This was published 2 years ago
‘It’s like riding surfboards’: Hayden Cox’s fashion ethos
By Georgie Gordon
Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it. Ahead, surfboard shaper Hayden Cox.
Credit: Lincoln Jubb Photography
How would you describe your style? Versatile, relaxed, monochromatic.
What’s the oldest thing in your wardrobe? My Dr Martens from 1995. I bought them on a trip to England when I was 14 and I still wear them.
And the most recent addition? In Paris I bought a recycled denim jacket from Daniel Arsham’s new label, Objects IV Life.
What are three essential items in your wardrobe? Merino sweaters and coats for warmth and that nostalgic feel; a well-cut heavy black tee; and Haydenshapes poly-nylon pants.
Prada’s “Monolith” Chelsea boots are near the top of Hayden’s wish list.
What would you wear …
… on a first date? I lean on my designer pieces for special nights out with the wife: Prada wool pants with a Dion Lee button-up shirt and rad Prada derby shoes.
… on a plane? An oversized hoodie I can tie up and pull over my head, lightweight pants and sneakers.
… on the red carpet? Relaxed tailoring. I don’t commonly wear suits, so a button-up shirt that has a slightly boxy cut, pants and a dressy boot.
What’s your favourite fashion era? I relate to the ’90s. I grew up in that era and feel comfortable in the clothes: the lighter-coloured denim jeans, polo shirts and T-shirts. It was expressive and still feels relevant now.
Do you have a favourite fashion designer? People who apply design to different categories, like Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto, Dion Lee and Marc Newson, have influenced me a lot.
What’s your fragrance of choice? Byredo “Gypsy Water”.
Any go-to jewellery? An IWC “Big Pilot Ceratanium” watch and my wedding ring.
Can you remember a favourite outfit you wore as a child? From about 13 years old, it was light coloured jeans, a terry towelling polo shirt and a Pittsburgh Pirates cap I wore in every family photo for about six years. Or my wetsuit.
And your worst fashion mistake? I laugh when I see photos of myself wearing a fluffy yellow cardigan in the early 2000s.
What was your first fashion moment? Probably 18 months ago, when we started designing the first Haydenshapes apparel collection. I really immersed myself in the process: how each garment is made, the different design choices. And I geeked out on the fabric: the hand-feel, the backstory, a new cotton weave. The collection has a utilitarian nature and my DNA but it’s got a bit more flavour than my personal taste. You need a broader audience; not every surfboard I design is what I like to ride. But it’s fun and it’s allowed me to explore and wear different things.
What’s at the top of your wish list? Prada “Monolith” Chelsea boots. I’m loving those exaggerated silhouettes.
Is there anything you would never wear? I like to stay open-minded even if it takes me a bit to warm up. It’s like riding surfboards: I’ll try any board. The same with clothes; it’s good to explore and then figure out how comfortable you are.
Is there a current fashion trend you’re loving? My eye catches on unique and innovative features, like the hand-fabricated hardware on Daniel Arsham’s Objects IV Life denim pieces, a pocket sitting off on its own, or even just a bit of asymmetry in a silhouette.
What shoes do you wear most? Black Prada sneakers or Suicoke slides.
Who’s your fashion icon? Nick Cave comes to mind; classic and timeless.
Hayden appreciates singer Nick Cave’s “classic and timeless” style.Credit: Getty Images
What do you wear on a typical working day? I’m moving around a lot from the office to the factory, so it’s pretty relaxed: Supreme jeans and either our Japanese-twill “Concave” shirt or “Volume” tee.
What’s your favourite off-duty, casual Sunday look? I’ll be with the family down at the beach in shorts, road-testing our UV-blocking surf shirt for season two. It’s a shirt you can wear in and out of the water.
The Haydenshapes ready-to-wear collection is available from mrporter.com.
Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.