"Soooo pretty much my good mate Kane @kaptainkirky phoned me last minute and said he was going out to the desert for a few days and asked if I wanted to go, I jumped on a flight and headed down the next day, drove all night, slept in the dunes and woke up and surfed. The next few days pretty much just surfed all day and drank beers every arvo. Lots of tailgate cook ups, crusty and sandy the whole time, pumping waves and minimal crowds!"

"A couple of weeks later I wanted to bolt over to Indo for a quick surf trip. I phoned Kane and convinced him to drop his work commitments and jump on board. We met up in Denpasar and Island hopped west from Bali via plane, ferry and taxi. We arrived and immediately got into the Bintangs. Surf-wise, options were limited, with strong trade winds getting up mid mornings but we made the most of the waves we had. Surfing some fun rippable rights and some chunkier lefts. Our accomodation couldn’t have been in a better spot, perched upon a hill overlooking one of the regions best waves. Merdeka House had a great vibe with ice cold beers, a pool table and awesome Indo food cooked up each night by one of the local lady's at the villa. 7 days flew by and we left surfed out with sunburnt eyes and grateful for the waves, food and good times experienced."

A: FOR EVERYONE NEW TO THE NIRVANA CRAZE, CAN YOU PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF?

N: The Nirvana craze sounds like a rollercoaster!… The Nay Nay craze… is… um…. I….. My name’s Nirvana… Nirvana Tropicana they call me.. well thats what I call myself these days. I’ve been based in Byron Bay, Cavanbah, Bundjalung country for the last 5 years. I’ve been making and creating for my whole life, fully self taught as a little Steiner kid mixing ochre at the creek and knitting, making bread in Kindy and playing with crayons and water colours since I was a wee one. Kinda just followed that creative flair and have been on that journey my whole entire life. I think in the last few years it’s definitely picked up where i’ve just had this urge to create more and do something with it sooooo ive been chasing that wave for a while now. Just trying to figure out who I am as an artist and what I like and the mediums I wanna work with and kind of building that up. But yeah! Im 26 and just riding this crazy life wave I dunno. At the moment life pretty good, I've set some goals and getting some shit done just trying to find a balance with my social life and things I want to achieve in my art practice and integrating that in the community where I live and connecting with other artists. I grew up along the east coast, moved around a lot, went to 4 different schools lived up on mount Tambourine and lived in Brizzy, Sunny Coast, Sydney, did a bit of travelling and ready for more really, its just the beginning.

A: TALK US THROUGH THE HFH COLLECTION

N: Holiday from Hell was a super fun collection to do. Obviously right up my alley and (the brief) had all the elements I like to incorporate in my art. Dabbling with dark and light themes, also tying in the tropicana aspect, Nirvana Tropicana, frangipanis and palm trees, beach aesthetic-surf core street stuff blended in with like the dangers and darkness of Mother Nature and… contrasted with dark and ominous cataclysmic events. I love the irony that comes with contrasting something dark and ominous like a natural disaster with something thats light and enjoyable like a holiday. I love that I could bring that to life with Afends on this one.

A: YOU RECENTLY HAD AN ART SHOW LOCALLY, WHAT WAS IT CALLED AND WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION?

N: Well I guess this is the beginning of what I consider to be my first step in my personal art career. The show was my first solo show called Momento Mori which is latin for “remember, you must die’. Ummm it sounds dark but the undertone of most of my work that 'darkness is contrasted with the light'. So it all depends how you perceive that saying but I applied it in a way that was to help you seize the day and make the most of what we have. The show at Mortar Gallery in Mullumbimby was sick it was based on kind of 14th century mythology and contrasting that with modern day celebrity idolisation. So commenting on how people back in those days would idolise a god or mythical creature like a god or centaur or whatever it was for them, we kind of idolise celebrities in the same way. Everything in my work is embellished and all of my pieces need to have some kind of diamond or sparkly airbrush tattoo embellishments. ‘Its not finished unless its embellished’.

A: OTHER THAN ART TALK US THROUGH A TYPICAL NIRVANA DAY

N: Hmmmmmm!!!! To be honest my daily standard routine would be waking up, going for a run, or some kind of physical activity. Ive been working from home lately up in Bangalow so i do a bit of morning routine then crack into some art. Lately i've been dabbling with some leather work, so practicing my hand at that, ive got some metallic silver pieces over here that’ll be turned into something nice for y’all. Ummm yeah some beach time, maybe the pub, friends, i've recently started pole dancing so i'm on the pole…. Just opening my door and letting any opportunities in at the moment.

A: IF YOU COULD CREATE AN ALBUM ABOUT YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD YOU CALL IT

N: Probably um.. So Fresh 2023.

We’ve been a fan of Manon Pouget for a while: local Byron grom lord, funny as hell and rips on all lengths of water craft. We caught up with Manon to relive what it’s like in that honeymoon period after high school; where you can just drive around, surf and eat sushi.

“Hi, my name is Manon Pouget and I'm 18 years old. I was born in the south of France but moved over to Australia, Byron Bay with my family when I was 1. I've been a beach baby my whole life. We would just go to the beach every weekend with my family and set up camp. I think we're looking at like seven years surfing, but yeah nah(?), you know,, let ‘em down easy but, ya know.

My spot at the moment is It Sushi. It's really cheap and I'm making my way through the entire cabinet; so always something different.. um after I get my food. I normally like to go perch up somewhere like main beach or wreck. There's always something happening, so it makes it pretty entertaining. The other day I was literally sitting down and this guy came up and set up a whole DJ deck next to me. And before I knew it, there was a whole crowd of people dancing around me. So it's always entertaining and makes for a good sitting.”

Manon Wears...

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Our latest art capsule, created in collaboration with the talented Michael Willis, pays homage to life's most precious resource: water. Where wild and fluid patterns meet pops of arctic blue in eco-friendly recycled blends, Michaels's capsule tells a visual story about global warming expressed through a positive perspective. We recently caught up with Michael to explore the inspiration behind his artwork, catch his favourite hiking spots and hear what projects he has in the pipeline. 

How would you describe yourself in 3 words?

Hybrid, Ambient, Symbotic. 

We lurked your instagram @mwillis.global - what inspires your artwork? 

Nature and technology. The conversation between the two...

You use a wide variation of techniques in your artwork. What would you say, makes it unique?

I guess it's more the transmission of ideas or an experience I'm excited by, rather than a specific technique. 

Tell us a bit about your capsule? What was the first thing that came to mind when asked to design the capsule? 

A: a celebration of life's most precious resource. 

B: a reminder to conserve life's most precious resource. 

Talk us through the artwork behind water is life? what does it evoke? 

It's a visual story about global warming expressed through a positive perspective. 

We noticed you like hiking! Any good spots to recommend to our crew?

So many great spots. If it's your first time hiking in Victoria, I'd say hit the Grampians. An amazing national park only a few hours from Melbourne/Naarm. very fun and accessible, and it's full of big weird rocks. 

Where is your favourite place in the world? 

I'm from the Uk and moved to Australia about seven years ago. Some of my favourite memories have been formed here, shooting stars at the Great Barrier Reef, wild Fraser Island, prehistoric sunsets at Mt Feathertop and Bogong... I don't think I'll ever have one favourite. 

What's your favourite emoji?

🌀

Any new projects in the pipeline?

Lots of great things coming out soon, some fun collaborations, alongside building up a new label co-exist.world. I work as a graphic designer alongside my art practice, and I've been using a lot of AI tools recently... getting super into world building 👽. Next few years are going to be crazy!!

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INTRODUCE YOURSELVES

-  We're a 4 piece indie rock band from Byron Bay, but we're also just a bunch of mates.

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN 3 WORDS- 

Honest, lively, committed.

YOU JUST RELEASED A SINGLE, TELL US ABOUT IT

- We did! It's called 'We're On Fire' and we worked with a dream team on it. We actually just finished filming our film clip for it, which will be out soon with some other really exciting news. 

FAVOURITE TOUR STORY SO FAR?

We just had a chat about this, we have SO many funny stories. I think the ones that are always funny are when there aren't enough beds for everyone, I've seen our old guitarist sleep sitting up in a chair, and Tom (our bass player) has literally slept on the floor, no mattress, with his head touching the wall, and his feet touching the other wall. The shit you go through to do what you love hey?!

IF YOU COULD PLAY WITH ANYONE, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY? 

We all have different answers for sure- I would say Idles would be a dream come true for everyone.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM SEASIDE IN 2023?

We're almost finished recording our EP, which is now looking like it could morph into a debut album instead. We have some really exciting but top secret news which everyone will know about soon, and another single in the next few months (it's my favourite of them all so I'm super excited to share).

WELCOME SAM PARTAIX

Follow us as we welcome long-time, professional skateboarder and all-around lord Sam Partaix into our Afends team. His passion for skateboarding formed as a young grom; sliding through the streets with his homies and soaking in the feeling of freedom. With years of skating later, a multitude of sponsorships, and experiences up his sleeve, Sam shares a little more about his laidback life.

What made you want to start skating?

I wanted to be free in the street. No coach no rules.

Just freedom with the homies.

My parents divorced when I was young, and my mum was working a lot as an ice skating teacher. So, I was always in the streets and got addicted to skateboarding. It gave me happiness, confidence and also a skateboarding family.

You have skated pro for more than 15 years now. How have you seen the skate scene evolving and what’s your take on skateboarding these days? 

It's different for sure.

There are so many really good skaters those days. Back in the day, all it would take was a good video and to get your photos ina magazine was really important.

We were travelling all around the world to skate in new spots.

Now everything has changed with social media and there are so many videos dropping every day. You have to be really creative or crazy-talented to be recognised now.

The styles have changed as well; skateboarding is becoming more and more mainstream and is majorly fashion industry-related now. Before it was more underground hip-hop and punk. It’s cool to be a skater now, whereas back then we were more thought of as the 'bad kids'.

You live in Biarritz. How much are those surroundings shaping the way you skate nowadays? 

Biarritz is like the french version of Byron Bay.

Lots of surf/skate brands are based here for the European market.

The lifestyle is heavily influenced by surf, skate, and other sports like rugby and snowboarding (with the Pyrenees Mountains close-by). It's a really peaceful and natural zone.

It's a small surfing community. For instance, sometimes I go surfing and I'll look over my shoulder to see my doctor in the water or my baker, which makes it pretty fun.

A lot of skateboarders from Europe tend to move to Bairritz. A lot of them tending to be young as well. I see a lot of younger kids ripping it skateboarding and surfing.

There are a lot of epic skateparks around Biarritz and when the crew feel like a little drive, we head to Spain for some sweet, street skating spots (about a 35min drive). If there are nice waves though, I'll be in the surf.

Indeed, you’ve been also surfing a lot lately. What drew your interest in it? Any favourite spots?

Yeah, I grew up as a full skate-rat kid, always in the street and fully focused on my skateboard. Then I surfed my first wave in morocco 10 years ago and I became addicted to this new passion -  the same feeling as when I started skating. Then moved to Biarritz to skate and surf every day.

I love surfing in Biarritz but I also like to adventure to new surf spots and get amongst new waves. My favourite spot is probably in Biarritz though, it's called La Grande Plage.

It's pretty funny but the big difference is that in skateboarding when you are travelling locals are always welcoming you and really friendly. On the other hand surfing people get really mad at you sometimes hahah - love surfing, hate surfers.

You are in Bali right now. In your skate trip, what are you wearing? Any cool bowls to skate there?

I only wear pants and shoes for skating here because it's so hot and humid.

I'm just living in boardshorts and flip-flops!!!

Bali has so many good bowls, this is nuts! Balinese skaters are so nice and always keen to go skating together.

After 15 years of coming here, I really feel at home with them.

Share the highlights, what’s your favourite tricks at the moment?

Before I came to Bali, I tried a really interesting trick - to do a wall ride in a ceiling and I couldn't roll out. So, I really want to go back there and try again to put it in the new 'Vans' video.

Are there any days when Sam Partaix cannot land a kickflip?

Oh yes, at 35 years old, the hangovers are terrible and after a good party I can’t land any shit. I just go surf and drink water hahaha.

Any other skate trips planned this year?

Yes, I'm thinking to go around Europe, maybe a bit of Morocco and the US.

Stoked to join the Afends crew?

Yeah mate! I feel like Australian brands are always really advanced in their creativity. I'm loving how vibrant and colourful Afends is and the message that they are pushing. Can’t wait to go visit the office in Byron.

Do you feel a difference when skating in hemp? 

Yes for real! It’s breathing more than regular cotton. And also way better for the planet. No joke - It’s important to notice that! The fast fashion industry is a big part of destroying our planet. Representing a brand that cares, is good for our
future.

Any last words? 

Thanks to Dams, Darcy, Jono and the Afends crew! Let’s go, surf skate and dance with pastis or red wine.

We're taking it back to raw, skate nostalgia as we slide through the streets with Kobi Devlin, a long-time skater from the US in our latest 'tried and tested', Create Not Destroy feature. Kobi was feeling the heat as we dodged trucks and hit a few urban spots in Queensland, testing out some essential skate-proof pieces from our first drop of the year.

WHO ARE CROCODYLUS?

Hey Afends we are Crocodylus. A band from Sydney’s northern beaches (Guringai Country). Formed in 2015 as a two piece we have now expanded to a five piece to perform our debut album Muscle Memory.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN 3 WORDS?

Shit garage rock 

HOW IS YOUR TOUR GOING SO FAR?

It’s been great! Stoked to hear people like the album. Still blows our minds that we get to play in different states and have people singing our songs. Definitely been the best tour so far.

ANY FUNNY TOUR STORIES SO FAR?

Oh just the usual shit. Not much sleep, drinking too many beers, eating too much maccas and lots of farts. Farts are the main source of laughter in the van.

WHAT ELSE IS COMING FOR CROCS IN 2023?

We got a bit of time off this year as this record has caused us a bit of stress the last two years. But we are hoping to release a seven inch and do another tour for sure! Also, try and get onto a few more festivals and bigger support slots.

CREDITS:

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Feel the magic of nostalgia and take a trip down memory lane with the multifaceted artist Josephine Pereira as we chat about the creativity behind her latest collaboration with Afends. As Josie's oil paints flowed onto paper in vibrant candy-coloured hues, she combined inspiration from her favourite child films and her love for baby tees to create a fun and vibrant collection to transport us back to simpler times.

The capsule you designed has a very nostalgic feel - can you expand on the inspiration behind the artwork?

The inspiration of this capsule comes from the films and images I grew up obsessing over. Film has always been a enormous source of creative inspiration for me. My obsession with film started when I first watched The Little Mermaid at the age of 3 or 4 (c.2002). Like most kids with an obsession, there was plenty of paraphernalia that accompanied it, such as t-shirts, picture books, key rings etc. There is one t-shirt in particular that I still have with me, I can’t really explain why I love it so much. Its bright pink, has an image of Ariel swimming next to flounder surrounded by the most perfect composition of bright blue bubbles. The t-shirt may have faded and is 8 sizes too small for me now, but I am still just as obsessed with it today as I was 20 years ago. Thank god for the resurgence of baby tees.

The art of that film, and many other animations of that time were not only brilliant creatively, but continue to bring on a wave of emotion (excuse the pun), that is extremely nostalgic.  For this capsule, I wanted to create art that brought on that same feeling. Redrawing and studying vintage illustrations was how I taught myself to draw and paint. And so, this collection parallels the artworks I gravitated to as a young kid, only re-imagined 20 years later. 

Your work is predominantly with oil painting - can you tell us why you have gravitated towards this medium?

Firstly - oil painting is a game of patience and when it comes to my art I like to work slowly. Additionally, I came across the work of Lucien Freud. The visceral quality of Freud’s work struck me with the realisation that oil painting can be a really physical, almost sculptural, medium. Another underrated quality of oil is that it feels like you’re painting with buttercream…

What's your favourite piece in the capsule?

I love the Josie Slay T-Shirt - 50% because of the name & 50% because of the artwork. I think I have said ‘slay’ about 10000000 times since it launched. Make that 10000001.

If you could pick one colour to describe your personality, what would it be and why?

Probably Red. Its warm, vibrant and joyful. It is also associated with passion, I’d say I’m a very passionate person! 

When you're not making art, where can we find you?

Depends on the day - I am either cooking, collecting images to paint or re watching the O.C.  

Do you have anything exciting in the pipeline?

More painting and a few group shows in the works. Any opportunity to collaborate with other artists is very exciting! 

 SHOP THE CAPSULE 

CREDITS

ARTWORK: josephine.o.pereira 

PHOTOGRAPHY: @holly.blanshard

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In celebration of 'National Hemp Day', we take you behind the scenes with Co-Founders Declan Wise and Jono Salfield to 'Sleepy Hollow Farm', as they lay down 40kg of fresh hemp seeds to welcome in 2023. vanderfordsbookshelf are giving this years hemp crop a glow-up as we plant on new soil and less elevated ground. Stay tuned and in around 5 months time, our hemp crop should be fully grown and ready for harvesting.

As vanderfordsbookshelf continue to break down the cannabis-related stigma and cultivate change, we are constantly learning throughout our processes. Our goal as a sustainable fashion label is to one day be able to bring manufacturing back to home soil, and our first hemp crop in 2022, has given our team the opportunity to discover and learn more about the techniques that will get us closer. A new hemp crop, brings new opportunities and we're excited to see where this takes us. 

HEMP SEEDS FOR DAYS - 40 kilos worth of hemp seeds are loaded into buckets, ready for planting. 

SHOWING THE LITTLE ONES THE ROPES - Co-Founder, Deco, showing his daughter the ropes. 

A FARM ISN'T A FARM WITHOUT A BIG RED TRACTOR - This is where the sowing happens.

THE FINAL STEP - Time for h2o to work its magic. 

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Our latest collection offers an eclectic range of sustainable boardshorts, from vibrant faded orange to dark teal blue and the classic black surf related boardies that have served us well since day one. Follow our surf team riders, Zac, Jhamil and Taj, down south as they put our boardshorts to the ultimate test and find out if they live up to their name.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE SURF CREW?

Absolute craftsmen: ready to ride any surf craft in any surfable conditions.

THE WAVES WERE PRETTY SMALL... HOW'D YOU LIFT THE MOOD IN THIS MICRO SURF SESSION?

Rocking up to the beach was a bit of a downer, buttttt we slipped into our boardies, and instantly the surf started looking fun (also not sure if the Lordy we had just choofed on helped).

WHO WAS CROWNED KING OF THE POINT THAT DAY?

Jhamil definitely slid into victory on the point. The right craft resulted in some small cones for him! Was a pleasure to watch.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND WE CAN NOW CONFIRM THE RUMOURS ARE TRUE: SURFERS GET MORE SPEED IN THE vanderfordsbookshelf BOARDIES. DID YOU FEEL IT DURING THE SESSION?

Did you watch that huge punt of Jhamil’s barely anyone could have got that high wearing non-hemp boardies.

HAVE YOU PUT THEM TO THE ULTIMATE BEACH TO BAR TEST?

We actually did a combo I’ve never done before… Wake up: Put Boardies on, Coffee: Boardies on, Surf: Boardies on, Pub Lunch: Boardies on, Surf again: you got it, boardies on… and why not go to the pub just to finish the day off right and have a night in these Hemp boardies! You bet, they're a fucking comfortable all round boardshort!

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Kane Lehanneur works as a multidisciplinary creative on Guringai land, jumping between many mediums but working predominantly in painting and printmaking. Sharing a mutual love for nature and nurturing our planet, Kane worked closely with our designers to reflect this in his capsule through abstract florals and pop colours in conscious recycled blends. We caught up with Kane to chat about our collab and find out what life's like for a multidisciplinary creative.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your work? 

My Name is Kane Lehanneur and I am a multidisciplinary artist practising on Guringai land. Hard to really define my work as a whole, I tend to jump between mediums a lot, but I practise predominately in painting and printmaking.

Talk us through your creative process, where do you start? 

Depends on which medium I'm working with, but it always starts with a concept. I'm not one to work on things that are completely surface value, or just for aesthetic reasons, it's always nice to have at least a bit of reasoning behind the artwork that I create.

We're super excited about our collab! Can you explain the inspiration behind it? 

I'm super excited about the collaboration with the team at Afends too. With the idea of the vortex at the forefront - a place where energy is entering or projecting outwards - we can see this translated into the designs through spiralling graphics where you are not sure if you are travelling into them or they are coming out at you.

What's your favourite piece from the collection and why? 

My favourite piece of the collection is the Explode Regular Graphic Tee. The electric blue gives such great energy that compliments the spiralling design on the back of the shirt to give that feeling of shifting energies. 

When you're not creating art, where can we find you?

This consists of a pretty small frame of time as I tend to spend a lot of time in the studio, but if I'm not in there I'm usually out in the bush hiking or in the ocean surfing.

What is the most exciting project you've worked on?

My most exciting project would have to be the show I worked on this year at ‘Yeah Nice Gallery’ titled ‘Rattlin bones’. Although exciting would probably not be the word I use to describe it, it was definitely the most personal and special collection I have ever worked on - something I'll hold close to my heart forever. I would describe it as the project I've been most proud of regardless of its dark nature.

What was the highlight of creating this capsule with Afends?

I'm just stoked to be a part of the team of collaborating artists alongside my long-time friends Lois Morton-Chong and Nirvana Selwood, who both created some killer collections - it's always nice working alongside friends in one way or another.

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Return to Earth and travel to the top end with Afends, Virgin Australia, and Indigenous fashion label House of Darwin as founder and Darwin local Shaun Edwards takes the team on a tour of his home.

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ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN: 

Afends have made it their mission to cultivate change and pave the way for sustainable practices and production by using eco-friendly materials like hemp and recycled fabrics within the fashion industry and attracting like-minded individuals into their business space. Upon meeting Shaun Edwards, they were in awe of his creative ideas, passion for keeping traditions within his indigenous heritage alive and efforts to give back to the community, solidifying House of Darwin as the foundation for an epic collaboration.

Afends and House of Darwin designed the capsule collection Return To Earth to share Shauns' extensive knowledge of the land and submerge their audience into the traditional culture of the indigenous people who call NT home. Motivated by the raw beauty of the Northern Territory, the rich indigenous culture, and their continued traditions, the capsule is a collaborative effort to inspire people to seek knowledge and join hands in the chorus of change. 

Join Afends and House of Darwin as they embark on their journey across through the NT - from the quiet beaches of Mandorah to the refreshing waterfalls of Litchfield National Park and the coastal concrete culture of Darwin city.

THE JOURNEY BEGINS: 

The Afends creative team - George, the Creative Director; Marcus, the Menswear Designer; Grant, the Photographer - drive from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast airport to check in with Virgin Australia. They board their flight to Darwin, arriving 8 hours later and step out of the plane and into the tropical air of the NT. The crew take a short taxi ride to their hotel and get some much-needed rest before the next three days of business and pleasure begin.

DAY 1: MANDORAH DAY TRIP

After an early rise followed by a caffeine hit, the Afends creative team meet with Shaun and Day 1 of their Northern Territory adventure begins. It was time to hit their first campaign shoot location, and the destination in mind was Wagait beach in Mandorah: a sleepy beach town, just a short 20 minute ferry ride across the harbour from Cullen Bay Marina. Shaun and the Afends crew meet with the models for their first day on location, two of whom were Shauns uncle, Tibby Quall and Nan, Denise Quall. They all board the ferry, get comfortable and brainstorm creative ideas for Afends X H.O.D in preparation for their campaign shoot. 

With Darwin still in view over the horizon, and a short 20 minutes later, they arrive at Mandorah Jetty, mesmerised by the contrasting hues of the tropical NT landscape. Breathing in the warm salty breeze, they admire the beauty of Mandorahs bright blue sea as it meets the vibrant orange Earth adorned with native vegetation and scattered with towering palm trees - a sight for sore eyes. 

They hop in a bus for a fee of five dollars and drive a short six minutes to the town of Mandorah. The sleepy beachside fishing villiage - with only 1000 residnts - provides an easy getaway for travelers in Darwin and a peaceful home for locals. With 4WD tracks along the coastlines and empty beaches to soak in the laid back lifestyle, it provides the perfect weekend getaway or day tripping option.

In search of a decent feed before the shoot, the group head to the Cox Country Club: a perfect little territory pub well known for the best value food in town and hosting the popular MUFF - the annual Mandorah Ukulele Folk Festival. Attratcing those near and far, the festival brings the community together through performances from local folk artists, family workshops and plenty of good food - and it will be returning in 2023. 

Sitting underneath the cooling shade of a Bayan tree, the team each made a selection from a menu of local seafood, flavourful curries, and classic pub feeds with a handful of vegetarian options. With their plates empty, bellies full and last sip of beer down the hatch, the team cruise to Wagait beach to kick off the campaign. Upon arriving at the clear, flat waters of Wagait beach, the models were styled in the Afends X H.O.D pieces and shot until the sun began to sink over the horizon. It was the perfect shoot day: blue skies, sea breeze and bursts of orange hues to play with as the sun went down. 

Once the shoot wrapped up, they headed back on the ferry to Lolas Pergola for dinner: a unique restaurant notoriously known for its circus theme, showcasing a variety of quirky decor with a large front outdoor garden overlooking the Cullen Bay Marina. A must-visit in Darwin, housing live music, great pizza, drinks and a stunning view - what more could you want.

DAY 2: INTO THE WILD WITH HOUSE OF DARWIN

The Afends team, Shaun and the modeling crew drive 90 minutes south of Darwin city to Litchfield National Park in anticipation of their second day shooting. Wanting to showcase the rugged beauty of the raw NT wilderness, they decided that the native bushland, waterfalls, and swimming holes found in Litchfield National Park would be the ideal place to explore and shoot. 

The crew began at Florance Falls, where water cascaded out of ancient rock formations, and native shrubs and palm trees brought the place to life. The colours of the land beautifully complimented the vibrance of the Afends X H.O.D range whilst showcasing the beauty in the rawness of this part of the NT. 

Just a short distance from Florance Falls was Buley Rockhole: where everyone had a chance to reset and refresh in the crystal clear rockpool. Although the NT is notorious for crocs, these rockholes were far too high up, so rest assured you can help immerse yourself in the cool and calm beauty of it without a worry in the world.  

Feeling relaxed and ready for some late lunch, the team head off to Litchfield Cafe for a coffee and some food to keep them sustained for the second half of shooting. Offering a sprinkle of outback charm and an array of quality cafe menu items like burgers, toasties and an assortment of cakes - the team left satisfied and ready.

As the sun began to set and they drove in search of a new shoot location, they noticed a fire in the distance, which upon aproaching, they realised that was the traditional method of backburning. Backburning is an Indigenous method of fire management, which involves lighting a low fire with fire sticks in a controlled pattern in order to stop uncontrolled bushfires in their path. The team took this as an epic opportunity to showcase this cultural tradition within their campaign shots, with the models in front of the flickering flames turing the native shrubbery behind them to patterned lines of burnt wood and sticks.

After a big day, it was time to wrap up and venture back to Darwin city. When driving out, they noticed the famous ant hills that form one of Litchfields most impressive sights. Crafted from termites and sometimes soaring over two metres high, they made an epic background for our last few campaign shots. 

DAY 3: EXPLORE DARWIN CITY 

The team wake up on day three to the smell of laksa and venture to the Parap Markets indulge in some flavour rich laksa and asian treats. Being located close to Asia, Darwin inherits a solid history and culture around food that is unique to the area. Eating laksa for breakfast in 35 degree heat may not make sense to most, but overtime it, has become a staple to the Darwin way of life. 

Whilst at the markets, Shaun takes the Afends team across the road to visit the Laundry Gallery: an Aboriginal owned multidisciplinary creative hub located in Darwin City. They’re known for representing modern iterations of Indigenous arts and cultures and provide an accessible pathway for age old songlines to co-exist with the modern world. After taking time to admire the art displayed, it was time to visit where Shaun spends most of his time - the House of Darwin shopfront. 

Shaun took the team at Afends to the iconic air arcade, where you will find the House of Darwin store, home to Shauns creations, designs and collaborative pieces. Embodying the ethos and personality of the brand, the concept store offers vibrant pops of colour, photos of Shaun's travels within the community, and indigenous art hanging amongst the House of Darwin range. 

It was time for lunch, and the team continued the exploration of asian flavours incorporated within Darwins community deciding upon the restaurant Sari Rasa. We treated our tastebuds to a range of authentic Indonesian flavours, with dishes like nasi goreng and curries for a more than reasonable price. After filling up on good food, the team took to The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) to soak up the NT history and culture displayed within its walls. 

To round out the trip, the team ventured to Babylons, Darwins first retro-inspired bar tucked away at the back of the Air Arcade. After a few cheeky beverages, it was time for dinner and there is no better way to celebrate a well spent working holiday in Darwin than with an authentic Sri Lankan meal at Ellas - and so they did.

WIN YOUR CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF DARWIN

We journeyed to the top end, flying with Virgin Australia Direct to Darwin to shoot our collection Return to Earth. Together, we experienced the rawness, unique vibes and many colours of Darwin, which we couldn’t wait to share. Most importantly, we were there to learn from the longest continued culture on Earth and how indigenous practices can help modern society return to Earth.

Now it's your turn. We’re giving you and a friend the chance to WIN the ultimate NT experience, including return economy flights, a $5,000 voucher with NT, plus three items of your choices from the Afends x House of Darwin capsule. Find out more here.

Ready, Set, Jet.

Competition ends 23rd of December 11:59pm AEDT.

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CREDITS

Sponsors: Virgin Australia

Collaboration: House of Darwin

Photography: Byron Spencer

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Shaun Edwards, Founder of the Indigenous fashion label, House of Darwin, invited us on a journey up to the top end to experience the raw beauty of the Northern Territory, the rich indigenous culture and their continued traditions - forming the foundation for our capsule collection. 'Return to Earth' is our collaborative effort to inspire people to seek knowledge and join hands in the chorus of change.

For the latest edition of our artist program, Creare not Destroy, we're featuring our good mate and creative powerhouse, Shaun Edwards. With a fresh approach to storytelling and sharing the aesthetic of Darwin and its surrounding areas, Shaun started House of Darwin to tell the story of his homeland and give back to the community. As a catalyst for change, the brand exists to inspire, educate and cultivate change within the two worlds of Australia.

SHAUN EDWARDS: FOUNDER, HOUSE OF DARWIN

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY WITH HOUSE OF DARWIN? 

I started House of Darwin just over two years ago with the ambition to tell the story of my homelands - the Northern Territory whilst also using creativity to give back to the community I love so much.

CAN YOU SHARE WITH US YOUR CONNECTION TO ART & DESIGN? 

I’ve always been intrigued with design. Its ability to be used across multiple realms that touch our every day lives - whether that be the design of our driveway or the design of our coffee cup and how if all the little moments are designed with care and practicality then they lead to a happier life. I’ve always been interested in whether I could use creativity to create my own workspace and way of giving back to the community.

WHAT'S YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION?

The Northern Territory. It’s the last true frontier of Australia filled with wide open untouched spaces and characters that make this place so special.

ART - NEW AND OLD - WHAT GETS YOU GOING & HOW DO YOU INCORPORATE IT INTO HOD?

We use art to simplify the story of a untouched and sacred land. We create iconography driven art pieces inspired by different places across the Territory which are then placed across different garments to communicate our story.

YOUR FIRST PROJECT FOR HOD WAS A MURAL - WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START THIS PROCESS?

The street art scene in the NT was just taking off and it was the first time I could visualise the culture of Darwin on the walls and I knew I wanted to be apart of it. The street art scene has been so pivotal to the culture of Darwin over the last 10 years and we wanted to be apart of it. We've now got 3 murals around Darwin which really helps our exposure and introduce new visitors to Darwin to the brand. We always work with Luna Tunes.

HOD HAS A PRETTY DISTINCTIVE STYLE - DO YOU CREATE THE ARTWORK YOURSELF OR DO YOU HAVE IN-HOUSE ARTISTS WHO WORK FOR YOU?

Since the beginning of House of Darwin we've work with Luna Tunes who continues to provide most of the artwork for the brand. He's been such a great supporter and pivotal part to the House of Darwin story.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THE vanderfordsbookshelf X HOD COLLABORATION WORKED CREATIVELY? WAS THIS A TYPICAL PROCESS FOR YOU?

Working with vanderfordsbookshelf and their sustainability approach we came up with the concept of "Return to Earth" to bring awareness to the oldest continuous surviving culture in the world and their practices to maintain and preserve the land.

BOTH YOUR UNCLE AND GRANDMOTHER APPEAR IN THE CAMPAIGN. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HAVING THEM WORK ON THE COLLAB? 

Yeah my uncle Tibby and Grandmother feature throughout the campaign. It's so great to be able lean on them about our beautiful country in Darwin and learn about all the stories and origin stories.

OKAY NOW FOR SOME FUN ONES. FIVE TRACKS THAT MAKE YOU DANCE? 

Beach - Chayell

Escape - Rupert Holmes 

Could heaven ever be like this - Indris Muhammad 

Blekbala Mujik - Mibala Yubala 

Arafura sea - Saltwater Band

BEST KEPT SECRET IN DARWIN?

Ella by Minoli

TOP 3 GO-TO SNACKS?

Poached eggs 

Chilli Mud Crab 

Flat white 

GEORGE: CREATIVE DIRECTOR, vanderfordsbookshelf.

WHAT WAS THE IDEA BEHIND CREATE NOT DESTROY?

Afends believes in a better future for all, and what better way to do it than through creativity. We use our platform to support creatives at any level when they contribute to the Afends world. We are a community of creatives that come in all forms and work in different practices. The bigger the community the better the outcome!! Why destroy when you can create!

vanderfordsbookshelf LAUNCHED ITS ARTIST PROGRAM 3 YEARS AGO WITH 15 VOLUMES. WHAT ARE THE BEST HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT THE PROGRAM? 

HOUSE OF DARWIN: super special to be working with the future of Australia fashion!! This is just the begging. 

BROCCOLI MAGAZINE: Afends has always had its big old toe dipped in the CBD oil, so it was nice to connect and work with The Broccoli crew and present WEED culture in a new modern light. Stoner culture has shifted into a more creative light, which works just fine with us. Hard to pin point another: All the epic artist we get to work with each season. Always a massive pleasure working with Nirvana Selwood, Chess club (Bricks and Mortar store in Melb), Tokes, Brodie Jackson, Seaside and moreeeeee.

WHICH ARTISTS ARE FEATURED THIS SUMMER 22?

Exxy, Nirvana, Kane Lehanneur are some of the artists that are in featured our Vortex, Summer 22 collection. 

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CREDITS 

CREATIVE DIRECTION: George Barnes Shaun Edwards
& Byron Spencer

VIDEO/PHOTO: Byron Spencer

DOP: Ben Montague

CREATIVE ASSISTANT: Marcus Kemp

TALENT:
Aavaisha Collins (& Mum)
Javadd Anderson
Joshua Moris
Nina Fitzgerald
Shaun Edwards
Denise Quall
Tibby Quall

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The most recent instalment of our Create Not Destroy artist program sees the collboration with Lucca Young: the creative mastermind behind our capsule EXXY. Designed in the dark hours of the pandemic, Lucca channeled the primary energy of fun, playfulness and freedom in the form of escapism to build the foundation for this collection. His unique airbrushed artwork meets vibrant pops of plum, lemonade, forest green and subtle pops of blue in eco-friendly blends of hemp and cut into easy-wearing graphic tees, printed denim and accessories to match. We recently caught up with Lucca to get the low-down on his creative process and all things EXXY.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF & YOUR WORK?

Me as the human was born in Byron Bay, back in times before paid parking and range rovers. The entity of exxy was born at a Christmas themed rave (in July) in the basement of my Melbourne home. The primary consistency in my work is that all pieces I make are airbrushed, screen printed or sewed by hand, sourcing primarily and refashioning second hand materials, making every garment made by exxy a one of one.

TALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS - WHERE DO YOU START?

The way it starts is always different, primarily its quite a tortured process to begin, like trying to break wild horse in. But, once I get the saddle on and the Eragon Audiobook playing I enter my flow state.

WE'RE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE LAUNCH OF OUR COLLAB - CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE ARTWORK & STORY BEHIND THE CAPSULE?

The collection was made in the midst of the dark hours of the “pandemic”, so the primary energy channeled when creating the collection was that of fun, playfulness and freedom.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PIECE FROM THE COLLECTION & WHY?

Some interesting socks really are the most underrated thing in a wardrobe and can really make an outfit so my favourite piece is definitely the flower socks.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING ART, WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?

The forest.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON?

My Mum is a seamstress so any garments I make with her.

WHAT WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF CREATING THIS CAPSULE WITH vanderfordsbookshelf?

Seeing the inside of how a larger fashion house operates.

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'Return to Earth' saw the fusion of creative minds: Portal by Spotify, House of Darwin and Afends to bring you a night of electronic music, cold bevs and party-good-times in the leadup to the highly anticipated House of Darwin x Afends collaboration. Taking over the iconic Austin Lane Car Park in Darwin CBD on September 17, the diverse trio of brands joined forces and invited locals to step through the portal and experience the talent of the First Nations voices thriving within their underground electronic music community. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the exclusive House of Darwin x Afends collaboration, and sign up to the mailing list to be the first to know when it's dropping. 

PORTAL BY SPOTIFY

As key sponsor of the event and Spotify's Australian home for alternative electronic music, Portal were in charge of putting together the stacked lineup for the event. Celebrating Australia's underground electronic music scene and first nations communities, the lineup saw the likes of DJ PGZ, SOVBLKPSSY, Kalyani and Jono Ma. 

EL TORO

As always, we had our good mates and sponsors El Toro supplying the good times and cold bevs. Punters were sippin' on the likes of ice cold mango margaritas, grapefruit palomas and lime ranch water to keep their thirst well quenched amidst the NT heat. 

Afends are broadcasting from Sleepy Hollow Farm, in a global mini-series documentary that follows us on our journey of growing hemp crops here in Australia.   

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WHY DO WE NEED CHANGE?

Scientific studies suggest that roughly around 23% of the earth's wilderness remains intact and about 10% of that is due to the largely growing and fast-moving fashion industry. A significant amount of this impact is due to widespread farming, production, micro plastics, and waste. Cotton is the guiltiest culprit, being a particularly thirsty crop; one kilogram of cotton used in a pair of denim jeans swallows around 10,000 to 20,000 litres of water. On a global scale, this contributes to around 20% of the earth's wastewater whilst harmful chemicals used for farming also take a toll on soil fertility and biodiversity. But, there is hope for the future and we are paving the way forward. 'Weed Need Change' highlights our efforts in making the change, growing our very own hemp, and the hurdles overcome.

At Afends, we are breaking down cannabis-related stigma and cultivating change as we find ways to produce clothing in harmony with our natural planet. Cue hemp; the answer to a more sustainable future within the fashion industry. This once shunned super fibre has a far smaller ecological footprint, taking less water to produce in comparison to cotton; 1kg of hemp needs roughly 500 litres. It doesn't need toxic pesticides to grow and the fibre itself forms long-lasting and durable clothing. At Afends, eco-friendly production is now down the road as we come up with new ways to keep our environmental footprint low and create durable and premium clothing. 

EP. 1 WELCOME TO SLEEPY HOLLOW FARM 

Our first episode highlights the dream for co-founders, Declan Wise and Jono Salfield as it becomes a reality when purchasing their farm in Sleepy Hollow, NSW for growing hemp crops. The farm sits only a short drive from Afends HQ in Byron Bay, Australia; allowing the crew at Afends to keep it close to home and oversee all means of production. Take a peek behind the scenes as Deco and Jono introduce Sleepy Hollow Farm and what is means for Afends as a sustainable and ethical fashion label.

EP. 2 WE TRIED / WE TESTED

In the second episode of our Weed Need Change documentary, co-founders Declan and Jono are on a mission to acquire their licenses to grow hemp as the next step in their Sleepy Hollow journey. Down the road at Hemp Fields, Australia, the boys seek advice from hemp enthusiast and seasoned professional Arthur Wajs. After bonding over their mutual love for all things hemp, a relationship forms, and the collaboration begins. Watch them secure their licenses, fire up the tractors and start sowing their first hemp seeds.

 EP. 3 IT ACTUALLY WORKED!

Once a dream, now a reality - we grew our first hemp crop, and it actually worked! In episode three, Deco and Jono meet Andrew Kavasilas: a hemp pioneer and president of the Northern River Hemp Association. Andrew mentors the Afends crew and shares his knowledge on the benefits of hemp and its biodiversity as the first Sleepy Hollow Farm hemp crops begin to thrive. Go behind the scenes and explore the journey of our hemp crops from seed to harvest before the processing and production begins.

EP. 4 FUTURE VISIONS

The final episode of our hemp documentary unveils the future visions for our Sleepy Hollow Farm. Tag along with CEO and Co-Founder Declan Wise as he takes you behind the scenes of our hemp harvest and delves into the pre-production methods used for harvesting and the results from our first fibre samples. With more hemp crops on the horizon, the next goal for our future as a progressive fashion label is to work towards owning our own processing plant. Having it based in NSW, we hope to inspire farmers to make the switch from cotton and sugarcane to more friendly alternatives such as our favourite fibre: hemp, of course. 

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FEATURED IN THE NEWS

“Hemp is turning a new leaf with Afends”  

"But for real – how do you go from running a brand to buying farmland, getting your hands in the dirt and figuring out how to actually grow fiber!? As Jono tells us, “we kind of jump into the deep end a lot.” I’d say so." - Conscious Chatter - Episode N°279. Listen to the podcast.

“It shows the hurdles they face – and overcome – as they break down cannabis-related stigma and find ways to produce clothing that’s in harmony with the planet.”

“Afends aims high with Australian-first venture”

THANKS FOR TUNING IN

Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled in 2023 for the Afends Sleepy Hollow hemp collection, crafted from our first successful hemp harvest.

 

CREDITS

Directed by Ben Wright
DOP - Liam O’brien
Graphic Design - Gareth Higgins

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Put your phone down and pick up our newest collaboration with NSW-based visual artist and creative guru Lee McConnell. In our latest drop, Lee articulates ideas around overconsumption in todays society by blending the vibrant colours and finer details of nature with elements of our digital realm. With parts of his ideas taken from past childhood cartoons, his dads old record labels and nature itself - Lee worked with us to design a range of graphic tees, corduroy pieces and a range of unique accessories designed with the planet in mind.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative process - what inspires you? 

I’ve always illustrated and drawn since I was a kid, I think a lot of inspiration has come from kids' books that I’ve had, early record covers my dad had, or cartoons I watched growing up: The Ferals, Captain Planet and stuff like that. My creative process is mostly organic, it’s all from the hands. Starts from the mind, down the arm, out my left hand, onto the paper, and then I just draw that out. I rub stuff out heaps because there are always elements where things are wrong, or the shapes change and building it out keeps you in tune with what you’re putting down. You’re not just relying on being able to go back and chop and change shit easily, you can’t command-z like a computer. Computer's are pretty amazing and do some awesome stuff, but like everything else in the world, they make everything too easy for you.

Talk us through the creation of our debut capsule - what was the highlight of working with Afends?

Afends approached me to do the collab, and we bounced some ideas about what we could do fot the artwork - it was as though I was creating stuff for an exhibition. The highlight is the sustainable stuff they do, it’s really good. The fact they are going out of their way to build a hemp farm and produce their own hemp to make their product - it's pretty sick to see. All the colours, and the quality of their product is pretty amazing.

Take it back: that was the underlying concept. I guess it’s just a take on the overconsumption of nature. It's so nice to just go for a walk through the bush and be connected to that. Paying attention to the detail in everything is what really centres me. It can be as simple as the texture on a leaf. There's so much pattern, detail and life in everything, and I'm super inspired by that. I try to incorporate and marry colours together that create this euphoric feeling – an idea or a concept and I drive that home. The thing that really glues it together is the colour, I’m drawn to the colour first. One thing that’s kept my work breathing, fresh and stimulating is the fact that it is ever changing, and never the same. 

What's your favourite project you've worked on? 

I think out of everything that I’ve been doing lately, doing a record cover for a band is probably the thing that I enjoy the most - animated vinyls too. I really enjoy creating record covers, and some of the things you can do now are pretty bullshit. The last one we did, for Dune Rats, is a lenticular print which, again, is inspired by when we were kids and playing with Tazo's. We also did a 2-part album for DZ Deathrays, where if you put them together, it makes one landscape scene.

I did some photographic sort of stuff for Jack River, it was like this collage, crazy kind of landscape thing that Holly dreamed up. It's a pretty special album because Holly and I grew up together, and there are a lot of memories: good, bad and sad ones, and the cover had to tell the same story as the music. She was putting on a little music festival in her hometown of Foster and wanted me to do the poster. When that kicked off, I also did a lot of creative direction and installations for the festival based off the poster artwork. Working in your home town, having lots of friends involved and creating things together - that’s what it’s all about, it's so fun. I’m not really musically talented, but I can be creatively involved one way or another, and it’s pretty cool to be involved in the visual side of things.

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Nirvana's capsule ties into our mission for the planet through her graphic clam with a crafted pearl to represent the conscious changes and environmental considerations that we all need to make, which over time will build the foundation for a positive future in the fashion industry. Swim through the artistic and unique slouchy-fit oversized tees, hoodies, and long sleeves. Each piece is produced with the planet in mind - made from eco-friendly hemp and organic blends. We caught up with Nirvana to chat about our latest collaboration and see how life on the road is treating her.

Hey Nirvana! How are you? Also, where are you? 

I am SO good. Every day I'm getting closer and closer to feeling more present and content with where I am in life. Every time we get back out on the road and I leave my social network/comforts it's always an adjustment and sometimes I can experience feelings of FOMO. It has been a progression to ground myself whilst being nomadic, and I finally feel at peace and am so grateful I have the privilege to travel across country. I am currently out in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and have been exploring Arrernte, Luritja and Pitjantjatjara country. Life is good.

We know you're travelling around Australia at the moment, what has been your favourite place so far?

Tjoritja (West MacDonnell ranges) outside of Mparntwe. We hiked the Larapinta over 13 days end to end and the country we saw was beyond words. Also the entirety of Tasmania. The people, the land, the wildlife, the camping, the hiking and the oysters. Best place EVER.

Any funny road trip stories?

Obviously I'm a resourceful traveller, among many other survival strategies I like to decanter my larger bottles into smaller ones just for that compact, aerodynamic feel. It was just like any other day in Melbourne, and as the afternoon hit; it was time for a shower. Having finished washing my bits, I left all my washing goodies in the shower for Louie to use. A few minutes pass and I'm already tucked into bed just about to start Ep 4 of Bridgerton when I hear a screech from the bathroom. "What the fuck is this shit?!" Instantly thinking I left a surprise in there, Louie comes out holding a small listerine bottle which I had previously decantered my shampoo into, unbeknownst to him. An innocent victim of my resourcefulness, poor Lou had just rinsed his mouth with shampoo. Unfortunately without the same result, Moogoo lingered in his mouth till the following day. Bless up.

We just dropped our latest collaboration that has been in the works for quite sometime - can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration this capsule? 

As a brand that is constantly evolving with its surrounding environment, I wanted to communicate their vision for the future through this capsule. With the progression of Afends hemp farm and the potential of being able to source and produce their own ethical materials, this capsule suggests that by building these foundations they can provide an innovative and sustainable product into the future. Hoping that they can be a positive example for fellow brands and consumers who question traditional processes and look at the future of fashion from an alternative perspective. The clam represents the conscious changes and considerations that need to be made as a whole, which overtime will foster and produce a precious pearl; hopefully a world that is cared for and thrives well into the future.

Have you found your travels are inspiring your art? If so, how?

This is one thing I was sceptical about before I left because everyone said how inspired I will be from this trip. I struggled to relate my art style to the environment I would be exposed to and felt pressured to translate that through the use of landscapes and flower paintings. Alas, I realised my approach was too literal. I have been massively inspired by the colours, textures and flora life on country, especially in areas around Central Australia. I am excited to experiment with more abstract methods in my practice, uniquely merging these themes with my own style. Through this I'm keen to create a new body of work that combines the roughed and vivid colours and textures of the land with some of my tacky faves, rhinestones, glitter and pop culture. 

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We threw back a few Sydney brews and had a boogie in celebration of opening our doors to the newest Afends concept store in Newtown.

The decision was made to make it official with our Newtown store so we put a ring on it and gave it the grand opening it deserved. We threw out an invite and had a few of our HQ crew jet down from Byron to Sydney bright and early Friday to get set up and get ready for the festivities ahead. After a few cheeky lunchtime beers at our mates Young Henrys brewery, we skipped over to the Newtown store to hang with the crew and began our set up. As the DJ decks were getting assembled, the drink deliveries began rolling through the doors. Thanks to our good mates and sponsors, we had crisp bevvys on offer from Hard Fizz, El Toro, Young Henrys, and Dayse and Life without Andy showed up, ready to capture the stores, party lords and all round moments. As the sun began to set and the music turned up, old mates and new friends rolled in to welcome the weekend and check out our newest store.

Our first edition of staff profiles gives you the chance to get to know all the weird and wonderful traits of our Afends family and how they're styling our new range. From double denim get-ups to bubblegum pink graphic tees, recycled puffer sets and all-over floral prints, these are the top picks from our latest collection as chosen by the team here at the Afends HQ. 

IG HANDLE: @graphic_lasagna

JOB TITLE: Graphic Designer / Friendly Office Dog

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS:  Carbon, DNA, blood, guts, somehow conscious

DESCRIBE WORKING AT vanderfordsbookshelf IN AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE:  Every adobe program open at once, weed, lunch, snacks, aliens, lord

FAVE vanderfordsbookshelf PRODUCT RN: Black zip-off spray pants now and for ever. Keen to give the puffer pants a hoof as well

FAVE SONG/ALBUM/ARTIST RN: HAPPINESS by DING DONG on repeat

FAVE TV SERIES/MOVIE: Adventure Time of course

ANY LAST WORDS? I have a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe if you care to give it a go:

Ash’s chocolate chip cookies:

INGREDIENTS

• 200 g light brown sugar (could probs do less)
• 150 g butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 egg (or 1 teaspoon No Egg combined with 3 tablespoons water to make vegan)
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 260 g (9 oz/1¾ cups) plain (all-purpose) flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt, plus extra for sprinkling (use the fancy
• sea salt flakes on top if you've got 'em)
• 1 teaspoon chopped rosemary leaves
• 150 g (5½ oz) chocolate chips

METHOD

Stir wet ingredients in the dry ones, squish with ya hands and make balls on a baking tray sprinkle rosemary and salt on top. Put that shit in the oven for like 15-20 mins at 180. Just watch it till they look cooked on the outside and rip in. If its not perfect the first time just make it again different!

Matt wears: Indelible Organic Denim Jacket + Cartel Organic Denim Jeans + Conditional Unisex Organic Hoodie + Void Hemp Check Bucket Hat + Flowers Recycled Crew Socks

IG HANDLE: @pageant.queeen

JOB TITLE: Mens Designer

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: 85% introvert 15% extrovert

DESCRIBE WORKING AT vanderfordsbookshelf IN AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE: Real fun being a part of something that has such a progressive young energy but also running at a big scale. Able to channel that youthful energy into making a big impact within the industry.

FAVE vanderfordsbookshelf PRODUCT RN: Working with Lee McConnell on his art capsule was heaps of fun and it's a nice pop in the range. I had been a fan of his for a long time so it was really cool getting to design alongside him for that release.

FAVE SONG/ALBUM/ARTIST RN: West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys but also got to shout out my homies Crocodylus on their new song YOU - their best one yet!

FAVE TV SERIES/MOVIE: Currently going through AACTA (AFI) Best Film winners in past - some siiiiick early 2000’s Aus movies - Two Hands (won 1999) mental Heath Ledger movie

ANY LAST WORDS? If you live in SYD come party with us at the newtown store opening this friday !

Marcus Wears: Pala Recycled Puffer Jacket + Utopia Organic Graphic Hoodie + Richmond Baggy Workwear Jeans + Solace Organic Beanie 

IG HANDLE: @ebonistrickland

JOB TITLE: Digital Marketing Specialist

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: Platform crocs advocate + gets tipsy off 2 friday lunchtime beers

DESCRIBE WORKING AT vanderfordsbookshelf IN AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE: The perfect balance of fun and chaotic. If your desk is near Darcy’s it’s more on the chaotic side x

FAVE vanderfordsbookshelf PRODUCT RN: I’m loving the Innie Jacket + Moss Carpenter Jeans in Original Rinse for a fun double denim moment!

FAVE SONG/ALBUM/ARTIST RN: This is a tough one… but right now I have Elder Island on repeat.

FAVE TV SERIES/MOVIE: Fleabag - best series everrrr.

ANY LAST WORDS? We have some super fun things coming later in the year so keep your eyes peeled, yeeehaaaw.

Eboni Wears: Innie Hemp Denim Jacket + Moss Hemp Denim Carpenter Jeans + Lydia Ribbed Singlet

IG HANDLE: @darcydexter

JOB TITLE: PR/Marketing/Events Coordinator

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: Energetic, annoyingly organised, Friday pub lunch advocate.

DESCRIBE WORKING AT vanderfordsbookshelf IN AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE: Fun, whirlwind, busy, don’t leave your mouse unattended as it will get ‘borrowed’ almost every time.

FAVE vanderfordsbookshelf PRODUCT RN: I’m a big advocate for the Bella jeans in literally every colour, but we’ve just released the Moss jeans in blue denim so I could be swayed. Also loving the alohaz floral print - oh and there are some special things coming out soon that I am heavily into 👀

FAVE SONG/ALBUM/ARTIST RN: The last Idles record ‘CRAWLER’ was pretty randy, but I’ve been listening to the song ‘You Get Me So High’ by The Neighbourhood on repeat (sorry to everyone in the office for the days I am the DJ).

FAVE TV SERIES/MOVIE: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, we just spoke about it over the lunch tables at HQ and I think we’ve got some staff converted!

ANY LAST WORDS? We have some really cool things coming up and happening, I highly recommend keeping your ear to the Afends ground.

Darcy wears:
Outfit 1: Indelible Organic Denim Jacket + Alohaz Recycled Knit Floral Sleeveless Top + Moss Hemp Denim Carpenter Jeans + Alohaz Recycled Floral Cap 
Outfit 2: Globe Recycled Crew Neck Graphic Jumper + Bella Hemp Denim Baggy Jeans 

IG HANDLE: @dreamcatchersdreamtime

JOB TITLE: Creative Director 

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW WORDS: Working hard but hardly workin…

DESCRIBE WORKING AT vanderfordsbookshelf IN AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE: Creative, sustainable, loose, wild, community.

FAVE vanderfordsbookshelf PRODUCT RN: The Digital Holiday Hoodie (ladies) and the Pala Tote Bag.

FAVE SONG/ALBUM/ARTIST RN: What i breathe - Mall Grab 

FAVE TV SERIES/MOVIE: UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD

ANY LAST WORDS? Eat, love, doof.

George wears: Digital Holiday Recycled Hoodie + Pala Recycled Puffer Pants + Boulevard Recycled Graphic Tee + Pala Recycled Cap + Pala Recycled Puffer Bag

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The event took place at Franchise Gallery in LA, a multifaceted design agency/record label with a mutual love for all things creative located in the heart of bustling Chinatown, which added to the atmosphere of our already trippy collection. The setup for the night was intentionally minimal to highlight Byron Spencer's video work, with two projectors showcasing glitchy imagery on opposing walls. Heavy music filled the space with podiums in the middle of the room for people to sit and enjoy it, or browse the collection and magazines. Outside, the party buzzed underneath Chinese lanterns in an alley and surrounded by colourful buildings occupied by other galleries and up-and-coming brands. All in all, the event was successfully dedicated to creativity.

Sponsors of the Event: Pax

We were lucky enough has Pax as the main sponsors of the event. Pax specialise in cannabis devices and consumables with a strong belief that high quality flower gives high quality experiences, and they bake that ethos into every one of their products. With communities reliant on cannabis for their well-being, Pax' mission is to work every day to bring out the best of the flower so that it can bring out the best in each other. Pax were gifting custom engraved devices at the event and had a line at their booth the entire time as most attendees came from an art/cannabis-friendly background and wanted their own custom engraved device.

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Our trippy collaboration with Broccoli Magazine and Josh Galletly sees the fusion of our favourite things: hemp, art and cannabis culture. Afends Co-Founders and Creative Director sat down with Broccoli Mag to chat about our exclusive collection and mutual love for all things cannabis-related.

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Broccoli: How did you guys become hemp evangelists?

Jono: Byron Bay is very intertwined with cannabis culture. We’re very close to Nimbin-the old-school, hippie capital of cannabis culture where they have Mardigrass every year-and Byron Bay is basically the second place known for that. So growing up here, we had a lot of inspiration around.

Declan: We were surfers, and we all grew up smoking weed. When we started Afends, we had these weed references across the products, weed leaves on shirts and things. It wasn’t until we were older and more mature that our morals started to go toward wanting to be involved in protecting the planet and sustainability as a business, to the point where we were one of the first in the industrial area to be on solar. I know that sounds kind of crazy, but ten years ago in Australia, solar wasn't really used, and being sustainable didn’t really fit much of a young market. Using hemp-a cool fiber with this edgy, punk attitude-was a good way to bring sustainability into the youth culture: “Hey, we’ve got a cool product made from weed.”

George: Australia is very conservative; only medicinal marijuana is available and only in certain states. It’s changing slowly, but it’s still a long way behind. We’re trying to shed light on that in our way, so we wanted to do something really fun and loud and champion natural fibers and recycled textiles.

Jono: We’re ambassadors for the whole plant, but it’s the hemp fiber side of cannabis that we really fly the flag for.  

Broccoli: What do you love about hemp as a textile?

Jono: It blends well, it breathes really well, it’s antimicrobial. We get a lot of humidity in Australia, and a lot of clothes go moldy if you don’t take them out and wash them. Recently I was moving house and going through stuff and I had two t-shirts next to each other: a cotton t-shirt and a hemp t-shirt. The cotton shirt was white; it had that much mold on it. The hemp didn’t have one bit of mold on it-it didn’t even smell like mold. It was the first time I’d seen evidence of it actually being antimicrobial. I was like, “It’s true! It’s real!”

Declan: Each climate is different, but the consensus is that hemp uses three times less water than cotton and produces three times the amount of fiber per square acre.

Jono: Afends’ brand philosophy is “question everything,” and hemp’s a really good example of that. Many brands wouldn't touch hemp because it’s more expensive, and when we were first starting, Facebook wouldn't allow us to advertise with the word “hemp.” Even now, I just tried to post on TikTok with our hemp farm in the background, and they said, “This is an illegal substance.” (Which it’s not.)

Broccoli: Where do you imagine folks wearing this collection?

George: From the beach to the party-you have a nice day in the sun, hang out, then cruise up somewhere fun into the night. With the COVID-19 pandemic going on for so long, we felt really disconnected from being able to go to the beach and hang out at a party. Hopefully, by the time this collection comes out, we can all do those things again. Australians get pretty wild, and especially in Byron Bay, any beach party could turn into a doof.

Broccoli: Wait, what’s a doof?

George & Jono: A beach rave!

Jono: You wear these pieces to an innocent beach day, and then it turns into a crazy doof. 

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While the rain may have cancelled Day 1 of Splendour in the Grass, our spirits were high, and we opened our doors to the mass of punters looking for a good time. The event took place at our HQ cafe in the Byron Industrial Estate, and the drinks flowed thanks to our mates at Young Henry’s, El Toro, Dayse and Hard Fizz Seltzers. We had a lineup of local DJ’s providing the tunes and invited Life Without Andy around to capture it all on film.

Next door at the House House tattoo studio, local artists Brodie Jackson and Joel Melrose were slinging flash tattoos, and a few lucky people managed to get their hands on a one-of-a-kind upcycled hemp denim jacket handpainted by the artists. But if you missed out, it’s not too late! You can grab one of the few left here. ’Til next year Splendour! 

We collaborated with Sydney-based designer Lois Morton Chong for the latest edition of Create Not Destroy [VOL. 13] to bring you a collection of monogram prints, graphic tees and vibrant pops of colour.

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Lois takes much of her inspiration from the fonts of faded newspaper ads & xeroxed band posters whilst adding a modern edge to her work. Lois' desire to rebel against what she learned in design school removes the often restrictive graphic design rules from the narrative. Her design elements embrace chaos and focus on the contrast between deconstruction and reconstruction. This style translates into a vibrant collection of monogram prints, ribbed sets and plenty of graphic tees. We caught up with Lois to chat about the inspiration behind her capsule.

Tell us a little bit about yourself? 

My name is Lois, I'm a freelance graphic designer and I live in Sydney.

What makes you feel inspired? 

What makes me feel inspired is probably my friends. I think being surrounded by creative people has definitely helped me when it comes to my work, and my style.

What's your favourite thing to do on your day off? 

My favourite thing to do on my day off would be surfing. 

Talk us through the artwork behind your capsule? 

The concept behind my capsule is based on the theme detox. When we decide to detox, we pull ourselves away from society - like a caterpillar does when it goes back into its cocoon. We have a bit of time to do the things that will benefit ourselves, and we transform freer and recharged, like a moth.

What was the highlight of creating this capsule with Afends? 

The highlight of working on this project was probably seeing my artwork printed on a range of clothing that is sustainable.

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Strip back from the stresses of modern technology and enjoy something a little more natural with this hemp based art capsule featuring forward print techniques, alternative washes and lo-fi art prints in a collection of graphic tees, long sleeves, hoodies and boardies. Brendon ventured out to the hinterland of the sunshine coast to shoot our capsule among nature and we caught up with him to chat about our collaboration.

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I'm an art director and graphic designer living on the sunshine coast.

Moved up a few years ago from Sydney and am now burrowed in like a tick. I'm not moving anywhere.. it is PARADISE!

What makes you feel inspired? 

Lots of things! But inspiration for me is usually found through an experience rather than from a digital landscape. Computers and phones are good, but being outside or with people is better.

What's your favourite thing to do on a day off? 

Go out west from the coast, check out cowboy cars, have a bushwalk and a counter meal at the pub.

Talk us through the artwork you created for our capsule, Beautiful Weeds?

I like that Afends uses a lot of hemp in their collections so I based it all the art around the

theme of a weed. Steering away from 'stoner, weed, 420 friendly bro art' I pushed it towards the idea of 'Beautiful Weeds' and weed being a form of 'Natural Technology'

What's your favourite piece of art you have created? 

Hard to say... but a real highlight was a woven tapestry of a latex bondage boot splitting an ecstasy pill. Ha that was great, I think that was 2013?. It was for a friends art show. Let me find a picture for you.

What was the highlight of designing this capsule with Afends?

Working with a good team and the freedom to experiment. There was no set destination for where the artwork needed to land either which was a nice change :)

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Activated Aquatics captures the memorable moments of a surf trip down the coast with mates. From kettling around in the desert to one of the greatest surfs of their lives, we caught up with team rider Taj, and filmmaker Grigs to hear the highlights of the trip and what we can expect from the Activated Aquatics series.

First things first, what made you decide on the name Activated Aquatics? 

Taj: Just a couple of activated humans approaching some aqua related, high intensity sport.

Griggs: We pondered around with a few titles, I think Activated AFENDtures was one and SUSStainable living was another one. Could be wrong. I'm sure the team manager will have a better idea on how the name came about

What was the most memorable part of the trip? 

Taj: Surf trips with your mates are always memorable, this one especially probably due to mental cones with no one out. What I think really made this trip was definitely kettling around in the dessert. We didn’t want to leave.

Griggs: Just being so isolated, not having a worry in the world apart from where we are going to film. Smoking heaps of grill and enjoying each other's company. There was probably only 3 good days of surfing out of the 3 weeks we were there but even just hanging around living the camp lifestyle was fun. So many good memories.

What was the worst part of the trip? 

Taj: Definitely feeling bad for Jhamil as he completely missed out on all of the toobs.

Hahaha human skunk.

Griggs: Shiit i cant actually recall many bad experiences. I was pretty bummed out when Jhamil had to fly to Mexico the day before the good swell was arriving. Was looking forward to filming him in some nice waves.

Tell us more about this epic swell? 

Taj: Yeah as the trip was coming to an end and we had just bunkered down in a caravan park due to skits cold wind and rain we decided to go have a look at the waves. It looked about 3 foot and maybe some ramps (nothing promising), we got out there, Joel and I, and it was double the size and rogue as fuck. We were tripping. We were thinking it was wasn’t surfable until one came through and we were like ‘huh, maybe it’s a go?’, the wind swung offies and it was on. Definitely one of the greatest surfs of my life, crystal voyager spec.

Griggs: I gather you're referring to the final section of the edit? That was a pretty cool session. It was on one of our final days and it was kind of 3 foot and onshore, not looking very inviting but the lads decided to paddle out. As the tide got higher and the wind started to swing around a bit it just flicked a switch and they were trading off some pretty nice visions. I thoroughly enjoyed filming that session. Not a single person out.

Talk us through the tracks. What was your playlist for the trip? 

Taj: Not much recepo hey, just one of those playlists you listen to a million times until you go completely mad.

Griggs: Went through stages on the trip. Without reception we were definitely repeating some songs. Fair bit of Pink Floyd. Heaps of old chill stuff haha. Different to what we used in the clip, techno and a bit of thrash. Was good to get local music involved.

Can you share the secret location with us?

Taj: A few sneaky slabs out front of Byron bay lighthouse...

Griggs: Wategos, Byron Bay 2481 AUS

How did the premiere go at the Byron Community Centre?

Taj: Yeah the premiere was sick! Just a lot of fun to get everyone together and have a laugh, I reckon we will have a premiere for all of the coming activated aquatics eps for sure. There were heaps of young crew there which I thought was really cool. I remember being young watching a surf movie on the big screen was such a good memory, always made me frothing to go surf and make surf movies with friends.

Griggs: I thought it went really well there was a good turnout of people and got some good feedback. I was pretty nervous but had a sick night.

Sounds like big things are coming. Any projects in the pipeline?

Taj: Yeah we wanna pretty much just keep it rolling with the surf edits, get some more trips under the belt and pretty much just capture the mad moments along the way. I’ve got good confidence in our little crew that we can produce some more films that people will look forward to checking out, surf trips where it’s all about having a good time!

Griggs: Think the lads are keen to fire up a few more episodes of Activated Aquatics. Not too sure yet.

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Our most recent artist capsule, Tracks, created in collaboration with long-time friend Nirvana Selwood, combines grunge and glam culture drawing inspiration from the digital world that envelops us. Consciously crafted from mindful recycled fabrics and spun in a monochrome palette of oversized tees, hoodies and socks detailed with pops of tulip, graffiti prints and diamante logos, this collection gives us an insight into Nirvana's creative world. After recently leaving the Afends fam to embark on an open-ended road trip around Australia, we got to catch up with Nirvana to chat about our collaboration and what life looks like on the road. 

You recently left the Afends family to travel around Australia, tell us everything – how’s life been?

Life on the road has been nothing short of amazing, however 'amazing' always comes with its adjustments. Like a lot of people, I felt like I needed a change, some fresh air, and a hike to get the juices flowing and that's what this Aus trip meant to me. Ironically, it's commonly the person, not the place that needs to change haha. The first month on the road was a huge transition not just physically but also mentally, as all the little things seemed to frustrate me. After resisting the elements and the process of change, I soon realised I was at the mercy of nature and the confines of our Prado and had to surrender to the environment around me.

We left Byron as La Niña kicked off and spent a solid two months in a rooftop tent enduring the rain. At times it was draining but I reached a point where I had to change my perspective and find peace with the weather. We started doing everything in the rain and found ways to work with it instead of resenting it. Hiking became a focus because the surf wasn't much chop, so we adjusted our route inland which was a refreshing experience to the surf coast we are used to. All the small daily tasks that take forever when camping became the highlight of my day, enjoying the process and feeling present as a result is why we go camping right? Plus the lack of signal is a great excuse to put the phone down, you feel disconnected yet connected all in one. We've been stationed in Melbourne for two months working and saving for our next leap into the desert.

Have you been creating art while on the road? If so, how have your travels inspired you?

I thought I would have too much time on this trip, and packed my art box accordingly but every day on the road has been very booked and busy. The rain didn't make it any easier either, so truthfully, there hasn't been as much creating as I would have liked. However, I have been quietly observing and caching inspiration for the next opportunity I get. Since having a base in Melbourne, I've been grateful to design some more pieces for Afends and have also been working on some more personal, slow-burning ideas which are exciting. I have gained inspiration to explore a sculpture medium and move parts of my practice into the 3D realm, as I have seen incredible animal burrows and shelters made of earth, debris and encrusted with shells on my hikes and I'm here for it.

Where is your favourite place you've been to so far & would you recommend it to anyone travelling Aus?

We're taking our time on this trip, so we've only been blessed to see a small part of Australia thus far, although some places, if not most, have made a memorable impression. The Warrumbungles, which is six hours directly west of Port Macquarie, has been a spiritual place for many thousands of years to the custodians of this land, the Kamilaroi, the Wiradjuri and the Weilwan aboriginal tribes. Wild jagged mountains, sunsets, biking and hiking. Another highlight was Wattamolla Beach in Sydney's Royal National Park - maybe it was just because it was the first sunny day we had in a month there, but we arrived for sunrise and had the whole place to ourselves. There's a waterfall that falls into a lagoon which then flows into a bay surrounded by Sydney's iconic cliffs. The water was aqua blue and life-giving.

Another hit; Wilson's Promontory A.K.A ('Wamoon' or 'Wamoom') is a very significant place for the Gunai/ Kurnai and the Boon Wurrung people. Surrounded by giant boulders, I felt like I was in prehistoric times. Great snorkelling, hiking, beaching and biking. Can't forget to mention the entirety of Tasmania. Everything has a different vibration to the mainland, Tassie is a special place with a deep history and a vast rugged landscape. MONA was a massive inspiration for me artistically and I highly recommend the dinner at the in-house restaurant, Faro for a wild ride. David Walsh has no limits.

Can you tell us a little background story about the graphics you designed for our latest capsule Tracks?

I wanted to create a capsule that combines grunge and glam culture inspired by the digital world that envelops us. I feel like there's a constant battle to achieve a balance between our authentic selves and the modern society we now live in. The pixelated rose relates to the subtle way we have been manipulated to see society through the digital lens. The graffiti represents the original grunge, the inner artist and raw self deep within us. Of course, there's always room for a diamante or two; representing the glamour of how this digital construct has been served to us; all wrapped in a sparkling, alluring package. We think we want it, need it and can't survive without it, despite all those thoughts not being our own anymore. In my opinion, it's evident that technology and the digital age are our next evolution as humans, I find peace in striving for moments of balance, however small they may be. Whether it's creating music, art, cooking, building, camping, fashion or exercising- It's important to honour your authentic process and thought.

We miss you heaps here at the HQ, what are your plans for the next little while?

I miss my Afends fam too, on the road I find myself reminiscing lots! But I will be back soon, good to mix things up a little bit, gets the people going. Nice to know I haven't been forgotten hehe. The next plan is to head into the desert for winter, hopefully, create some art, do lots of trekking and learn from the land and its people. At this stage, it's one step at a time.

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Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2022 was an exciting milestone for the team here at Afends, marking our debut appearance on the runway. We were stoked to be part of Afterpay's Future of Fashion show, and walk alongside the stacked line-up of Australia's leading designers boasting the likes of P.E. Nation, Manning Cartell, Anna Quan, Cue, BLANCA, Rachel Gilbert, Oroton, Bondi Born, ESSE, Salt Murphy, Effie Kats and Kimbralou.

The event took place at the multi-arts precinct Carriageworks and showcased an innovative performance fusing technology with fashion and entertainment and admirably celebrated diversity, inclusivity and accessibility on the runway. Our models stepped out wearing best-selling styles from current season men's and women's new arrivals alongside sneak peeks of future ranges to keep an out for - all paired with our favourite footwear: Crocs. 

That's a wrap! We'd like to say a huge thanks from the whole team at Afends to Afterpay, for having us at what was a truly unforgettable experience, and you'll hopefully be seeing us at AAFW again next year. 

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"Currently five billion pairs of jeans are produced every year. To produce these, about 420 million m3 of water and 900,000 tons of chemicals are used and over 2 million people are exposed to techniques that are detrimental to their health."
- Carmen Silla, Director of Marketing & Communications at Jeanologia. 

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 Where science meets fashion, Spanish-based company Jeanologia®'s mission is to create an ethical, sustainable and eco-efficient textile and apparel industry by offering sustainable textile finishing solutions. Their #missionzero goal is to eliminate 100% of waste and pollution in every pair of jeans globally by 2025.

Afends denim adopts Jeanologia®'s e-flow, laser and ozone technology to dye, distress and wash our denim while eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and water-intensive washing. Crafted from premium, eco-friendly and durable hemp and organic cotton, Afends denim is easy on you and the planet.

E-FLOW TECHNOLOGY

The most sustainable process to transfer wash recipes onto our denim. 

Jeanologia®'s e-flow technology utilises nanobubbles of air from the atmosphere instead of water to act as a carrier to transfer wash recipes onto our denim. This process ensures the correct amount of chemicals stays in the denim rather than entering the water and saves 95% percent of water, 90% of chemicals and 40% of enegery per garment. 

LASER DISTRESSING 

The least harmful way to distress our jeans and give them character. 

Jeanologia®'s laser marking technology uses heat to evaporate the indigo dye in denim fabrications by turning it from a solid to a gas form. This process distresses our denim to replicate a vintage aesthetic while eliminating the use of toxic chemicals and the harmful impacts on the planet and the people involved. 

G2 OZONE

The most environmentally friendly wash solution for finishing our denim. 

Jeanologia®'s G2 technology uses air from the atmosphere to generate ozone and treat our denim by reacting with fibre dyes, acting as the most sustainable oxidising agent available. This process achieves a worn-in look for our entire denim range while saving 65% of water, 80% of chemicals and 20% of energy per garment.

By adopting Jeanologia®'s disruptive and revolutionary textile finishing technologies, we have achieved a low-impact washing and finishing method for our entire range of jeans, shorts, jumpsuits and dresses across our hemp denim and organic denim collections. Discover our men's and women's sustainable denim offering. 

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