See inside Esquire x Orlebar Brown’s end of year party at Bondi Icebergs
Celebrating an afternoon with Esquire at the iconic Bondi Icebergs, Orlebar Brown founder Adam Brown reflects on the creative canvas of his swim shorts and how he elevated resortwear for a global audience
By 
TO CLOSE YOUR EYES and imagine an international man about town, lounging poolside in exotic climes – he’s probably wearing Orlebar Brown swim shorts. Though conjuring this image isn’t without incident, in fact, to pull back the curtain, it’s been the handiwork of designer and founder Adam Brown since he founded the brand in 2007.
To understand why, Brown is the consummate Brit: an aesthete, idealistic, and worldly. His particular combination of leisure and masculinity helped reshape swimwear from an afterthought into a considered, dedicated part of the well-dressed man’s wardrobe. “The idea of translating British tailoring heritage into swimwear came from a moment by the pool when I had to change for lunch,” he says, after recently visiting Sydney for Esquire’s end of year party at the iconic Bondi Icebergs, in partnership with Orlebar Brown. “Living in London and being surrounded by influences like James Bond and places such as Savile Row were incidental benefits. The focus has always been on making Orlebar Brown an international brand.”
His shorts – cut to a flattering five to six inches above the knee with their bespoke-like side adjusters, and array of artful and geometric prints – are celebrated and venerated pieces of modern menswear. So it made sense when Brown expanded into other lifestyle offerings, creating T-shirts and polos, which then quickly evolved into full-blown holiday collection full of travel-inspired pieces. Brown’s intent is certainly to dress you for your next holiday, though his ethos for comfortable and flattering clothes remains. “OB’s approach is about finding a balance – comfortable, well-fitting clothes that allow men to dress stylishly while traveling or on holiday, without feeling too formal or too casual.”
The universe Brown has created revolves around swim shorts, an idea that’s found a home amongst Australians, who now represent Orlebar Brown’s fifth largest market. “When OB first entered the Australian market, the cultural alignment felt natural due to shared language and a lifestyle centred around travel and holidays,” he tells me. “However, there were initial challenges, particularly the perception that Australian men only wore long or board shorts, making shorter swim shorts seem unfamiliar.”
During the afternoon lunch at Icebergs, with a postcard view of Bondi Beach, Brown spoke between courses of oysters, burrata, and bruschetta about the early days of figuring out how he would ship orders to Australia. Now, the journey is much easier; Orlebar Brown houses its offering in five stores nationwide from Bondi Beach to Brisbane.
Brown tells me that some of his favourite spots to swim when he’s in the country are in Byron Bay and Noosa; places where he is noticing a larger embrace of fashionable, resort-inspired styles. No doubt, a shift his brand has played a hand in. “Australian men have increasingly embraced the idea of dressing well for holidays, evolving past the casual approach that once dominated the culture.”
Photographer Bree Castel chronicled the afternoon, with friends of the masthead such as music producer 18yoman, actor Thomas Cocqueral, and photographer/director Yasmin Suteja in attendance. Certainly a good company of people wearing the tops trends of resort 2024. For highlights from Castel’s photo diary, scroll on.
