Anthony Minichiello supports new men’s swimwear range Azzo

Rugby league great Anthony Minichiello has dived in to support mate Michael Azzolini, who has launched a fashionable men’s swimwear range called Azzo.

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Former footy star Anthony Minichiello isn’t afraid to wear a splash of colour when he goes for a dip. And now the rugby league great has dived in to support mate Michael Azzolini, who has launched a fashionable men’s swimwear range called Azzo.

“I don’t mind wearing shorter shorts when I go for a swim and I like the prints and the fit of the shorts that Azzo designs,” Minichiello tells BW Magazine.

As the husband of fashion designer Terry Biviano, he knows a thing or two about style.

“There haven’t been a lot of options for men’s swimwear in the past so I’m happy that there are now more to choose from,” he says.

“And I’m not afraid to say I like fashion.”

Designer Michael Azzolini with Anthony Minichiello, who is wearing Azzolini’s new swimwear range for men. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Azzolini drew on more than two decades as a stylist in the fashion business when he launched a year ago after seeing a gap in the market.

“I wanted to have a luxury brand that was still affordable,” he says.

It is already stocked at David Jones and Azzo had its first runway showing at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia earlier this month.

“Gone are the days where it was the simple black Speedo or plain black shorts,” Azzolini says.

“It is now about designer prints, luxury fabrics and finishes that can also be worn to the pub or a nightclub after you’ve been at the beach.”

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More than 40 pieces were shown at Fashion Week, with bold prints and patterns that include passion fruit flowers, silver chains with chrome anchors, snakeskin, lemons and blue tropical ferns — and all with the Azzo signature hidden within his intricate designs.

Anthony Minichiello said he is not afraid to say he likes fashion. His wife Terry Biviano is a fashion designer. Picture: Christian Gilles

As a stylist, Azzolini has worked with some of the biggest names in the fashion and entertainment business both here and overseas, including Hugh Jackman, Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Hawkins, Giuliana Rancic and Deborah Mailman.

And this isn’t his first foray into fashion: From 2003 to 2010, he helmed men’s and women’s swimwear business Azzolini. Nine years later he’s back but focusing exclusively on men, saying men’s swim shorts will be a rising trend next summer.

“Men seem to wear their board shorts like women do active wear, it is a go-to in the wardrobe,” he says.

“They may not be working out or going for a swim — but they will wear their swimmers.”

Originally published as Anthony Minichiello supports new men’s swimwear range Azzo