At the Beijing Olympics 33 of the 36 swimming medals were won by Swimmers wearing the revolutionary LZR racer swimsuit. The suits were subsequently banned when body of the sport of swimming FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) prevented the use of body suits in competitive swimming. These changes outlawed Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit and caused a surplus of the suits.

Fashion and design student from across the UK have taken up the task of reshaping the record breaking suit into a range of cutting edge fashion concepts.
Students at the London College of Fashion, University College Falmouth and the University of Huddersfield created their new designs from excess stocks of the LZR racer.

The creations include a patchwork watershort by Man Kit Au Yeung from London College of Fashion, and an ‘Afterlife’ creation featuring a cape inspired by superheroes and aimed at the high-end fashion market by Eva Hiu Wa Lai also from London College of Fashion.

President of Speedo, David Robinson, said: “This project has captured the technology and originality of the Speedo LZR Racer and combined it with unique cutting edge fashion. It is inspiring to see the creative and innovative approach the students have taken to produce their products. Creativity and innovation is valued highly at Speedo and we are pleased to see this quality of talent emerging from the universities that have taken part. Speedo is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and as such it is good to see the Speedo LZR Racer live on in these innovative designs.”

This latest project follows the preview of the ‘From Somewhere with Speedo’ collaboration at London Fashion Week in September 2010. Made from unsold Speedo stock the collection created by award winning sustainable fashion designers ‘From Somewhere’ is due to launch in early 2011.