clarissa fritzsche
Surfer, sun worshiper, connoisseur & founder of Aponcho
I have always been a freedom-loving person who wanted to stand on my own two feet. After studying fashion design, I tried to gain professional experience in a costume department for advertising and film. In the long run, however, I felt somehow restricted in this job.
Because of this, I decided to do my own thing. My great love for craftsmanship and the support of many nice people around me encouraged me to take this step even further.
the creation of aponcho
On the tour through Portugal
The idea for Aponcho came about in 2015 on a trip through Portugal with friends. During a stay in a surf camp, I had to keep putting on and taking off the tight wetsuit while trying to cover myself with the towel. The whole thing was pretty tedious - maybe it sounds familiar to you too?
Every now and then I could see a few surfers putting on a dark surf poncho. To find out more, I took a closer look at these surf ponchos in a shop in Ericeira. The mostly grey or black fabrics made of 100% polyester were not my cup of tea and they also felt like pure advertising posters because they had the logos of the brands printed in an oversized size.
had.
an idea became reality
From the napkin to the first prototype
The idea of changing that stuck with me and that same evening I drew the first sketches on a napkin on the beach. Back in Vienna, I immediately started looking for high-quality materials and started cutting the first pieces. Thanks to my experience from my fashion design training, the first surf poncho was soon sewn.
In 2016 the time had come: together with the launch of Vienna's first artificial wave, the CityWave , the Aponcho adventure also began.
Today we can put a smile on people's faces all over the world when they wear our colorful surf ponchos and feel free - no matter where they are. Maybe you will be one of them soon? :)
