SPEEDO USA, a division of PVH Corp. (NYSE: PVH), and the American Red Cross today announced a new, multi-year agreement that will see SPEEDO USA serve as the exclusive licensee of the American Red Cross in the Begin to Swim category. Beginning in 2015, select Speedo products from its Begin to Swim-branded youth line, which features bright, colorful and fun products developed to support a child’s introduction to water and swimming, will bear the official mark of the Red Cross and the organization’s seal of approval. The new partnership furthers the shared mission of SPEEDO and the Red Cross to make water safety a priority.
Long committed to building aquatic confidence and developing tools to support the various stages of learning to swim, SPEEDO’S Begin to Swim line includes products for three levels: Introduction to Water — products that provide flotation support for a child’s first time in the water; Introduction to Swimming — products that provide support for a child already familiar with the water to build confidence and support development of beginning swimming skills; and Developing Technique — products that help a child develop independent skills with minimal flotation support.
Items from SPEEDO’S Begin to Swim line that will feature the Red Cross mark include swim toys that promote aquatic confidence; fins, kickboards and other kick coaches; as well as apparel and swimwear with UV protection. Hang tags and product packaging will denote the licensed pieces of gear as an “Official Licensed Product of the American Red Cross.”
As part of the new partnership, SPEEDO and the Red Cross will also work together to develop new, unique products with the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council.
Jim Gerson, president of Speedo USA and Calvin Klein Swimwear
“We are very excited about our new partnership with the Red Cross,” said Jim Gerson, President of SPEEDO USA. “SPEEDO is committed to swimmers of all ages and all levels – and swim safety is one of the most important things we can help teach.”
“We’ve put 85 years of swimming expertise into our Begin to Swim line, developing the tools to help our youngest swimmers become familiar with – and be safe in – the water,” added Gerson. “We are proud to work together with the Red Cross and appreciate its support of our water safety products.”
The Red Cross is the largest aquatics training provider in the United States, recognizing swimming as a great recreational sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and works to teach the swim safety tips that everyone should know before they head out to the pool or the beach. Swim courses offered by the Red Cross include a Learn to Swim Course for ages six and up, Preschool Aquatics for children ages four and five, Parent and Child Aquatics for ages six months to three years, Home Pool Essentials to teach the fundamentals of safe home pool ownership and maintenance, and Safety Training for Swim Coaches and Instructors, developed in partnership with USA Swimming – a SPEEDO partner since 1985. All courses, available throughout the country, are designed to teach water safety, survival skills and foundational swimming concepts in a safe and fun environment; more than 2.5 million people are trained annually in Red Cross aquatics programs.
The American Red Cross is also renowned for its lifeguard certification and training programs, which certifies approximately 300,000 lifeguards each year and furthers the organization’s longstanding commitment to water safety.
“We’re thrilled to enter into this official partnership with SPEEDO,” said Stephen Glockenmeier, Vice President Preparedness and Health and Safety Services at the American Red Cross. “Swimming and water safety has been an important mission of the Red Cross for 100 years, and together with SPEEDO, we look forward to furthering our shared mission to make swimming safe – and fun.”
The Red Cross-approved SPEEDO Begin to Swim products will be on shelf at select sporting goods retailers beginning Spring 2015.
Speedo is a registered trademark of and used under license from Speedo International Ltd. Warnaco Swimwear, Inc., a subsidiary of PVH that does business as SPEEDO USA, holds the exclusive license from Speedo International Ltd in North America and the Caribbean.
ABOUT SPEEDO
The world’s leading swimwear brand, Speedo is passionate about life in and around the water, creating revolutionary new technologies, designs and innovations, and supporting swimming from the grassroots to the elite level. In the 1920’s Speedo made history with the Racerback, the world’s first non-wool suit. In 2008, Speedo redefined swimwear again with Fastskin LZR RACER, one of the fastest and most technologically advanced swimsuits ever created; 2011 saw Speedo unveil another world first with the Fastskin Racing System – a cap, goggle and suit designed to work together as one. Speedo is owned by Speedo Holdings B.V. and distributed in over 170 countries around the world; in North America and the Caribbean, Speedo is licensed exclusively to Warnaco Swimwear Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp. To find out more, visit www.speedousa.com.
ABOUT PVH
PVH Corp., one of the world’s largest apparel companies, owns and markets the iconic Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger brands worldwide. It is the world’s largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, IZOD, ARROW, Warner’s and Olga, and its licensed brands, including Speedo, Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, DKNY, Ike Behar and John Varvatos.
Swimming News courtesy of Speedo USA, a SwimSwam partner.