The Ultimate Surfing Company meets The Ultimate Textile Company
An inside look at Rip Curl’s new collaboration capsule with BYBORRE®
Rip Curl is constantly on the hunt for innovative materials, techniques and products we can apply to The Search. It could be heated wetsuits, or surf tracking watches, or just a better way to do things for the environment. It might also be a unique way of making things that brings a progressive edge to overall performance. As part of this mission, Rip Curl recently teamed up with innovative textile company BYBORRE® to create a new collection that blends cutting-edge technology with the spirit of surfing. The partnership brings together two industry leaders who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in their respective fields.
Things initially kicked off when Rip Curl connected with BYBORRE® through a mutual contact. The Dutch textile innovator impressed our design team with their revolutionary 3D knitting techniques that minimise waste and create intricate, high-performance fabrics.
"When we started to receive some of the early samples and swatches, it blew me away, what they could generate," says Adam Leslie, Head of Men's Apparel and Accessories at Rip Curl. "I think everyone was really excited about how different the product looks and technical specs too in terms of warmth and durability. It's quite futuristic."
“The moment that we started the dialogue, we started inspiring each other,” adds Borre Akkersdijk, Founder of BYBORRE®.
“We started seeing what the culture needed, but also the aesthetics that they brought, and we started translating that into new possibilities.”
The collaboration resulted in a collection that seamlessly blends the technical expertise of BYBORRE® with the iconic heritage of Rip Curl. Standout pieces include a hoodie, track pants, and track shorts, all featuring BYBORRE® unique knitting technique woven through with a nod to traditional surf style.
But the partnership goes beyond just creating innovative products. Both Rip Curl and BYBORRE® are committed to sustainability, and this shared value has been a driving force behind the collaboration.
"They have sustainability at the front of mind in their business like us,” adds Leslie. “We are on this ESG journey to continue with our B Corp certification, so to be able to source fabrics that with serious waste-saving credentials is a huge win.”
Each piece in the collection comes with a transparent Textile Passport, which shows you where the item was made, along with how much energy, water and carbon emissions it took to produce. You can even see how your choice stacks up against conventional textiles and what was saved.
To check out the full Rip Curl x BYBORRE® Collection head here. Surfwear with the soul of 1969 and technology of today.
