Surf Wear
Alope Swimwear
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Alopé wetsuits draws inspiration from the Greek goddess of water using her powers of strength, courage and individuality. Sarah Brown's love for the water and patterns birthed a funky range of wetsuits that bring out the feminine in all of us. Inspired by 1960's styles and bright colours, Alopé gives you a fun alternative to the traditional black wetties.
Please tell us a little about your background and how you came to start Alopé?
Growing up at Miami Surf Club on the Gold Coast with every holiday in Ballina, as kids we were always camping and at the beach. I have always been really interested in patterns, different prints and designs. I decided I was going to design children's linen so I did a Photoshop and Illustrator course. I didn't practice after I finished and I had a new borne baby and thought I was going to have all this time but I didn't…So that all went out the window! about a year later I was like "Right what am I going to do?"
I wanted to do something creative, I was watching the news one night and a surfer had been attacked by a shark that had thought he was a seal. I started to think "why were there only black wetsuits" and I started doing all this research and all I could find was ladies black wetsuits, then I found one image of an original 1960's patterned wetsuit and everything pretty much flowed from there. Alopé launched on the 1st of July 2011.
How do you maintain a connection with the ocean, do you surf and if so how long have you been surfing?
I grew up surfing with my brothers and sisters, I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, my father surfed back in the day and a brother who shapes boards…so I grew up in that surfing family... I left and went to England when I was 18 so culturally I was disconnected form the beach lifestyle. I then went on to Prague in the capital of the Czech Republic and feel in love with the country and my now Husband. So living in a land lacked country it was a different experience form what I had grown up knowing. I didn't see the Ocean for two years, I don't surf anymore but realise that I have to have the ocean around me... It was really hard knowing that it wasn't just there! I just don't feel comfortable and struggled when friends would go to France for the weekend on beach holidays. But I now live at Palm Beach on the Goldie and the sea is only a few streets away!
You mention on your site that Alopé draws inspiration from the Greek goddess of water, could you please expand on this a little further?
I wanted a symbol that represented the ocean and round is feminine, so we played around with a trident fork. And 'Alopé' is the Greek goddess of water that directly links to my designs. As well as my overseas experiences that I had when traveling.
Where do you find inspiration with-regards to prints and the cuts/designs of your wetsuits and swimwear?
I played around with the patterns quiet bit because I wanted something that was feminine and not just flat chested to focus on giving the girl shape. Show out the curves. At home I have this library of prints and patterns. I love Aztec and Russian, prints just always love patterns. I am very particular about what I want to create, I love fashion and immerse myself into my research.
How would you describe you personal fashion style?
I'm a real print girl and I like colour a lot! floral and sassy, sexy...
Being on the Gold Coast who are you going for at this years Roxy Pro?
Angie Koops, She has made it to the Roxy trials and I was sponsoring her but she has move on to a bigger surf sponsor... I am really happy for her and differently supporting her in the trials, Go Angie!
Each of Alopé wetsuits has been sculpted to every goddesses form using quality neoprene with functionality and fashion in mind.
To check out more www.alope.com.au and facebook
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