Australian Swimwear Brands: Beyond the Big Names

Jul 5, 2026 / Oct 5, 2026 · 6 min read · togs swimwear au ·

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Togs for the pool, not just the beach

Choosing togs for morning laps is a different job from choosing them for a summer at the beach. The surf brands get most of the shelf space, but three Australian names are built for swimmers who train, race or move between the pool and the gym: Speedo, Funkita and Lorna Jane.

This guide covers where each brand came from, what each does best, and which buyer it suits. For the surf and fashion end of the market, see our surf-brand comparison and our premium swimwear comparison.

Speedo: founded in Sydney in 1914

Many swimmers assume Speedo is British. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in Sydney in 1914 by Alexander MacRae, a Scottish migrant who had worked as a milkman before starting MacRae and Company Hosiery, making underwear and, during the First World War, socks for the Australian Army. Its first swimsuit, a "racer-back costume", arrived in 1927. The racerback's open shoulders gave swimmers more movement, and it "was quickly adopted by competitive swimmers, despite being banned by some beaches."

The name came the following year, from a naming contest among MacRae's staff, which produced the slogan "Speed on in your Speedos." The winner, a Captain Parsonson, "was awarded £5 for his slogan and the company was renamed Speedo Knitting Mills."

Its Olympic debut was Australian too. At the 1932 Los Angeles Games, 16-year-old Clare Dennis won the women's 200 metre breaststroke in a Speedo suit, after "nearly being disqualified for 'showing too much shoulder'".

Today Speedo belongs to the Pentland Group and is headquartered in Nottingham, England. Wikipedia notes the 1990s brought "the chlorine resistant Endurance line" and the Aquablade series, which "was worn by more than three-fourths of medal winners at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games," followed by Fastskin and the LZR Racer.

In Australia, Speedo sells through its own site, with separate sections for women, men and kids, and an outlet for discounted stock. Its strength is range: recreational, training and racing suits under one brand.

Funkita: bright prints since 2004

Funkita's own site says it "officially launched in 2004 with a range of sculpted, chlorine resistant swimwear in vibrant prints," and that it is worn by "swimmers, triathletes, divers and surf lifesavers" in Australia and around the world.

Three things set it apart, according to the brand:

Fabric. "Our swimwear is made from C-Infinity, a premium Italian polyester fabric exclusive to Funkita," which it says means "the colours don't fade and the swimwear won't lose its shape even after hours in chlorinated water or under the sun."
Design. "All our print work is designed in-house." Bold prints are the brand's identity.
Features. It adds "mastectomy pocketing to hold breast prosthesis after mastectomy surgery, underwires for bust support and period swimwear to control leaks," and an eco collection "made from recycled polyester."

The men's and boys' range is sold as Funky Trunks. Funkita also offers a race suit guide, a size guide and a store locator on its site, and an activewear range called Funkita Fit.

Lorna Jane: activewear that goes into the water

Lorna Jane is an activewear brand first. Wikipedia records that Lorna Jane Clarkson was an aerobics instructor in Queensland in the 1980s who found workout clothing "unsatisfactory in both function and style" and began sewing her own. When her students asked for pieces, she and her husband Bill opened the first store in 1990 at Broadway on the Mall in Brisbane's CBD. The company's website credits her with coining the term "activewear" in 1989. It is now "one of Australia's largest women's activewear retailers, operating 116 stores across Australia and New Zealand as of 2025."

Its site sells swimwear as part of that range; when we checked, it featured a "Gym to Swim" edit alongside its leggings and tops. That suits a buyer who wants swimwear that looks and fits like their training gear. For a buyer shopping purely for pool performance, a dedicated swim brand such as Speedo or Funkita offers more choice of training and racing suits.

Which brand for which swimmer

If you want	Start with	Why
A full range, from lessons to racing	Speedo	Recreational, training and racing suits; separate kids and outlet sections
Bold prints that last in chlorine	Funkita / Funky Trunks	C-Infinity polyester; in-house prints
Mastectomy, underwire or period swimwear	Funkita	All three listed as features
Swimwear that matches your activewear	Lorna Jane	"Gym to Swim" range from an activewear brand

Training suits and chlorine

All three brands make a point of suits that survive chlorinated pools, which matters if you swim several times a week. The Australian retailer Swimwear Galore describes chlorine-resistant fabric as "made from 100% polyester" and built to keep "shape and colour longer," and advises separate swimsuits for pool and beach, since beach suits should not go in the pool "unless the fabric is chlorine-resistant." Our guide to chlorine-resistant togs for lap swimming goes into training suits in detail.

Who the national team wears

Speedo's Australian roots do not make it the national team's brand today. According to SwimSwam, Swimming Australia's deal with Speedo "expired on December 31, 2016", after which Arena became its official swimwear brand, a deal now extended through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. Individual swimmers can still wear their own sponsors: SwimSwam notes that Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O'Callaghan "are sponsored by Speedo and wore Speedo suits at the Paris Olympics." For most club and lap swimmers, the team deal matters far less than fit, fabric and how long the suit lasts.

Racing at a sanctioned meet

If you race, check the suit is approved. World Aquatics, the sport's governing body, keeps a "List of Approved Swimwear" for competition, and approved suits carry its mark. Funkita publishes a race suit guide, and our Speedo vs Arena comparison covers the national team's racing brand.

Sun protection

A training suit covers little skin. Cancer Council Australia advises clothing that covers "as much skin as possible" when the UV is 3 or above, and notes fabric "offers less protection from UV radiation when wet." For outdoor pools and the beach, add a rash vest.

Where to buy

Speedo: Speedo Australia, including its outlet, and swim shops.
Funkita and Funky Trunks: their own sites and specialist swim retailers; Funkita's site has a store locator.
Lorna Jane: its stores across Australia and New Zealand, and online.

Swimwear sizing varies between brands, so use each one's size guide before you order. For returns and your rights if something doesn't fit, Choice is Australia's independent consumer organisation.