PRESS RELEASE

“It’s All About Community, Knowledge and Real Encounters”

We're launching a Local Surf & Lifestyle Shop at Lake Hallwil. In an era
dominated by e-commerce, opening a physical clothing store is a bold move. Yet for Manu, founder of the Swiss
surf school and lifestyle brand Whanau, creating a brick-and-mortar space at Lake Hallwil (Hallwilersee) was the
logical next step. He talks about supporting local craftsmanship, sustainable fashion and why a
retail shop is the ultimate gateway to the water.

Why open a physical clothing store at a time when most people prefer to shop online? What is the
vision behind this step?:

For me, it’s essential to offer custom, one-of-a-kind designs that resonate with a broad community—
especially nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts. At the same time, these bespoke pieces are
commissioned and produced right here at Lake Hallwil. I strongly believe that locals should support locals.
Of course, fashion is also a powerful tool to share the core values of Whanau on a larger scale. From a business
perspective, the store acts as a bridge: a casual visit to browse clothes often turns into a personal consultation
about water sports, which naturally brings new members to our surf school. Ultimately, our goal is to shine a
positive light on surfing, promote the sport, and open doors to this incredible activity for people of all ages. At its
heart, this shop isn't just about retail—it’s about sharing knowledge and fostering real human encounters.
Interviewer: Your current selection is still quite curated.

Which collections are available right now, and where is
the journey heading?:

As a huge fan of t-shirts and hoodies myself, starting with those essentials felt completely natural. We
wanted to keep things basic, timeless and as sustainable as possible. It actually took quite a while to find a
manufacturer that offers truly eco-friendly textiles without exceeding a modest budget.
When it came to colors, we intuitively drew inspiration from the natural elements. To keep things fresh and move
beyond just black and white, we are now introducing more soft pastel shades into the mix. When we bring in
external brands, we make sure to either support local distributors who share our commitment to responsibility
and sustainability, or we curate select pieces from well-known surf brands. The result is a vibrant, high-quality
and sustainable range of lifestyle products. Our own collections also evolve very intuitively. Right now, we feature
the "Whanau Family", "MAKO", and "Beautiful Day" collections, and we’re excited to see how they continue to grow.

Press Contact: b2b@whanauvision.com / +41 76 336 26 40