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While most of the world is hibernating in winter, the ocean is just waking up. That's when some of the biggest waves across the globe turn on and the locals have frigid, icy peaks all to themselves. In honor of these highly anticipated winter conditions, we’ve teamed up with two artists to build out a collection of winter surf-inspired graphic tees for the holidays.
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Chris Kemp (@sea_kemp) hails from the East Coast, right here in our own backyard of Charleston, SC. He’s a self-taught artist and designer, with a passion for surfing and beach culture. His style is bold and expressive, and above all, fun with a loose, surfy feel to it. For our collection, he made two very different designs for us—the first, leaning into the playful waves of the Southeast, and the second celebrating the frigid Nor'easter swells. |
“The idea was to capture the unique vibe of surfing in Florida. Mellow waves with a bit of extra energy—a nod to those hurricane swells that bring some fun to the coast. Add a light, playful touch by including gators in the water—not threatening, just part of the scene like they belong there. It should feel easygoing, a little quirky, and rooted in that Floridian mix of nature and surf culture. Keep it fun, relaxed, and unmistakably local.”
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“This concept is a playful take on cold-weather surfing with a nod to East Coast (NJ, NH, ME). It’s about those crisp winter surf days where the chill hits just right. Think frozen beards, icy fingers, and that telltale surf "brain freeze." The charm of local surf culture with a cool twist, blending a sense of humor with coastal character.”
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Noa Emberson (@joystain) comes to us from Maui, with a BFA in graphic design and a passion for burritos, typography, surfing, architecture, and humanity’s quirks (to name a few from a very endearing list of likes). He always aims to imbue his work with warmth, authenticity, and relatable charm. For our holiday surf capsule, Noa designed a graphic tee in honor of the North Shore’s legendary Waimea Bay, home to the Eddie Aikau Big Wave invitational. |
“To make this graphic recognizable as a nod to Waimea—and to keep the tone lighthearted and whimsical—I chose to focus on a view of the bay that highlights its two most iconic landmarks: the church tower and the jump-off rock. I took some creative liberties with the scale and perspective to help emphasize other key elements as well, like the big wave surfing and seabirds soaring in the sky.”
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