Surfing apparel is, by and large, plagued by being radical. Big graphics, super baggy fits, intensely bright colour palettes. All things that look super cool worn by an Australian beach bum who can happily shred 10-ft waves, but on your average 30-year-old who spends most of their time below their board rather than above it? Not so much.
A handful of brands are trying to move surfwear away from the radical image that it has long been associated with, and leading the charge is New Amsterdam Surf Association.
For those unfamiliar, New Amsterdam Surf Association is offering one of the most mature takes on surfing-inspired apparel on the market. The label was spawned from the idea of having a wardrobe that could be worn down the beach and then to dinner later that evening without looking out of place in either. Tailoring is central to their offering, and traditionally baggy surf cuts and graphics are traded for relaxed fits and subtle branding.
In a recent trip to Paris for Fashion Week, New Amsterdam’s AW26 collection was one of the standout collections, and now, finally, it’s arrived.
Named Safety, New Amsterdam’s latest collection looks at a version of the word far removed from hard hats and high-visibility vests; it’s more about the idea of protection meeting comfort; the shoreline meets the office. Reversible bombers sit alongside a cotton trench coat, while flannels and workwear pieces are designed to make equal sense on the coast or in the city.
The surf references are there, but never in an obvious or obnoxious way. Wax-comb-inspired knit details, worn finishes and faded branding give long-sleeves and tees the kind of lived-in quality that feels more authentic than screen printing a wave graphic across a chest. There are new waffle jerseys, too, alongside T-shirts where the cotton fibres have been burned away to reveal a second layer of colour beneath.
Then there are the colours. Bright orange, army green and pool blue cut through the more restrained pieces, giving the collection some of the energy you’d expect from surfwear without tipping it into the aforementioned realm of radical.
Some familiar New Amsterdam staples return, too. The signature Coach Jacket comes back in Green Check and a new mixed-wool fabric, while the bestselling Work Trousers are joined by the new Zip Up Shirt. Mesh, as ever, makes an appearance, while new materials include polycotton shirting and a number of double-layer constructions.
The result is another compelling argument for what surf apparel can look like when it grows up without losing the reason it existed in the first place.
Find out more about New Amsterdam Surf Association’s Safety collection at newamsterdamsurf.com
