com
ABOUT BIRDWELL
Birdwell is a classic tale of Great American Ingenuity. Back in 1961 Carrie Birdwell Mann transformed her small southern California home into a sewing room
and store, launching Birdwell Beach Britches. Originally working with off-the-shelf spinnaker cloth, she soon commissioned Birdwell’s signature nylon fabric, SurfNylTM, which was meant to mimic the two-layer construction and triple seams of the era’s most durable sails. Her living room became one of the area’s first surf shops. Her first employees were her husband and son. Her first customers were lifeguards in Newport Beach, a ringing endorsement from seasoned watermen.
