AUSSIE CLASSIC
... opens new Noosa store
The bold, colourful Hawaiian print of a pair of Okanuis is unmistakable and surfers around town are rejoicing the return of the Aussie brand’s retail shopfront to Hastings St.
Owner Simon Kasprowisz said reopening the Noosa store was “an easy choice”.
“It’s very important to have that tactile experience for customers that you don’t get on the internet, which is why we opened the Noosa store.
“And we have great staff in the store - our manager Jo, Kylie, Emma and Simone - they do a great job.
“Why Noosa? Three reasons, it’s a great local community, weather is amazing and the Hastings St shopping strip is a premier one that people love to walk up and down, it has a great vibe and it fits with our brand.”
Okanui is an Aussie brand that has been producing surf wear for 41 years and has its head office on the northern beaches of Sydney.
The brand has come a long way since the mid 1950s when a young Dick Ash (the founder) was enjoying the good life, living in and around the ocean, surfing everyday and riding the big wooden surfboards unique to Australian surf culture called okanuis.
Dick decided he needed longer length boardies rather than the shorter version available at the time so
he borrowed his mother’s sewing machine and made his first pair of Okanuis out of canvas from the Avalon Post Office mailbags.
Before long, he was making the shorts for all of his surfing mates and he nicknamed them okanuis.
A few years later in 1978 he launched Okanui the clothing brand on the back of the famous hibiscus print inspired by his travels to the Pacific Islands.
From this point Okanui took off, everybody needed a pair.
To this day Okanui remains a family owned Australian business focused on providing high quality products for its loyal customers.
The range now includes shirts and t-shirts, hats, hoodies, linen and kids’ shorts, all made from the highest quality textiles, focused on ethical and sustainable manufacturing.
Simon said while the style remains somewhat unchanged, new ranges are launched every season.
“We do a lot of the old and the new. Our prints are what we are famous for.
“Swim shorts have become a major category of ours and our old classic boardies are always a favourite.
“A couple of generations have grown up with Okanui now.”
Girls, the good news is that they’re planning to launch a women’s range before the end of the year.