Black men's swim trunks with white belt

By the 1940s, men’s swimming trunks were commonplace. The custodian at Parnell Baths commented in 1938 that "shorts were in almost universal use at the baths now by both youths and men" and their popularity had rapidly increased. He also observed that very few full-sized bathing costumes were seen, either in the baths or on the beaches, and that 'the backless costume was the vogue for women' (Auckland Star, 7 January 1938).

Details

Credit: Garment loan courtesy of Dion and Kaye Coleman
Copyright: Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 Licence
Designer: Unknown
Manufacturing location: New Zealand
Garment type: Swim trunks
Material: Wool
Features: White belt
Colour: Black, white
Label: Kaiapoi Surfa NZ
Date: 1940s