RWSS

Photographed in Charleston, SC by Jamie Clayton

Raised in:
Beaufort, South Carolina

Lives in:
Charleston, South Carolina

Favorite beach in South Carolina:
Isle of Palms, it breaks deeper than most spots and rarely ever gets crowded.

Inspiration behind starting Rogue Wave Surf Shop:
Growing up my best friend’s family owned a huge plantation, and showed me first hand what the sporting life was all about. As I grew older and developed my own personal style, I sought to fuse the sporting life with the punk rock surf and skate cultures that I knew and loved. The past decade of my life was dedicated to surf exploration, travel, and studying surf history. I love paradox and contrast, and during this time the two seemingly contradictory worlds of Southern Aristocracy and the California Cool Surf Culture merged in my mind to form the vision that is now Rogue Wave. Returning home, I felt that the main stream surf industry was way off track from the origins of it’s rich history as the Sport of Kings. This led us to start an underground movement seeking to bring back some class to the surf world. The image of “Hemingway goes Surfing” has been in my mind for a long time and pretty much sums it up.

Now would ya look at that:
As you read above, Rhett owns Rogue Wave Surf Shop on Spring St, where you should visit because Bill Murray says so. Sort of. “Bill frequents the bakery and spa that are next door so I’ve seen his car parked around our street. I walked out a couple weeks ago to get coffee and saw his car so I went back in an wrote a note on one of our postcards and put it on his windshield inviting him to come in. An hour later he walked in and introduced himself and proceeded to pay my rent with his purchases!”

• Rogue Pocket T from signature series of garments. “We’re making these in small batches some from vintage Ts and some on our buttery soft blanks. We like to keep it simple and timeless. The idea for our Pocket T is to give the Late Sixties/Steve McQueen/California cool vibe a minimalist surf tweak.”
• Imogene + Willie Barton jeans with 9 months wear. “Matt and Carrie are dear friends and have been a huge inspiration and we are thankful to offer their amazing denim in our store.”
• Swatch watch.
• Favorite surfboard. Late 60’s Transitional Mid-length Planing Hull by Doug Haut (Iconic Santa Cruz Shaper).