The Daily Gamecock

PANGEA swimwear by USC alumnus offers affordable, worldly swimwear for men

<p>After graduating from USC with inspiring study abroad experiences fresh in his mind, Nick Bradley created PANGEA, a worldly swimwear line for men that was named #1 men's swimsuit by GQ.</p>
After graduating from USC with inspiring study abroad experiences fresh in his mind, Nick Bradley created PANGEA, a worldly swimwear line for men that was named #1 men's swimsuit by GQ.

USC has thousands of alumni, and many go on to become very successful in the workplace. One of those successful alumni is Nick Bradley. Bradley graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in international business and marketing and minors in Chinese language studies and Spanish. After graduating, he moved to LA and built a swimwear line called PANGEA.

PANGEA has been featured in Men’s Health magazine, Men’s Journal and many other magazines. Perhaps the greatest press PANGEA has received is being ranked #1 men’s swimsuit in the country by GQ magazine. Bradley said he "still can't believe" the brand received such an honor.

“It has been an insane two years since the dream became a reality and I can't believe how far PANGEA has come,” he said.

PANGEA encapsulates Bradley’s passions, and making those passions a reality is something not everyone gets to say about their work. Bradley said that PANGEA combines three of his favorite things: travel, clothes and spending time by the beach.

The name Pangea is a term used to describe the Earth in prehistoric times, when all the continents were connected. PANGEA's website says that it "embodies the notion that there is always more to discover, more to do, more to see. We believe that true adventure is the exploration of the unknown.”

Bradley began PANGEA with the idea in mind that the market did not have many high quality swimsuits for men at moderate prices.

“I saw an opportunity in the market and worked on creating a brand that could embody my 'wanderlust,'" he said. "I'd definitely have to say my study abroad in college played a huge part in my love for travel, and in turn, the creation of the overall brand.”

Bradley is the creative director of the company, but he works with a team that helps these artistic visions become reality.

“I work very closely with an extremely talented textile designer who helps me bring the vision to life (or at least to life on a swimsuit)!” Bradley said. “Every single print is inspired by a different place in the world, so everything is my interpretation on a destination.”

Many of the prints on the swim shorts look very worldly, with vibrant patterns and designs representing different cultures. There are both solid-colored shorts and a variety of shorts with prints. They also come in two different styles, one with a 5.5-inch inseam and a button and the other with a 6-inch inseam and drawstring. 

The variety of designs and overall feel of the brand evoke a sense of adventure, which was part of what inspired Bradley's concept.

 “I love the idea that although now our big world has been explored, there is still so much to see," he said. "And the idea behind PANGEA is just that. There is always another adventure on the horizon, you just have to look for it.”


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