Sundek

Sundek is an international surfwear and beachwear brand founded in 1958 in San Francisco, California.^[1] Originally launched under the name Sun‑Dek in the late 1940s, the company pioneered quick‑dry nylon swim trunks for surfers. Today, Sundek designs and distributes apparel and accessories for men, women, and children through its own retail stores, distributors, multibrand retailers, and e-commerce platforms.^[2][3]

Sundek

Formerly	Sun‑Dek (1940s)
Company type	Private
Industry	Fashion, Surfwear
Founded	1958; 67 years ago (1958)
Headquarters	Campi Bisenzio, Tuscany, Italy
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Tiziano Sgarbi (Owner, since 2020)
Products	Swimwear, boardshorts, beachwear, apparel, accessories
Number of employees	50–100
Website	sundek.us

History

Sundek was founded in San Francisco, California in 1958.^[4] It becomes one of the first dedicated surfwear brands, innovating nylon swim trunks tailored to the needs of surfers.^[5][6][7]

During the 1960s, Sundek expanded its reach to Hawaii and the U.S. East Coast and began sponsoring surfers, embedding itself in surf culture.^[8] In 1972, the company introduced its signature "Rainbow" boardshorts—model M504BDTA100—with triple‑stitched quick‑dry nylon fabric and colorful curved stripes.^[9]

By the mid‑1990s, Sundek had established a strong presence in Europe.^[10] Around 2010, the brand experienced a revival in Italy, where its fashion‑forward approach to beachwear attracted a new following.^[5] In 2020, Italian entrepreneurs Simona Barbieri and Tiziano Sgarbi acquired Sundek and led a comprehensive relaunch.^[11][12] Under their ownership, the brand expanded into over 1,500 multi‑brand retailers and opened 21 standalone stores across Italy, with additional outlets in France, Spain, the United States, and Kuwait.^[13][3]

Activities

Sundek designs and manufactures swimwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and children. Its product range includes boardshorts, walkshorts, T-shirts, hoodies, jackets, bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, dresses, skirts, and accessories such as hats and towels.^{[14][15][16][17][18]}