Jantzen swim shorts used by Jack Britten

Maker Jantzen (American, founded 1910)

Datec 1950

Object number00044880

NameShorts

MediumFabric

DimensionsOverall: 420 x 380 mm, 194.82 g

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Val and Jack Britten

Terms

DescriptionThe swimming shorts are well worn as Jack Britten was a keen swimmer. He lived in Botany and swam regularly in the ocean at Maroubra and in ocean baths.HistoryJantzen Knitting Mills, formerly the Portland Knitting Company was founded in 1910 in Portland Oregan, by John A Zehntbauer and Carl C Jantzen. In 1913 Portland Knitting Mills created a rib knit rowing suit for a member of the Portland Rowing Club. By 1915 a lighter weight garment had been developed as a bathing suit. Rib knit swimsuits were available to buy in different colours and the swimsuits adjusted to the wearer's body for comfort. The Jantzen Company developed a bold marketing strategy in the early 1920s featuring the Jantzen diving girl in a red costume, cap and stockings with the slogon 'the suit that changed bathing to swimming'. This distinctive logo changed as swimwear evolved to reflect the fashion of the day. Jantzen opened a knitting mill in Sydney at Auburn in 1928 becoming a major competitor to Speedo Australia which introduced the iconic racerback costume the same year.