The Chimp Store welcomed Afends to our brand roster earlier this year, and they've proven quickly to be one of our most popular brands.
Hailing from Australia's Byron Bay, Afends was founded in 2006 by friends Declan Wise and Jono Salfield. The pair owned a small screen printing outfit, producing merchandise for local punk and hardcore bands in the Byron Bay area.
These musical genres have strong ties to the world of surf and skate - not to mention the brand operated out of one of Australia's most popular surf towns. This inescapable affinity to the surf lifestyle informed the Afends brand aesthetic from the very start.
Opting for organic cottons and hemp material where possible, Afends keep sustainability at the core of everything they do, alongside their mantra of 'Question Everything'.
Defining their range of hemp products as the 'Hemp Revolution' Afends have paved the way for fashion brands starting to take responsibility for their impact on the planet, and helping to reverse the effects.
But why Hemp specifically?
Hemp as a material is far more earth-friendly than its alternatives. As a renewable source, it can be cultivated in as little as 90 days, and per acre grown produces significantly more usable fibre than cotton. Not to mention hemp consumes four times more CO2 than trees, and as an end product, is super durable.
So, now you know the facts surrounding this super-resource, get to know the product Afends have lovingly created for you using it.
Afends T Shirts are made in either organic cotton, or a blend of cotton and hemp, and come in their well developed Retro Fit as well as standard fit options.
The Afends Retro Fit forms a relaxed silhouette, loose fitting, with slightly longer sleeves than your standard fit tee. It's no surprise this laid back Byron Bay outfit favours loose fittings garments.
The use of hemp is also seen across Afends Jackets - see the Afends Troop Hemp Jacket for example. This reimagined workwear silhouette features front pockets and an inner stash pocket, for your own personal use...
Afends also produce a strong programme of shorts. Their most popular being the Baywatch Classics Board Shorts. An ever so slightly cropped length, these shorts sit just above the knee, with side entry pockets and an elasticated waistband. In a lightweight cotton poplin they're available in a range of colours.
Rounding off their collection nicely is an array of socks. They come in a number of different patterns and with varying graphics - some in collaboration with artist friends of the brand, keeping it nice and local to their Aussie HQ.
So - now you know why hemp is so great for the earth, and you've seen what goods can be created with it, why not go and add some to your rotation courtesy of Afends and the Hemp Revolution.
