"My true passion is building this brand into a reflection of my gratitude from the golden era in professional surfing which I’m very thankful to have experienced."
It’s been a little over three years since Julian Wilson, a one-time contender for the world title, released the debut clothing range of his brand Rivvia Projects, the handle a portmanteaux of the names of his two kids River and Olivia, and which quickly became famous for tight poom-poom shorts and radically aggressive off-the-shoulder tees.
Rivvia Projects is an “an expression of myself, really, and all the things I’m into and passionate about,” Wilson told Monster Children at the time, listing his favourite things as golfing, motorbiking, skating, and mountain bike riding.
Wilson, who is thirty-seven, had followed Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds/Craig Anderson, John John Florence, Luke Egan into the rag-trade, Slater (Outerknown) Reynolds’ and Ando with Former, John John Florence (Florence Marine X) and Egan with Depactus, a brand that flew a little too close to the sun before the glue holding its wings melted and it was bought for a song by SurfStitch.
Earlier this year, Julian Wilson, described as the best surfer in a generation never to win a world title, announced he’d be having a swing on the WSL’s Challenger Series. He was subsequently gifted a wildcard into the Championship Tour’s Gold Coast Pro and finished half a point shy of victory.
Filipe Toledo won it due, in most part, to a ride described as “the most overscored wave in history”, a nine with change for two turns, although your ol pal DR, in a rare moment of consensus with Brazilian surf fans, believed it deserved the drenching it got from judges, the second turn as hot as watching a brawny teen jock pumping my gal dog fashion.
That second-place was as good as it got, however. In his first two Challenger Series events, a tier below the Championship Tour, Julian Wilson finished 49th and 65th.
And, thus, Julian Wilson has said no more.
Dreams of a WSL return fade away as I take @rivvia.projects by the horns.
My true passion is building this brand into a reflection of my gratitude from the golden era in professional surfing which I’m very thankful to have experienced.
With the continued support or the Rivvia community that is building before my eyes, there’s a lot of hope on the horizon.
Thank you all for supporting small and emerging businesses in the surf and golf industry.
End of a the golden era, y’think?
Do you miss the golden era of Joel, Mick, Julian and co? Or not so much?
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Considering the majority of the surf brands we subscribed to in the 90’s and noughties are now owned by the one parent group, I’m only too happy to throw some coin to the new guard of surfer owned brands, fucked if I want to line the pockets of some spreadsheet analysing kooks.
folk can heap shit on JW as much as they want, but when it comes to surfing, one of the best.
always a standout at Pipe.
As Dora said, professional surfing is so far removed from the actual surfing experience he can’t even think about it. “Golden age of professional surfing,” mate, give me a break.
Smart , targeting the “brown dollar” , double income no kids, plenty of extra cash to buy matching rivva jumpsuits
His boardies are actually legit.
I figure I’d send a few bob his way annually for a t-shirt or a pair of shorts to support the brand.
I’ve always bought my surf gear at %50+ off during huge sales and outlet stores but happy to help the small guys out now, surf brand or not, when I can.
Same for Former, which DR seems to be a fan of.
Interesting, but understandable, to see that a former prodigy can no longer cut it with the kids on the ‘QS.
Former is pretty average put toghther product.
Too busy booking a trip to Turkey
““an expression of myself, really, and all the things I’m into and passionate about,” Wilson told Monster Children at the time, listing his favourite things as golfing, motorbiking, skating, and mountain bike riding.”
So… not surfing?
Interesting.
Yeah stick to pooncie clothing. By the time the wsl starts up you’ll be in a walking frame anyway
He might be more confused than Andrew Egan.
At least we know micks feels about tha jews
Oh didn’t that go down well. Memory is so vivid of that event.
It was a common refrain im my schoolyard when charitable asks were denied.
Mine too! And no one had ever met a Jew!
I laughed so hard, good read
Julian had the best technique on tour
Think he was too happy to win
Fuck the clothes. Rather, what’s his view on Islam?
Probably quite happy to boil alive in his tank like the rest of us.
Buddy sent me the clip of him chasing the deformed grey nurse through the bait ball.
Lady just got eaten swimming off a Monterey beach over here. No body found.
Yeah, read that. Kinda like swimming at Cactus though, non?
Very clear water there. The murky water around the entrance to SF bay gives me a false sense of security.
without the good waves, exactly
Place gets fun actually
Asilomar? Carmel? PB?
Lovers point.
Surfer got the bottom of his board hit by a white shark yesterday at Dillon beach also. Kinda late in the shark season for a lot of activity. https://uploads.disquscdn.c…