The Critical Slide x Birdwell collaboration marks a significant fusion of two iconic surf brands, blending the laid-back California vibe with the design and entrepreneurial spirit of Bondi, Australia. Birdwell, known for its enduring quality and timeless style in crafting boardshorts since 1961, collaborates with Critical Slide, a brand founded in 2009 that emphasizes surf culture, sustainability, and a connection to community.
The collection consists of 10 pieces, including trunks, tees, and headwear. Birdwell’s signature SurfNYl fabric, coupled with a lifetime warranty, is featured in both trunks. The fixed waist option utilizes Birdwell’s 301 fixed waist block, while the elastic waist option incorporates the unique Critical Slide ‘Mixed Tape’ panelling construction.
Critical Slide takes charge of the collaboration’s T-shirt design, using their 230gsm singles raw jersey and collaborating with artist Nick Curl. The graphic and logo lockup reflect the strong mateship underlying this collaboration.
To support the product release the brands have worked with Birdwell Hawaii based ambassador, Toots (https://www.instagram.com/mr._t00ts) and with Hawaii based photographer Arto Saari (https://www.instagram.com/artofoto). The shoot, all taken place at the spiritual home of logging, Waikiki.
Sam Coombes founder of Critical Slide said, “Birdwell is a brand that we’ve always had a huge amount of respect for. They are the OGs within the boardshort/trunk space. They remain the go-to for the core logger guy. This is a really special collaboration for us to be part of and we’re stoked on how the product and the support campaign has been executed.”
“Birdwell’s heritage lives on through the reinterpretation of its DNA by our partners. It’s been a pleasure for Birdwell to be able to work with Critical Slide on this project.
“We are fans of the design work the brand has been doing over the years, and especially proud of the work that Josh Davies has managed to accomplish using our heritage fabrics and colors. Our shared audience has already been showing a lot of support, I am excited to see where this collaboration takes us,” said Eric Crane, Birdwell CEO.
The limited distribution of the collaboration adds an exclusive touch. Currently available in stores and online in the Southern Hemisphere, it is set to release in the Northern Hemisphere in February 2024. For inquiries, questions, or comments, the contact email is info@thecriticalslidesociety.com. This collaboration embodies the true essence of each brand, bringing together their respective strengths to create a really special collection.
