One look at Cynthia Rowley’s designs, and it’s clear she has a passion for feminine details and eye-catching pops of colors. But Rowley also has a love of surfing, and last spring she decided to combine her two passions, collaborating with the iconic sports-fashion brand Roxy to create a line of fun clothes and accessories. For her second line for the brand, launched in April, Rowley focuses on wetsuits, effortlessly melding high style with serious functionality.
Why did you want to collaborate with Roxy?
CYNTHIA ROWLEY: I’m a surfer myself, and I’d spent so much time looking for a wetsuit that was all things—beautiful and flattering and warm and comfortable—and I never found one. Then, of course, there was this moment of, Oh yeah, I’m a designer. And Roxy is a company that’s well known for incredible engineering and fit capabilities, so I didn’t really even consider partnering with anyone else.
When did you start surfing?
CR: To quote my husband, I’ve been trying to surf for 10 years. I first started when I bought a little shack on a beach with one of the best breaks in the New York area. I’m obsessed.
Why is Cynthia Rowley for Roxy perfect for the SoCal woman?
CR: As fashion-minded and pretty as the collection is, it’s also tough. The colors are made to look water-washed and sun-faded for the everyday surfer. I think the SoCal woman walks that line between edgy and beautiful, tomboyish and feminine.
What do you like to do when you are in LA?
CR: I’m in LA every couple of months—it would be more if I had my way. I try to make it to Griffith Park and usually park myself somewhere between fabulous and a dive in Silver Lake for drinks in the evening. The last time I was in town, in a total embrace of SoCal culture, I actually cracked a bone riding the half-pipe in my friend’s garage.
What is your take on LA fashion?
CR: Californians are more accepting of different looks and styles, which affords people the ability to get more creative— I love that. I am not one of those designers who is interested in the “rules of fashion.” To “quote” New Hampshire’s state motto—with a twist of course—“Dress free or die!”
