Debbie Kuhn introduced Girltrunks in March 2009, a swimwear concept built by combining women’s tankini tops with men’s swim trunks.
What the design borrows
Men’s swim trunks solve several problems that women’s swimwear traditionally does not. They provide full coverage, they hang away from the body rather than clinging, they dry quickly, and they do not chafe.
Girltrunks takes that construction and cuts it for women. The result is a two-piece swimsuit with full coverage that functions as a genuine garment rather than only as swimwear.
The practical advantages
- Full coverage, without the compromises that usually accompany it in women’s swimwear.
- Doubles as shorts, so it works as an outfit rather than something to change out of.
- Does not cling, which is the single most common complaint about wet swimwear.
- Dries quickly.
- Prevents chafing, which matters for anyone actually swimming or moving rather than sitting.
Because it works as shorts, the range extends beyond the beach to the gym, and the top pairs with well-fitting tank styles and halters as well as the supplied tankini.
Who it is for
The design was intended for women of all body shapes, sizes and ages, and Kuhn described it as cross-generational and a modern alternative to traditional women’s swimwear.
Her framing put comfort at the center:
I am so thrilled to have finally created girltrunks. It has been missing in the women’s swimwear market for far too long. Girltrunks are about more than just swimwear, they have empowered women with a comfortable confidence that is often lacking in traditional women’s swimwear.
The underlying observation is a fair one. A large amount of women’s swimwear is designed primarily to be looked at, and comfort in the water is treated as secondary. Starting from a garment designed for swimming and adapting it, rather than the reverse, produces something different.
Frequently asked questions
What are Girltrunks?
A two-piece swimsuit combining a tankini top with swim trunks, giving full coverage that also works as shorts.
Can they be worn outside the beach?
Yes. They function as shorts, which extends them to the gym and to general wear.
When were they introduced?
March 2009.
This report dates from 2009. See also our swimwear guide.
