Waterwear 2011 Ambsn: Beach Volley. It's Back.
Ambsn, the boutique action-sports lifestyle menswear brand launched by brothers Dustin and Dylan Odbert, saw the tank top trend that’s been sweeping the menswear market coming from miles away. The San Clemente, Calif.–based duo have been selling the skin-baring tops for years. They’ve also been at the forefront of the shorter, slimmer boardshort movement. Now, for Spring 2011, the Odberts have added a retro throwback—volleyball shorts—to their collection.
“The volleys are geared toward a more high-end clientele,” Dustin Odbert said. “They can live in the surf/skate world, but the styling and aesthetic are more in line with those of contemporary retailers.”
Featuring 14-inch outseams, mesh lining and elastic waistbands, the shorts are fully functional for poolside lounging and ball-spiking. Cut from the same silicone-washed microfiber that Ambsn uses for its boardshorts, the volley shorts wholesale for $40 and are available in a variety of quirky prints as well as two solid colors.
So far the shorts have gotten the right kind of attention, landing orders from key retailers such as Beams Japan and Becker Surf & Sport. The Odberts, who built their brand on quirky T-shirts and staple pieces that bounce between kitchy and preppy, are keeping the brand’s sense of humor even as it goes more upscale. Some of the volleyball shorts are cut from fabric printed with lions and tigers and bears; others from trippy love-child flowers; and, still, others with an American flag. For more information, call (949) 429-5809 or visit www.ambsn.com.—Erin Barajas
