Men in their Skmpeez
What started as a beach vacation for good friends Mark Barrera and Vil Sihamanotham turned into a swimwear business project being launched during Pride.

In Feb. 2008 both men were searching for great swimwear in which to lounge on the beaches of Mexico. Their search was fruitless but it did spark the idea to fill a void in the marketplace by catering to beach bums who want to actually look good on the sand.

Thus the revealing Skmpeez were born. “Normally what I would wear was board shorts. We were looking and I was calling them ‘skmpeez,’ the whole time we were on holidays I would always refer to them as skmpeez,” says Sihamanotham. Aside from the play on words their offerings are actually more restrained, tasteful and have more style, print-wise and cut-wise, than the name would suggest.

“We were tired of the endless search for a nice fitting well-designed bathing suit,” says Barrera. “We wanted something truly sexy but nothing over the top.”

With Barrera’s work experience in sales and marketing and his MBA from the University of Saskatchewan complementing Sihamanotham’s background in silk-screening, packaging, design and apparel production, the pair joined forces to develop a line that was savvy, smart and sophisticated yet affordable.

At first glance several Skmpeez styles catch my eye, especially their Hibiscuz, Angelz and Samuraiz swim shorts. “We have a lot of things that would fit different styles from an Asian-inspired line to a sportier line and even a patriotic one,” says Barrera. Their T.dotz print showcases a Toronto skyline that would profile proudly on anyone’s Canadian behind. They also have a fashion-forward retro line along with their signature designs called Angelz, all made in Toronto.

Men’s bathing suits and underwear often lack panache and cutting edge design when compared to women’s wear. They mostly just end up being limp, tired and tacky but not these Skmpeez. What I like about their product is it’s flexible enough for the wearer to use as cute underwear and their style can be expanded to looks that include shorts and shirts.

“A nice pair of swimwear is quite necessary for a man’s wardrobe whether it’s a tighter fit or board shorts,” says Barrera. “You want to look good on the beach.”

For more information on Skmpeez, visit www.skmpeez.com or www.putyoursexyon.com. Or visit their oasis-inspired booth at the Village during the Saturday of Pride Weekend for outfits ranging from $45-$55.

Chris Jai Centeno
chrisjai@fabmagazine.com