REPRESENT: Sundella founder DeAnte Clay-Thomas and his greatest pal Martin Moreno stand proudly in entrance of Sink-R-Swim, the place Sundella merch could be bought this summer season. (Provided photograph)
Summer time 2021 isn’t just a season, however a whole motion as naked toes put together to hit the sand and naked, smiling faces greet one another in passing. Simply in time, Sundella is the most recent coastal model to usher in a brand new era of seaside bums.
Sundella founder DeAnte Clay-Thomas, who was born and raised in New Jersey, has all the time thought-about Seashore Haven his summer season dwelling. “It’s robust to go anyplace else,” he shared. “The euphoria you are feeling on the Island is second to none.”
The seed that sprouted Sundella got here to Clay-Thomas in 2017 on a daily seaside day – on twenty ninth Avenue, in Seashore Haven Gardens, to be precise. Observing the leisurely beachgoers round him, he was impressed to design a product that caters to right now’s era. Initially, the concept centered across the technological wants of coastal shoppers. Nonetheless, after spending time within the design section and assessing the challenge from a price perspective, he determined to desk the concept till he graduated from faculty and had enough funds to work with.
CATCH OF THE DAY: Chris Diaz sports activities a Seashore Vibes tee whereas fishing offshore in North Carolina. (Provided photograph)
Quick-forward to January 2020, when Clay-Thomas discovered himself on the seaside (this time in Clearwater Seashore, Fla.) celebrating his birthday and considering his objectives. Having graduated from Temple College and scored a profession in provide chain administration with Grubhub, “I assumed to myself, what am I ready for? I’ve the revenue. I don’t need to say I ought to have, might have in 30 years.”
Little did he know what the approaching 12 months would have in retailer, because the pandemic swiftly swept the nation. Luckily, Grubhub has thrived all through quarantine, and Clay-Thomas spent these months designing a sunny theme for shore folks to take solace in when normalcy returns.
LIFE’S A BEACH: Sundella founder DeAnte Clay-Thomas checks out the seaside in a Coastal Items tee. (Provided photograph)
With that in thoughts, he determined to maintain his tech product design on the again burner and deal with feel-good way of life attire. In response to Clay-Thomas, “90% of a model is the connection you make with folks and the way it makes them really feel.” So, to start out, Sundella affords a wide range of summery tees (along with normal white and grey are enjoyable shades akin to banana cream, mint, sky blue and sand) in addition to stickers, aimed on the hearts of seaside lovers and fishing lovers. Sundella’s emblem is a cheerful brown pelican, that majestic coastal hen that may be seen diving head first to scoop up prey in its huge pouched invoice.
Sundella launched in April and surpassed $1,000 in gross sales in its first week. Clay-Thomas emphasised the significance of “beginning at dwelling,” although Sundella has made it to numerous states alongside the East Coast, and as far west as Arizona. On LBI, locals and guests can seize Sundella merchandise inside Sink ’R Swim, Surf Shack South and Vikings Outfitters so as to add a splash of shade to their beachwear this season. In any other case, go to Sundellabrand.com and @sundellabrand on each Fb and Instagram. —M.M.D.
