When British photographer Adam Brown was turned away from a resort dining room in India for wearing swim trunks, he envisioned something new: “shorts you can swim in.” That fashion misstep led to the creation of Orlebar Brown in 2007, launching with its now-iconic Bulldog short—a tailored, quick-drying short that transitions effortlessly from pool to patio.
What began as a personal solution soon became a luxury brand with global reach. A turning point came in 2012 when Daniel Craig, as James Bond in Skyfall, wore the Bulldog short, skyrocketing Orlebar Brown into the international spotlight. The brand went on to collaborate officially with 007, as well as luxury names like Lamborghini and the estate of Slim Aarons.
Now owned by Chanel and with 48 standalone stores worldwide, Orlebar Brown has evolved into a full resort wear empire—offering everything from polos and embroidered linen shirts to unstructured jackets and knit sneakers. But no matter how far it grows, Brown insists the brand will always orbit around its original mission:
“The short you can swim in”
