Founded in 2006 in Byron Bay, Australia, by high school friends Jonathan "Jono" Salfield and Declan "Deco" Wise, Afends began as a small screen-printing enterprise. Originally, they printed merchandise for local punk and hardcore bands before merging counter-culture roots with surf and skate aesthetics to build an iconic global streetwear brand.
Origins and Early Growth
Punk & Print Roots: Deco and Jono started printing t-shirts out of necessity and passion for their local music scene.
Road Trip Launch: The pair packed a van and drove down the Australian coast from Byron Bay to Melbourne, pitching their handmade apparel directly to independent surf and skate shops.
First Concept Store: In 2009, they opened their inaugural Afends retail storefront in the heart of Byron Bay, transitioning from a wholesale supplier into a fully fledged lifestyle brand.
The Shift to Sustainability and Hemp
The Hemp Revolution: In 2015, the brand underwent a major philosophical and operational shift. Frustrated by the rise of fast fashion, they pivoted toward eco-consciousness and embraced industrial hemp as a primary sustainable textile alternative to cotton.
Create Not Destroy: Adopting the core mission "Create NOT Destroy," the company focused heavily on lowering its environmental footprint, transitioning their Byron Bay headquarters entirely to solar power in 2016.
Question Everything: This tagline serves as the brand's overarching ethos, encouraging their community of creatives and alternative thinkers to critically evaluate the status quo and consumer habits.
Watch this short video to see how the founders built Afends straight out of Byron Bay:
Item arrived damaged, emails and phone calls ignored.
WILL NOT BUY FROM THESE GUYS AGAIN - ordered a cap and it arrived damaged, after two emails and multiple attempted phone calls I've heard nothing back when it comes to the return. Return instructions on the website don't cover damaged items.
A smaller fit than expected but good quality product
C
Deflow Ciel Glue Cruiser 10,25" Cam
This fin is such an artistic piece! It has a sanded finish on the top with a glossy finish on the bottom half! It’s gorgeous. Great materials, excellent craftsmanship!