Three Ibiza brands to know now
From recycled marine waste shorts to intention-setting hats and wear-anywhere pyjamas, we meet three Ibiza-based brands that are redefining contemporary menswear on the island.
The Seaqual Initiative works with NGOs, fishermen, communities and brands to help clean our oceans of marine litter and transform it into usable products. The resulting Seaqual yarn is a 100 percent post-consumer recycled polyester and it’s this guilt-free fabric that's used in the production of Syd & Rex’s iconic printed swim shorts. Founded in 2010 by ex-DC Shoes exec Nick Adcock (the brand is named after Adock’s sons), Syd & Rex has built its name as the go-to menswear label for those wishing to extend the ife of their summer break. 'Syd & Rex’s prints are all directly related to Ibiza’, says brand manager (and native Ibicenca) Sally Riera. ‘From the podenco hound to the pimiento padron and even the stylised raón fish, these are all Ibiza icons and they will invoke sweet memories of the island long after clients have left to go home.’ Riera’s husband is Ibiza clubland lynchpin Danny Whittle and – along with founder Nick Acock - the trio enjoy longstanding relationships with the island’s most well-known faces. A recent swimshorts collaboration features the iconic blue and gold tile pattern found on the DJ booth at Sunset Strip stalwart Café Mambo. ‘Nick has been friends with Javier (Anadón) forever,’ smiles Riera. ‘And the Mambo boys have always worn Syd & Rex, so when Nick came up with the idea to recreate the Café Mambo tiles, we all knew it was the perfect pairing.’ In an Ibiza market saturated with clothes made for hitting the clubs, the Syd & Rex remit is satisfyingly simple – it’s a brand for sunrise to sunset. ‘Our motto is ‘in the water, on the water or by the water,’ says Riera. In real terms, that translates as swimshorts, t-shirts and the all-important slouchy sweatshirts for breezy boat rides home from Formentera at dusk. It doesn’t get more Ibiza than that.
AHO is a sacred word, used by Native Americans to greet and to thank one another, and by shamans to open and close ceremonial gatherings. The word conveys a sense of family, of community, of things said from the heart. It is this sense of belonging that AHO aim to convey with their remarkable handmade hats. Created by Spanish couple Mawi and Juan Andrés almost by chance two years ago, the brand has become a go-to for the bohemian community of Ibiza’s stylish northern reaches (and by extension seen at Burning Man, in Tulum, Costa Rica and beyond.) An AHO hat’s journey begins in the pueblos of Mexico, where the base – known as a last - is created in the traditional manner by local artisans. When the last arrives at the AHO taller in Ibiza, it undergoes a radical transformation at the hands of Mawi and Juan Andrés. ‘The size and structure of the last is just the beginning,’ says Mawi. ‘In Ibiza the hats are shaped and sculpted, we add intricate braids and tassels, and we might burn the hat itself to create our signature ritualistic markings. We add crystals and quartz – obsidian from Teotihuacan, amethysts from Brazil – and the hat undergoes a lengthy process of intention. Only then is it ready to wear.’
‘I grew up in France, near to the border with Switzerland. I was a professional handball player. When my career ended, I moved to Ibiza.’ So far, so unpredictable for French William founder Guillaume Laout (the brand’s name is a riff on the English translation of his first name). ‘Once I arrived in Ibiza I did many different things, but I always wanted to work with textiles. I started the pyjama label because I felt that – in Ibiza at least – this is really the way we live and dress now. We go to the beach, we go to dinner, we go to a party – and we don’t go home to get changed. We can do it all in pyjamas.’ Laout’s gamble paid off – French William is stocked all over Europe and clients can’t get enough of his oversized, printed cotton PJs. ‘I always thought that there are such beautiful prints out there for women but not so much for men. I design the prints myself. The first season it was all very French. Lots of stripes! The second year was quite African, quite tribal, but using a block print technique. Last year was quite naïve and this season we are all about Japanese motifs.’ Laout’s customer is essentially himself – the kind of modern bohemian who floats from beach to bar to backstage party in a colourful, creative carousel. His clothes are made for the good life, and it shows. Laout’s only rule? ‘Wear them to dinner, wear them to dance, wear them on a boat – but please, don’t wear them for sleeping
