We finally managed to pin down the elusive surfer and creative that is Leo Jauncey – founder of Fellow surf company, offering lifestyle clothing and boards. Leo tells us all about ‘the source’ and how it can change your life forever…
What’s Fellow all about? What makes it different and what is the brand ethos?
Fellow is a small company making goods for surfers – shorts, tees, surfboards, fins and a few other bits and pieces. Quality and attention to detail is paramount in all we do, and we do it because we love the lifestyle. Everything designed is driven by the fact we can’t find the things we need, made the way we want them, anywhere else.
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career. What led you to own a board shorts company?
I trained as an Industrial Design Engineer and after Uni I ended up making websites. At the time this was a relatively well paid job and I would work for a year then take three months off to surf somewhere hot and remote. In time I decided I needed more balance in my life, and therefore moved from London to Cornwall. Here I started Fellow so I could spend my days doing something I loved instead of working solely to pay for my surf trips, which were my ultimate happiness. The rest, as they say, is history.
What attracted you to surfing? (and surf clothing)
“Surfing is the source man, will change you life forever, swear to god.” (Point Break)
What’s your mantra to life?
Do something you love. Keep it simple.
What’s been the best and worst thing since starting the business?
The best thing about starting the business is wanting to go into work. I love it. Everyday I am constantly doing things I want to do and I never find myself doing things ‘I have to do’. You can’t imagine how good that feels. And the worst… dealing with the textile industry is a nightmare if you are a small company.
Proudest Fellow moment?
Being featured in GQ, seeing someone I don’t know in my clothes and people enjoying the boards.
You’ve traveled to a lot of places: Where’s your favourite? Where could you live? Where will you never visit again?
Favourite, Costa Rica. Its just the perfect climate and all those long period Pacific swells are mega. The people are super chilled, its a very cool place. I could live anywhere there is a long left point… I’m not sure I have ever been somewhere I would never go back to.
Where’s your favourite break? (surf spot)
El Rancho – Mexico, Pavones & Witches Rock – Costa Rica, left at Sennen, high tide Penhale, each good on their day!
Some of your products have ethically sourced cotton, can you tell us a bit more about why that’s important?
This is a big part of why we started Fellow, everything in the surf industry was made of plastics, and it seemed nothing was being produced conscientiously. I know the boards are never going to be the most environmentally-friendly things, but we are working on new materials for boards that are much less damaging or at least degradable. For the clothes we prefer the feel of cotton, it moulds to you and becomes part of you. It gets better with age and is obviously better for the environment than using petrol-chemical based fabrics, even if they are recycled.
Do you do your own photography? How would you describe your style?
Yes. I prefer documentary style photography, I like to capture things as they happen rather than set things up. I struggle with the studio stuff, but that is a real skill and people study degrees in it, so I’m not surprised by that!
Have you done or will you be doing any collaborations with other brands?
There are so many great brands out there I would like to work with, and when opportunities present themselves I’ll jump on them!
Can you give us any gossip on what’s coming up in the Fellow offering?
We are changing the offering for the shorts and moving production to the UK. Will keep you updated!
We notice you did a post a while back about your favourite music. What’s hot on your playlist right now?
Oh Baby by Micachu & The Shapes, and Brand New Revolution by Guts.
You can catch up with Leo on Instagram & Facebook! Peace out.
