Swim Chris Swim

Almost every summer, we see new and unique businesses pop in and around Asbury Park that deliver the unique spirit that Asbury Park is known for. With that spirit in mind, Chris Turk Swim arrived in town last April and has quickly become a local brand known for diversity and truly having something for everyone. The man behind the man, Chris Turk, has his own storied path which brought him to Asbury Park & we sat down for one of his first discussions since arriving in town.We discussed how sometimes challenging past shaped his demand for equality for his trans brothers and sisters and why Asbury Park was the perfect place to continue to grow his aptly named brand.

Chris Turk’s path to Asbury Park was most definitely not a direct route. Originally from North Brunswick and with a quick detour to Los Angeles, CA it was only after working in the fashion PR world and developing his first ever collection that he made a post-Covid move to Asbury Park. According to Turk, the reason is simple; “I wanted a place that offered a mix of all the places I lived before- close to my family, close enough to my friends in the city, gay and somewhere near the beach. The beach is where I find my peace and that was very important to me. There was only one option so I ended up here, in beautiful Asbury Park”!

While he did know some of the history of the town from his parents and some of his own early twenties jaunts into town, it was crucial to him to quickly make himself a part of the community from a philanthropic perspective when he became a resident. That is where The Center comes into play and for Turk himself, it’s simple; The Center “saved my life” as he puts it. After receiving his own HIV diagnosis a decade ago, The Center came into Turk’s life through friends and he has leapt in to make them part of his own Asbury Park story. As he puts it, “The Center is such a pivotal place for our community; it literally saves lives”

As for being open about his own HIV status, Turk is unyielding about being vocal about the importance of making sure people know that “Undetectable=Untransmittable” and …It is so important for people to hear those words, because people can still be so ill informed, which is why places like The Center are so important”. 

Bringing the Chris Turk Swim brand to the Asbury Park boardwalk this past April has enabled Turk to get to know his community as well as show people that there is much more to a swim and lifestyle brand than washboard abs. Turk’s brand is for everyone and as he puts it, “I hope to offer a safe space for all to feel welcome, safe, cute in their new favorite outfit or swim and truly happy with who they are”.

In today’s climate, supporting the trans community openly is a vital part of his business. Turk speaks from the heart when he speaks about our trans brothers and sisters, and has a direct message for anyone who has the trans community in their sights; “The trans community has always been and will always be here, whether they want to accept it or not. They are not a threat to anyone, they just want to live with equal rights and be treated equally like all of us”.

Looking forward, Turk has hopes to see more venues queer friendly venues open in Asbury Park, “more and more queer art and spaces. Inviting more queer artists, singers, bands, as well as opening new queer friendly spaces like bars, cocktail bars, clubs, stores, restaurants, etc., it will just add to the heart of the city”!

The passion that Chris Turk feels for Asbury Park stems from a place of strong community and a defiance to keep our spaces safe and our city a welcoming one. The one word he uses to describe Asbury Park is a simple one; “The Soul. The other day I referenced that Asbury Park just has soul and that’s truly the best way to describe it I am noticing a lot of outsiders coming in trying to ruin our space and we will not have it. We will continue to share our open heart to all those who deserve it but we will also protect it”.

Follow Chris Turk Swim on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christurkswim/?hl=en