In the wake of reports that Bermuda Shorts are the latest "in fashion" item across North America, a Bermuda couple marketing their own specially designed Bermuda Shorts have seen a big increase in overseas sales.

Earlier this month The Royal Gazette reported that the Island's trademark clothing item had been highlighted and praised in newspapers across North America from Florida to Calgary in Canada.

For entrepreneurial couple Kirsten and Geordie Wardman the news confirms what they have seen selling their own multi-purpose Bermuda Shorts across the US and parts of Europe.

In the past three years their company's sales figures have rocketed and this season are 400 percent higher.

Which is good news for promoting Bermuda to the rest of the world, says Mr. Wardman, who is hoping to create a partnership with the Department of Tourism that will see the Tourism Department's message included on the hang-tags affixed to the shorts.

He said: "Our ultimate goal is to promote Bermuda. Our hand-tags already give details of aspects of Bermuda."

As well as the straight forward solid colour shorts, the couple have a popular range of shorts featuring Bermuda motifs such as the blue land crab, spiny lobster, yachts and salt water flies, as well as skirts that can be worn over bathing costumes.

The suede-like micro-fibre material used in the shorts and skirts allows them to dry quickly, so that between ten minutes and half-an-hour after swimming in the ocean the shorts are smart and dry enough to allow the wearer to go to a party or restaurant without needing to get changed.

"We wanted a material that went with our lifestyle. We do a lot of swimming and boating where you can get wet. We wanted something that you could wear for swimming but which would also be formal enough to wear to a restaurant," explained Mrs. Wardman.

The success of their shorts and skirts is evident in the USA where the majority of their products are sold, they have also branched out to Mexico, the Caribbean, the UK and Spain, selling in high-end shops and boutiques. In Bermuda the shorts are sold at AS Cooper and Coral Beach retailing for around $50 to $60 each.

The reason for the increased popularity of Bermuda Shorts in general is not all together clear. Mrs. Wardman said: "I'm not sure why there has been this sudden interest, but world-wide people are really embracing colourful clothing. We are trying to do very colourful Bermuda styles using colours you would not normally see."

The shorts made by the couple's company Bermuda Styles are also tapping into a growth market for multi-purpose travel-wear clothing that reduces the amount of items needed to be packed for a vacation. And being designed to get wet in swimming and boating activities the shorts and skirts feature corrosion-proof zips and snap buttons and do not stain in salt water.

Whatever the reason for the heightened interest in Bermuda Shorts in North America and beyond, the couple are perfectly placed to benefit from the trend. Mr. Wardman said: "We are now selling 20,000 to 22,000 pieces annually. We are looking to double that next year."