Description
The Copacabana is a green sunga: an aqua green base with glossy stripes, named after the beach that put Brazilian swimwear on the map. Shorter than boardshorts, fuller than a brief, it sits close to the body and holds its shape in and out of the water.
Why a green sunga works
Aqua green is the colour of the water you are about to get into, which is exactly why it works. It reads bright without being loud, it looks better the more tan you have, and it photographs beautifully against both sand and pool tile. A green sunga is the one you reach for on holiday, when navy feels too office and black feels too serious. The glossy stripes against the matte base keep it from tipping into novelty territory.
Fit and fabric
- Premium double-layer fabric with a matte finish and zero transparency, wet or dry. This is the part most cheap swimwear gets wrong, and it is the reason the Copacabana is cut from two layers rather than one.
- Fully lined interior for support and confidence, with no separate mesh brief needed underneath.
- Internal drawstring so the waist stays exactly where you set it while you swim, dive or train.
- Quick drying and light enough to disappear into a carry-on.
The Brazilian cut sits just under the waist and finishes high on the thigh, which is what gives the sunga its clean line and why it does not ride up or balloon when you swim. If you have only ever worn boardshorts, expect it to feel closer to the body on the first wear and then to feel like the obvious choice by the third.
Size Guide
| Size | Waist (laid flat) | Length (waist to hem) |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 36.5 cm (14.4 in) | 22 cm (8.7 in) |
| Medium | 38 cm (15 in) | 23 cm (9 in) |
| Large | 40.1 cm (15.8 in) | 26 cm (10.2 in) |
Measurements are taken with the garment laid flat, so the waist figure is roughly half your actual waist measurement. The fabric has generous stretch in both directions. If you are between sizes, size up for a more relaxed fit or stay true to size for the classic Brazilian cut. Still deciding? Read our guide to buying a Brazilian sunga in Australia.
How to care for a green sunga
Rinse in cold fresh water after every swim, before the salt or chlorine has time to dry into the fibres. Then dry it flat in the shade, never on a hot railing and never in direct sun. Bright colours show fading first, so a green sunga rewards the two minutes this takes more than a dark one does. No machine wash, no tumble dryer, no fabric softener, no wringing it out.
Square cut, swim boxer or swim brief?
English never settled on one word for this cut, which is half the reason it is hard to shop for. Square cut is the closest: squared off at the leg, with a short hem instead of the high-cut opening of a racing brief. Some brands call the identical shape a swim boxer, adidas among them. Others shelve it with swim briefs, alongside Speedo and Budgy Smuggler. What it is not is a boardshort or a knee-length swim trunk, which are a different garment for a different day. In Brazil none of this comes up, because it has always just been a sunga: more coverage than a Speedo, far less fabric than a boardshort, and cut for actually swimming. If you are weighing it up for Australian conditions, read swim trunks vs boardies or what is a sunga.
Shipping and returns
Shipping is free on every Australian order, with no minimum. Returns are open for 14 days on unworn items with the hygiene sticker intact, and the full terms are on our refund and returns page. Designed in Brazil, made for Australian summers.
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