With the colors and vintage vibes of Florida as inspiration, Duvin has become a favorite of celebrities, athletes, and those looking for beach apparel with personality.
Thanks to a new round of funding, Duvin is building out its infrastructure to support its growth and has hired Jeremy “Snowy” Lonsway as fractional VP of sales, said Duvin co-founder and Creative Director Austin Duvall.
A fractional role in an organization typically means that the role is part-time, but with a more strategic and potentially longer-term focus than traditional part-time or freelance work.
Lonsway is an experienced sales executive who has worked at brands such as Vans, Electric, and O’Neill.
Duvin has always had a strong DTC business, and now its wholesale channel has started to take off, including at accounts such as Sun Diego, Jack’s Surfboards, Quiet Flight, Farias Surf & Sport, Las Olas, Glik’s, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Revolve, and Scheels.
Duvall describes Duvin’s aesthetic this way: “It’s like ‘80s surf, sun-drenched Key West, and streetwear all had a baby,” he said.
Duvin is inspired by the brand’s home state of Florida when it comes to both product and marketing.
“I grew up working in my parents’ surf shops and was always drawn to the big surf brands,” Duvall said. “But most of what I saw was dominated by navy, black, and earth tones. Meanwhile, Florida was full of sun-faded pastels, tropical wallpaper, and neon signs. We try to channel that visual DNA into the brand.”
That’s probably one reason why the professional sports team in Florida, including the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat in the NBA and the Miami Dolphins in the NFL, have launched collaborations with the brand.
Going forward, Duvin plans to expand beyond beachwear, Duvall said.
“We’re really excited about what’s ahead,” he said. “We’ve started bringing in industry veterans like Snowy in different capacities to help build out our infrastructure and strategy for our next phase.
“Our focus is to double down on what we do best – elevated beachwear – while also expanding into leisure sports like golf and tennis,” Duvall said. “We see Duvin growing into a lifestyle brand that owns the space between vacation and everyday leisure.”
