Apparently in the ‘90s early ‘00s everything was better.

Magazines had ridiculous budgets, there were no such thing as iwatches and people believed in things. You know, like wearing certain brands because it was an extension of what you were connected to culturally. Nowadays it seems surfers and skaters refuse to wear surf and skate brands on the basis of it being uncool. Although there are exceptions. In fact we surveyed 1000 surfers and skaters around the world and asked them what brands they were backing. All answers were cross checked by a photo of their fit approved by the most stylish people in the office, and all said brands have been tried and tested in house over the years for quality and how many times we get asked where that shirt is from. Here are the results. You can’t argue with science.

BALLET X New Amsterdam Surf Association

Our friends from BALLET are back. Well they never left really, but they’ve got a new collaboration to show off and we are big fans. New Amsterdam Surf Association is a clothing brand from Amsterdam, but is mainly a translation of the Euro surf life and the collaboration between the two surfing in the city brands seems like a no brainer. With their shared appreciation for high-performance surf, design and aesthetics the collection includes tailored suits, shirting, jerseys and of course a grip pad and leggie. Simple, sexy, and MC approved.

Beach Brains

Beach Brains is an independent brand across the ditch that strives for quality in build and material, and we reckon they are absoutely nailing that. For those people who constantly find themselves moving from beach to bar (don’t we all), then Beach Brains is for you.

Bernie Thomas

A local to the Byron region, Bernie Thomas is brand that we’ve had our eye on for a while now. With unique men’s and women’s collections, Bernie Thomas is constantly coming up with something we want. Their RAT BAG collection serves as a heartfelt tribute to the founder’s best friend, emphasising the urgency of mental health awareness. That’s something we can get behind any day.

EPØKHE

With sunglasses that bring your rating from a five to a strong eight, what would a list be of brands that we back without EPØKHE. Let EPØKHE be the lesson on how to execute a brand with finesse. Be it their impressive team of talent (could it be Australia’s dream team?), the motion that accompanies each release, and of course their premium sunnies, EPØKHE knows what the fuck is up and we want to be a part of it every single time.

FORMER

Honestly if you don’t know what FORMER is at this point I think you need to reevaluate your brain structure and book yourself in for a check up or something. Having said that, we couldn’t write a Brands We’re Backing piece without including our beloved FORMER fellas. Since 2016, Craig, Austyn, Dane and the late Dylan have been releasing collections that you really can’t fault and are yet to miss a beat. With all that is going on in the corporate surf world, it is nice to see a rider owned and operated company become what they are today and my guess is that they’ll achieve world domination by tomorrow.

Hung Supply

If you consider yourself stylish chances are you also do things like read magazines, listen to vinyl and take photos on a film camera. Am I right? Of course I am. Hung Supply makes camera bags to store your said cameras without looking like a dork. After selling out, the Sidewalk Camera Sling has dropped online in the best-selling Midnight Black colourway, along with new camera straps, key chains and new Graphic Logo Tee Collection.

Limosine

Limosine Skateboards was started with Logan Lara behind lens and Hugo Boserup, Cyrus Bennett, Max Palmer, and Aaron Loreth with pro models. Nelly Morville, Karim Callender, Genesis Evans and Santino Gagliarducci are also on the team, proving that they are undeniably stacked. A stand out among the independent skate brands in 2024.

Pass~Port

A local favourite of ours, Pass~Port has well and truly cemented itself as Australia’s best skate brand. Trent Evans, the man behind the brand, knows a thing or two about community, constantly championing friends, family and other brands he is a fan of both online and in their flagship store in Sydney as well as monthly exhibitions at the gallery. One of their most recent collaborations with Tooheys Brewery saw the team design a reversible jacket for the entire working staff just cause. A comment on this release by instagram user riskykenobi ‘I would give my left nut for one of these bad boys,’ sums up how the entire Monster Children office feels about everything Pass~Port puts out.

Pearls 

Founded by Tobi Stanley, a member of the 2023 Bright Young Things class, Pearls is an Australian skate brand out of Melbourne who we’ve backed since the start. With ‘90s style graphics, Pearls is ushering a new era of female focused skateboarding, although that’s not the say the fits aren’t for the boys as well.

Quasi

Hailing from Ohio, Quasi make skateboards and apparel that we want. An independent skate brand where the sentiment is honest, a heavy team and clout that few start up brands achieve so early on. If you care about skateboarding and the things of substance within it then you’ll love Quasi.

Saturdays NYC

Back in 2009, Saturdays NYC opened on a quiet, cobblestoned street in SoHo, New York City. Since then, it has grown to become one of most aesthetically pleasing brands that fuse high fashion design, New York City and the surf/skate/snow culture into ongoing collections that always hit. They have established themselves not only through sought after apparel, but as brand that truly understands the culture they represent.

Photos: Tom Achilles

Welcome Rivers

Spearheaded by Warren Smith and Grady Archbold, Welcome Rivers breath of fresh air in the surf brand world with their seasonless pieces and thoughtful design. Each release is usually coupled with a mini film of some sort adding to the genuineness of the boys doing a surf brand right. They are also working on a little something different due for release later this year, but you’re going to have to wait for that one.