the PIPELINE: Style on Tap

• June 24, 2008 9:08 AM
• The Goods

Hanging 10: Friends Canvas Swim Trunks

By Nicole Schlomann

Every time a new season comes around, we're scrambling to find the ultimate staple to protect us from the elements. Based on this principle, the folks at S/S Friends decided to capitalize on our needs and make "season-specific" items that everyone will be stocking up on come winter, spring, or summer. For winter they're cranking out cozy knit hats, for spring they've got the perfect raincoat, and this summer they're focusing on the ultimate male necessity—a good looking pair of swim trunks.

Discussing his and co-founder Sarah's inspiration, Sean Sullivan says, "In the dead of winter, we started making plans for some rustic swim trunks. We're both from seaside towns and want to get back to the ocean one day. This was the closest we could get this year." The mid-length swim trunks, made of crisp taupe cotton canvas, are finished with wooden buttons and brass grommets and—true to their creators' wishes—are sure to invoke the feel of a classic beach vacation.

With every piece they create, the two include a record of handpicked sounds. Each pair of swim trunks comes with a 7" vinyl single recorded by Sullivan called "Easy Street," an homage to early reggae music. Along with their memories of seaside towns, the founders drew from reggae art and old surf films to design the "sidewalk" surf trunks, which are made to transition from the beach to the street. Their advice for proper garment care? "Hang dry, and hang loose."

S/S Friends Surf Trunks, about $145, available at Steven Alan, 465 Amsterdam Ave, New York, 212-595-8451; www.stevenalan.com. For more stockists, visit www.friendscanvastrunks.com. To order direct, contact ss@friendscanvastrunks.com.

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