From Fit Obsession to Brand: The Speedo Pile That Started It All

There’s a suitcase in my storage unit labeled “Do Not Open.” Inside: over 200 speedos and underwear collected over five years. Different cuts, fabrics, and fits, each a trophy from photo shoots, trips, and late-night impulse buys. That collection is where the idea SLTBURN started.

Bold, sexy, confident shouldn’t be a mood board. It should fit like a second skin.

The Problem with “Almost Right”

Here's the thing, I worked with leading fashion brands, promoting their swim lines. I loved the energy, but every time I put on a brief, I thought, almost. The rise was off by a centimeter. The logo would peel off. The pouch would either give you a meaty tuck or too much space. A speedo can make you feel like the sexiest person on the beach or make you feel self conscious.

I kept notes. Fit, compliments, uniqueness, quality, these were my four scorecards. After a hundred suits, patterns emerged: which leg openings made my quads pop and my ass look great; which fabrics held color after chlorine and the washing machine; which seam placements accentuated and molded my package.

Five Speedo Briefs, One Blueprint

Stitching, elastic tension, and edge finish on the SLTBURN core white brief.

I picked the best five from the pile, the ones that always drew a “where’d you get that?” when I posted on IG or walked along a beach or pool party, and then I tore them apart (literally). With a close friend who studied fashion engineering, we sat down and mapped every millimeter: front rise, back scoop, leg curve, side width, elastic tensions. Then we rebuilt.

• Sculpted front that supports without over‑contour, or flat front.

• Curved leg opening to lengthen the leg and free the quad.

• Side width tuned to hit that sweet spot between sporty and bold.

• Fabric that survives pools and parties: performance‑grade that still feels luxe.
  

The goal wasn’t another logo. We wanted to create something that embodied a premium lifestyle. .

Prototype line-up—testing rises, leg curves, and waistband tensions to nail the sculpted fit.

Roots in Queer Culture, Built for Anyone with That Energy

Speedos aren’t just swimwear in queer spaces, they’re language. Think about the nod across the pool or the convo starter "I like your speedo where'd you get it". I wanted SLTBURN to respect that heritage and invite anyone who shares that energy: confident, playful, unapologetic.

Confidence isn’t something you whisper. It’s something you wear.

The Process: How the Magic Happened

We iterated. We tested sizes S–XL on real bodies, not fit mannequins. We sent back so many adjusted samples to the factory over 2 years we feared we would scare them off. We tested the samples at nightclubs. We through them in the laundry. We tweaked elastic tensions by 5%. If a seam chafed after an hour, it moved. If a color dulled after chlorine, it was cut from the range. The brief had to pass the “naked” test: you shouldn’t think about it after you put it on.

What made the cut:

The Parrot — sculpted front, curved leg opening, side-tie accent.

• Precision waistband tension that stays put without digging.

• A front panel designed to sculpt and lift, not squeeze.

• Color stories that pop in the sun and under club lights inspired by travels.
  

Travel, Confidence, Boldness

I built SLTBURN for the way I live: booking the flight before I check the weather, saying yes to the late swim and the after party, showing up like I belonged even when I was hesitant. Travel taught me that the right look changes your posture and confidence. You stand taller. You smile back more. You make plans with hot strangers.

SLTBURN is for that moment.

Sport capsule—contrast blue/white with bold SLTBURN logo across shorts and matching brief.

Credits & Community

Pattern work with my business partner and a Portugal manufactuer that specializes in premium swimwear. Fit tested by friends across sizes and backgrounds. (Thank you for listening to me talk about this for 2 years non-stop, the feedback, and suggestions) Shot in Brazil inspired by the Carioca culture of Rio De Janeiro.

If SLTBURN makes you feel more like yourself, that’s the point. Tag @sltburn so we can hype you up. And thank you for supporting this dream.