“When It Comes To My Signature It Has To Make Sense” Coco XO

It was just last year that we were writing about Coco Ho and the launch of her signature surfboard brand, XO Coco. The first-of-its-kind brand just celebrated its first anniversary with a documentary on her travels throughout the year showcasing the new quiver. To name just a few of those travels: Micronesia for Natural Selection, sampling the new pool in Abu Dhabi, Japan, California, and she’ll soon be back in Texas for for the wild multi-sport bash that is Swatch Nines.

Let’s just say this, ever since she stepped off the tour, she’s been on a real sick one. We caught up on the phone to discuss her collection with Slowtide and other projects that just make perfect sense.

SURFER:So how did this collaboration come about?
Coco: I actually grew up with Alana Spencer, her husband Kyle is one of the co-founders and so they’ve been on my radar since the very beginning. I’ve been a fan since day 1 (literally) and I’m not just saying this because we are friends. Starting your own brand isn’t easy–I now know for myself–I really respect how they’ve done it. Kyle and I were just talking the other day about how it’s a slow and steady road. So for me to get an invite, 10 years later, to work on a signature collection with them is a huge honor. 

SURFER: How was the design process?
Coco: I worked so well with Wylie (Von Tempsky), he’s from Maui and has strong Hawaiian roots. He quickly knew how to portray what I was saying. I’m no graphic designer, but I can see things clearly in my head and understood me right away. I think I said something like, ‘Floral, but not cheesy. Tropical yet true to the roots.’ I also wanted the X’s and O’s to be kinda hidden, not super obvious, and that worked too. I loved how it came out and he nailed it on the first version–I was like, yep! That’s super rare.

SURFER: What does it feel like to be involved with so many projects?
Coco: It’s such a blessing to have this platform. Being able to design collections and have my own products is incredible. The main thing with any signature product, everything I’m designing, it has to make sense. I’m lucky to travel so much but I can’t have anything useless in my bag. Take Slowtide, I love their lightweight towels for traveling, the heavier ones are perfect to have around the house, and the beach blankets are always coming out for sunset. Then there is the turkish towel, those are great because they double as a sarong. They all make sense. 

SURFER: So how does that play out with your other collaborations?
Coco: Well it’s now been just over a year of having my board brand XO Coco and we’re about to do the first screening of the film A Year of XO, documenting the whole year with just one quiver in my board bag. Aside from my log, which doesn’t always come on trips, I brought 4 of my boards everywhere–the Tryst, Bliss, Aurora, and Halcyon. I was set, regardless of the conditions, it’s really just down to a few models that can work everywhere. 

I’ve got new collection with Volcom soon and I also just worked with Raen on a new line and that’s not just because sunnies are cool. I have to get pterygium surgery (surfer’s eye) and they say that it starts to develop when you’re still pretty young and getting a lot of UV exposure like I did. So I chose the strongest lenses available and made sure each set was big enough to cover my eyes and protect whoever wears them. It’s pretty wild, after what I’ve learned I’m definitely an advocate for normalizing sunnies for kids.

SURFER: Anything else you’ve got cooking?
Coco: Yeah, well there’s a fair amount of travel lining up which I’m stoked on. We’ll be sharing the film with more premiers so that’s always fun. Then in late June we’re heading back to Waco for Swatch Nines which I’m so stoked on, this year is going to be sick. Everyone should definitely tune in and check it out! 

Related: Swatch, Coco Ho Team Up To Bring New Vision To Waco Surf Event