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| Ready to rip!! |
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| Shaka muchachas! Ashely, Emianna, and Amanda share some afternoon aloha. |
Although Stewart's Surf Shop has been around for over 30 years, Bill's daughter Ashley has recently become more involved in the family business, and is the driving force behind The Oasis, a new section of the store dedicated to women's clothing. An original Seea Babe, Ashley also moonlights as a model for Seea, and is an amazing friend, businesswomen, and mother.
Next time you're in Hamburg, stop by Stewart's and say hi! You may get lucky and meet this little ripper, too!
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Particularly drawn to Latin cultures, Leah lived in both Spain and Portugal, before joining the non-profit "Surfing the Nations", where she got the chance to explore the surf and culture of China.
Topping it off with a degree in International Business, Leah moved to Hawaii to finish up her studies before returning to the Jersey Shore.
"Life is Art to me, that is why I especially love the company Seea, they are different, elegant, natural, and edgy. They make me remember how beautiful and special Ladies of the Ocean are!"
We love Leah's style and outlook on life. We couldn't agree more, and are happy to have her on board. If you like Seea and live out East, please contact [email protected] to find out more!!
"The idea to host this event came...
"The idea to host this event came after the successful screening of Oceanides, a film by french filmmaker Lorene Carpentier (www.oceanides.org). The screening took place around the time when we were starting to plan our anniversary party. We thought the timing was perfect to kick things up a notch and add a public component to an event that always has great speakers (Kassia Meador, Linda Benson, Cori Schumacher etc). As a non-competitive female surf club we continue to recognize and be inspired by the growing population of sisters in the surf industry who are doing it for themselves! Winning world championships, shaping boards, making music and films. Plus we love any excuse to get together with the community and geek out on the sub–culture that inspires us!"
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The Loft (UCSD, La Jolla) starting to fill up |
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| Seea suits on display with the new Seea Lady tank, hot off the press from Forward Screen Printing |
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| Our close friend Meredith Ambruso had some amazing needlepoint pieces on display. Love you Mer! |
MARGAUX. from Shaper Studios on Vimeo. One of our favorite films of the evening!
By The Way from the talented Hayley Gordon on Vimeo. Another Seea favorite!
If you haven't seen Mele Saili surf, watch this! We love her mellow style and overall great vibe. With any luck, she'll be our next Seeababe - Look out for more from Mele this summer!
Thanks again to Elizabeth and all the SD Surf Ladies for creating this great event. As quick as the tickets sold out, we're sure it won't be the last!
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photo Foam magazine
To start, tell us a little about your own surf history.
I fell in love with surfing around the age of 8, though I wasn't surfing regularly until about age 16 (after I got my driver's license!). Before I could drive, my mom would take me, or I'd catch a ride to the beach with my neighbors, the Colling's Family. I enrolled in the Jr. Lifeguard program at Leo Carrillo State Beach one summer, and went every summer after that. I loved the challenge, freedom and feeling that surfing gave me. Plus, I was meeting such interesting people at the beach, I was totally hooked.
After high school, I went to college at UC Santa Cruz where I surfed, traveled up and down the coast doing contests and also traveled internationally, while pursuing my degree. I was sponsored by Roxy and also taught at Las Olas Surf Safaris for women down in Mainland, Mexico. I started putting my creative side to work in 2005, when my shaper Jed Noll and I decided to create a line of women's specific surfboards called the "Jule Collection". I simply loved being involved with surfing in any way I could and continued to find opportunities to keep up with my passion. Though I stepped away from competition recently for the sake of mixing it up, I still surf regularly and am surrounded by surfing all day long at the California Surf Museum, where I work.
Julie styling - photo Lorene Carpentier
Let's talk about the popular Women on Waves exhibit. What part did you play in creating it?
My role was to research and write the manuscript for the "1990s to today" segment, and to gather artifacts to go with it (boards, wetsuits, bathing suits, trophies, photos, etc.) I also helped install the exhibit and had the pleasure of organizing events and led many tours of the exhibit itself. WOW was an amazing accomplishment. Currently, I am working with my team on publishing a book of the exhibit. It ran for 1 year and was a huge team labor of love. My favorite part of the whole process was meeting these amazing women and learning about their incredible lives.
WOW Exhibit - Photo- California Surf Museum
Which movements in women's surf history inspired you the most?
For me, the most obvious movement that inspired me was Lisa Andersen in the mid 1990s. Seeing advertisements of Lisa in the male dominated surf magazines gave me inspiration that girls could surf. Those were empowering ads and she was leading a whole new generation of surfer girls, like me. Now that I've learned more about the history of women's surfing, there are a handful of movements that really inspire me.
Lisa Andersen - Photo Jeff Divine
If you could go back in time to surf, what era would you choose & who would you take along?
Hmm... It would have been fun to surf Malibu in the early 1950s, before the Gidget boom. I would take Rell Sunn with me. I would have loved to meet her and hang with her.
photo Malibu Beach News
Who is the most inspiring woman surfer you've met, from the past or present?
So many of the girlfriends I grew up with are inspiring... I could go on an on, but while working at the museum, I would have to say that Marge Calhoun and Donna Matson are incredibly inspiring. Keala Kennelly too...
Marge Calhoun - source unknown
You recently did some modeling for the new Seea catalog. What is your favorite suit??
I love the Malibu suit! It's a bit "Tom Boy", which is more my style :)
Julie at San'O, Seea photo shoot - photo Aaron Checkwood
We've come a long way since the video below of PV Cove in the 40's, but retro suits are still the coolest!! Keep on the look out for more posts and fun filled surf history soon. School is out! Thanks Jules!
Riding a rad fish in Bali. 
Logging at her home break, Wategos.
Photos by Gus Goozee.
Riding a rad fish in Bali.
Nice waves my friend!!! Good thing you remembered to keep the second shoulder strap for this session ;)
Logging at her home break, Wategos.
And here is an enchanting video of one of her solo session in Byron Bay.
Video by Rest your eyes.
Enjoy ~
]]>I told her a blog is a place on the web where people post photos and write things they want to share with the world.
“What do you want to say to all these people?” she asked.
First off, I’d like to share the experience of starting Seea. I want share the whole journey with its exhausting difficulties and joyful rewards. I’d like you to know I am not a “guru” of clothing production or a master of fashion design with a fancy degree, but I am proud of what I have created so far and I’m happy to tell you all about it!
Seeing a design come to life is so exciting for me, and most people don't get the chance to share that spark, or to catch a glimpse into how much work goes into producing a garment. I’d like to share that world with you, and hope that the insight this blog provides will help further the change in consciousness that is starting to take place in our society in how we consume goods.
But this blog isn’t just about me and my experiences, or my quest to connect people to the history of the products they buy. It’s about people themselves, and in particular, it’s about the inspiration and support of my most amazing group of friends, now known to the world as “Seea Babes”.
Look for each of these talented and inspiring ladies to be regular contributors here, each with their own theme, subject, or expertise. It could be images, inspiring words, or music. Honestly, we don’t have a clue – but we’ll figure it out along the way! I love my friends. Of this much I’m sure: Without their inspiration and support, Seea would not exist!
I always thought this blog would begin with the perfect image or the perfect word, but as an Italian who speaks English as a second language, I’ve learned that “perfect” simply isn’t possible, that putting “Thumble Dry” on care labels makes people laugh, and that nothing brings more smiles than cool surf suits and huge plates of homemade lasagna.
Amanda
