“I’ve worked as a surfwear product designer for years. This stuff is all just coming out of the same machines.”
It was two years ago when we launched our I Hate Surfing range that you last met the master ceramicist Damion Fuller, a wildly well-regarded actor in the surf game.
A little background:
Fuller, you might remember, leveraged a degree in Industrial Design into a career that encompassed accumulating surfboards from the late seventies and early eighties, building accessories for Mambo back when it was the hub of the anti-surrealist art movement in the nineties, and who then convinced his old boss at Mambo, Dare Jennings, to turn his next label Deus Ex Machina into a surf-moto brand in the spirit of Bruce Brown’s Endless Summer/On Any Sunday combo.
After, he split for California for a gig at Nixon, shifted back to Australia five years later for a job at Electric and, later, after he moved the fam to an off the grid farm on the north coast, created the label Aloha to Zen with his wife Fern. The pair make surf themed homewares, the pillows are wild, and spent three years learning the art of ceramics.
And it was here, that Fuller reached his zenith, I think, of beauty and creation.
Anyway, oldish news I suppose.
Yesterday, Fuller swung into Bondi for an exhibition and a few sessions at the Sydney tank.
Afterwards, he joined me for a post-slay coffee and, at one point in proceedings, proudly showed off his Temu wetsuit.
Three-two, furry lined fully sealed suit. Sixty-five bucks.
I felt it, tooled around with it, and it resembled, maybe a little too closely, a brand I once held in high esteem.
As Fuller puts it,
“I’ve worked as a product designer for the surfware industry for a lot of years. I’ve been to China 30 times and the one thing you realise when you go and visit all these different factory showrooms, be they footwear, knitted sweatshirts, watches, backpacks, is a specialist factory will make very similar product for a lot of different brands.
“You know that this stuff is all just coming out off the same machines. The websites AliExpress and Temu are direct portals into the Chinese factories. You can now buy one piece instead of the minimum order quantity that a brand has to buy of between a hundred and a thousand pieces.
“So I went looking in-store at a wetsuit that costs say $400 and then I realised the retailer is paying $200 for that and the brand is paying $100 from the factory. I went on to Temu and AliExpress and I looked for some wetsuits between sixty and a hundred bucks to see if I could get something with all the same features, knowing it probably came from the same factory as where the branded wetsuits are coming from.
“And the one I got, I paid $67 for a 3-2 sealed seams. Yeah, it leaks a little bit. The it’s not the best quality neoprene, but it’s $60 for a new wetsuit.”
Crazy, yeah, or does nothing surprise in this wild epoch we’re all driving through?
Commented on Disqus? Log out, tap the Disqus button, and your old name and comments come back. The box is ours.
Your comments are still here. Every one of them.
Twelve years of BeachGrit comments came across from Disqus. Connect and we will show you how many are yours. We get your username, nothing else.
Connect Disqus to reveal.
What’s the point of boards on the roof when you have an empty truck bed? What’s the point of circumventing the industry that puts food on your table to buy factory direct? What’s the point of any of it?
Where’s the link?
The big question Desmond: what search terms did he use? As you can see by the hilarious options being posted below the line here, there’s a lotta shit to sift through. A point in the right direction would be nice.
I did have a look out of curiosity. Quickly gave up, what cluster fuck of bullshit. Probably get more spam now too!
There were Sweat factories and Swatch factories doing the same.
My suit is called the ice spice by Stringalong.
Ive taken to rubbing whale fat allover the rig to keep the cold out. Takes a bit of effort to catch one of the cunts. But 1 will last you the whole of winter. I am however a bit of a shark magnet.
Bonus points for rockin the Starfin® on what looks like a lazor zap
Damn it Derek you made me log in to Temu first time ever. Chilling.
Looked up “wetsuit surf man” I found no recognizable wetsuits but i did find a three-armed person yay
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
And some more weird shit
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Is That Zuck in the last pic?
Its him when he gets to the biohacking phase where those evil uv rays are totally no-no, regardless of how much sunscreen.
Some of us still wonder if is zinca caked face phase was some sexual bottom fetish he was acting out for his surf instructor.
Long tom will look dashing in that lid
I wonder how Trump looks in it?
So he bought a shitty version of a decent suit and it leaks and the rubber sucks?
He made all that money in the surf industry so he could then circumvent it? Hilarious
Thank you, almost said the same thing. Dude made a career working for brands and can’t bother to pay full price so other people can have careers too? These little choices matter.
How’s he having to pay full price anyway? For someone that connected i’m sure a fee hand-downs or mates rates would be in order.
wah
Ya put your money where your mouth is. If you give Temu money for shitty suits, ripping off actual brands, that’s what you support. I wouldn’t buy a fake plant off Temu, let alone a wetsuit.
He’s talkin’ it down, it’s an exact copy of a suit I wore the past few seasons.
Why hasn’t anyone started bashing punta roca yet? Isn’t that what you people do?
No sheep there.
Funny cause the amount of swell incoming is off the charts but the start of wet season has begun and now it looks like a major weather event is going to fuck up conditions over a long stretch of the waiting period.
One of these days they are going to figure it out.
Just need 5 says of flexibility on either end of waiting periods. Damn the legal aspects just don’t.
Just do it I meant
I wonder if Cole will rock the leapard hair or spice it up for this event.
that’s not a good look. on him or her. Van’s should sue them~ https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
15 day waiting period.
Doesn’t seem too much to ask for…
Meanwhile my latest Need essentials wettie is an absolute piece of shit. Worse quality than what they were selling 10 years ago. Anyone have any recommendations, apart from Temu?
Attica
Feral. My 4/3 looks brand new after an aussie winter
I’m not made of money, hence why I’m wearing need 😂
Yeah… logic was it’d net off getting 3+ seasons out of it
I have one that’s 7 years old and still works fine.
I have two that are going 5 and 6 years.
You guys been to Colby Plus?
I wouldnt dare cheat on my Feral.
Need essentials knock off seems good too
Best suits in da game.
FERAL is always the answer here.
buy off season Yamamoto rubber is the play- that won’t help you now though.
I left my 5 yr old 3/2 Volcom on the roof of my car, it is somewhere on PCH, so I’m also in the market
Look for sales, wetsuit warehouses etc. Still a couple of E an F bombs on the Rip Curl site.
I’m thinking about Need again after dire experiences with big brands the last couple of winters. What was yer issue?
Zionism is a death cult
Had a springy from them over summer, fell apart after a handful of surfs. Just noticed the quality seems to have dropped off over the last couple of years. My new 3/2 arrived recently and had been folded weirdly in the bag causing the neck seal to be creased and warped before use, then when I took it for its maiden voyage it felt very stiff compared to other suits from them. Plus the crotch leaked first surf, not what I expect from a sealed suit. The price has gone up and overall quality seems to be down
I’ve worn need for well over 10 years now, and will continue to support them, but will most likely get my winter suits elsewhere going forward
!!!
Really? I just got one and reckon it’s more comfortable than any “high quality” brand I’ve gotten.
Bought one once an sent it back, stiffest suit ever.
His ceramics are overpriced…His wetsuits are underpriced… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… fucken typical .
No more cred? <\3
Planet CUNTS!
Apologies..# bograil / deeks collab
On a wetsuit adjacent topic, any of you suffer from Jock Itch of the groin? I’ve had it recurring for 5 years now.. I regularly wash my suits, don’t pee in them, good hygiene etc. but keeps returning! Help..
Maybe get ur missus tested?
Already done mate
Dry yourself properly. Get a hair dryer to blow dry your nutsack.
Tea tree oil does wonders too, same for between the toes.
Toothpaste on the nutsack… all the itching… gone !
Hahaha you fkn moron
Pain Is an illusion
Can’t be worse than chili on the knob
then collect used liquid left-over oil and wash the hair…
“Get a hair dryer to blow dry your nutsack.”
say what?
Welcome to the world that no one told you about when you were in your 20’s
I’ll sun the area if need be, but I’m not getting a hair dryer on my babies.
cashmere undies?
no current issues requiring attention.
I’d stick a hairdryer up my arse to get rid of a fungal infection. Smelly, gross and itchy. Never again.
hygiene and grooming
A plumbers prerogative
By Negatron
Calendula works great as well and doesn’t dry out as much. Who knew essential oils would make there way on BG
Sounds like the quality of your wettie is the yeast of your worries.
inguinal/testicular hernia. where the gonads move freely up and out of scrotum. wire mesh implants are the only answer. some pharma adds for yeast infection have listed potential side effects like infection of the perineum and encourage activists to speak out on I Hate Surfing.
weird&wild stuff~
must go with a constant push ’em down method. doing it now!
Apple cider vinegar, eat less bread drink less beer if possible!
Cider instead of beer for a month, and see if things change.
Gluten free bread. Cassava and breadfruit flour.
Maybe try pissing in it
Might grab one of these ones. No one’s gonna see me snaking them this winter.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
zionism is a death cult
This one’s also pretty good. Put some snacks in the holsters. Maybe a knife and a walkman too
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
zionism is a death cult
If you’re heading to indo this season. maybe wear one of these. Looks funny, will protect your ribs, and everyone will be thinking about the Bintang they’re gonna neck after their surf, so they’ll get out early and hit the bar, leaving you to frolic alone. Magic.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
zionism is a death cult
That thing filled with piss?
yeah, ya mum’s
zionism is a death cult
If you can get 16+ year old piss out of her cremated body, more power to you.
I could get jesus’ piss out of the shroud of turin
Never mind that. You’d clear the line up in a flash.
Yet thousands by surf boards that come out of the Cobra factory , same blanks same shaping machines same glassers , same paints etc , just diffent makers logos no one gives a F about that.
Looks exactly the same as my Project Blank 4/3
I brought a couple of years ago, think I paid about $210 NZD. Actually a decent enough suit.
Hard truth :
Showing of a photo of yourself riding a tube in a wavepool is like having a shot of a hooker in the photo holder in your wallet.
Doesn’t even look real
He definitely threw a filter on it. Just like some insta hoe would do.
I put in AI and asked for Kodachrome vibrance!
Yeah well anyway you can get it.
Or as any prostitute will tell you, different strokes for different folks..
I must confess i have a vrry old polaroid photo of myself in a pool with a bunch of hookers from the Tanamur nightclub in jakarta doing wild things.
Do share!
No fucken chance id end up in jail or worse
What’s worse than jail?
That’s bizarre. I just got sent that exact genre of photo from a mate currently in Indo. Looks very fun.
Haha my thoughts exactly. tainting an otherwise impressive resume.
No reason, just because chaos is beautiful
so kick ass
Joy Division’s cred took it in the goolies recently when Australia’s mincing, speech impedimented, hot-boy-bummer retarded Prime Minister wore one of their shirts and the press called him a Nazi.
You’ve got no idea how cooked Australia can be. It’s celebrated.
I like how loose the structure is and the drums…. like boxing, you have a plan but at some point it’s just instinct. I imagine.
Maybe the rock starts rolling downhill…. ?
Thank you. I was getting pissed reading about the wonders of supporting the CCP as they rip off brands designs while making product ready for the trash can. But a great song can flip my mood and help me remember it’s all going to be ok.
Brands aren’t required to outsource. Rip offs are a risk they willingly take to maximize profits 😉
As opposed to what, owning their own factories in their own country?
Err der.
Spot-on correct – all made in the same China PRC factories, just different logos and retail prices.
Same goes for surfboards, although the no MOQ info is bit suspect.
Most factories still demand a minimum order quantity, (MOQ) single orders are not worth the cost.
Most come out of Thailand (or did until recently). Probably so all the hangers on can go there for “business” while getting laid in Bangkok or pattaya.
Billabong used to allow custom colorways of their wetsuits though I see that option is no longer available.
He bought it off Temu, not out of the factory, Temu probably ordered a million of em.
My JJF imitation shorts from Temu- 3 for $20 still going strong 6 months later.
Same little red flag?
Do you like these sexy things with Ben Gravy ripoff logo? https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
That logo on those shorts resembles nothing more than the flag of some secret club that meets in dimly lit toilet blocks near public ovals.
George Michael approves
Did you ever hear the charge the coppers laid on George when they busted him in that public toilet?
They got him for receiving swollen goods.
How do you make that mistake?
Did you hear about George Michael’s latest release?
Also on said public toilet wall.
Weird frontbum
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
havent’ got the hams for it.
Those white shorts are their own red flag.
Heard there is a new neighborhood across state line. Flip that logo upside down, let your tip hang just to the edge of your short line. You might get eaten alive..
Get yourself some basic all black boardies and job done. No point messing about with any of the modern contrivances. Plain black boardies are the male equivalent of a girl’s best friend…the little black dress. Get your staples right and accessorise with the seasons….thongs in summer, uggs in winter.
And they get the chickies wetter than a spastic’s chin.
Is there anything hotter than a chick in a thong and uggs?
LOL
You sound like a facebook marketplace sellers worst nightmare.