Women's 1972 Japanese Olympic team-inspired swimsuit
Maker
Mizuno
Date1968
Object number00019012
NameSwimsuit
MediumNylon, cotton
DimensionsOverall: 710 x 325 mm, 0.08 kg
Clothing size: 32
Clothing size: 32
ClassificationsClothing and personal items
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Speedo International Ltd
DescriptionThis one piece women's swimsuit, featuring the 1972 Japanese Olympic swimming team uniform design, was produced by Mizuno in Japan under license from Speedo. The swimsuit is fully lined and panelled and uses a dark blue nylon fabric covered with a pink cherry blossom motif. The red Speedo 'arrow' logo is found on the right hip and a cotton cloth badge with the Japanese national flag, a red sun on a white background, has been sewn onto the chest. Speedo first released commercial ranges of the designs they produced for various national Olympic teams in the 1960s.HistoryIn 1955 Speedo introduced nylon into its competitive swimwear designs, and the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne saw the widespread use of the new fabric. From 1957 the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) allowed the modest half skirt of women's swimsuits to be replaced with the quarter skirt.
The introduction of the quarter panel saw an improvement in women's racing times as their swimsuits became much more streamlined and closer fitting. In 1972 FINA finally allowed women to swim skirtless for the first time.SignificanceProduced as a stock item, this Australian-made swimsuit demonstrates the influence of Olympic team designs on Speedo's commercial swimwear ranges.Canterbuury, under license from Speedo
1964