Haydenshapes Rubber by Dion Lee. Photograph courtesy of the brands. The brand behind the revolutionary FutureFlex surfboard, Haydenshapes, and the New York-based Australian designer Dion Lee have launched “Haydenshapes Rubber by Dion Lee”, conceived to redefine the intersection of surf and fashion. Breaking away from the traditional norms of wetsuit design, the collection features non-petroleum-based Yamamoto limestone rubber, a sustainable and eco-friendly material. Combining their expertise, Hayden Cox and Dion Lee have pushed the boundaries of textile engineering, introducing never-before-seen construction techniques to wetsuits, which elevate performance and aesthetics to new heights.
Hayden Cox, the mind behind Haydenshapes, is renowned for his innovation in surfboard design and has collaborated with influential artists and designers worldwide. Working alongside Dion Lee, who possesses a deep understanding of neoprene and architectural fashion tailoring, the duo aims to present a fresh perspective on how performance surf products can be designed and manufactured.
The collection reflects a keen consciousness of the human form and focuses on enhancing movement and motion in the water. From full-piece suits to modular ‘hybrid wetsuit / ready-to-wear / swim’ styles, the range caters to a diverse and inclusive contemporary surf audience. Haydenshapes’ team of underground culture shaping surfers, including Dion Agius, Jake Kelley, and Frankie Harrer, have rigorously tested and endorsed the collection.
Drawing inspiration from Dion Lee’s signature design concepts, the wetsuits feature intriguing adaptations in limestone rubber and neoprene construction. The iconic “braided spine” detail is ingeniously engineered, creating gill-like features in the ‘Aqualung’ pieces. Additionally, integrated corsetry in the women’s designs showcases Lee’s mastery in shaping and boning, allowing for optimal performance and flexibility while surfing.
The “Haydenshapes Rubber by Dion Lee” collection will be available for purchase in August 2023 through various channels, including SSENSE, Dion Lee stores worldwide, dionlee.com, and Haydenshapes.com.
