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Inspired by Summer: The Story Behind Our First Collection

There’s something about summer that feels effortless. Long days spent by the water, afternoons that turn into evenings, and plans that often take you straight from the beach or pool to dinner.

That feeling became the inspiration behind the very first Joy Ryder collection.

Growing up in Queensland, summer is a huge part of our lifestyle. Warm weather, weekends by the water and relaxed afternoons with family and friends shaped the way we thought about this collection. But while Joy Ryder was inspired by Queensland summers, we also loved the idea that it’s always summer somewhere in the world.

We wanted to create clothing for tween boys that could move with them throughout those summer days. Pieces they could throw on in the morning for a day around the pool or at the beach, but that could just as easily carry them through to dinner that night.

Sometimes that might mean swapping your swim shorts for a smarter pair of shorts. Other times, it’s as simple as throwing on a Joy Ryder jumper as the sun goes down to instantly elevate the outfit.

Made for the In-Between

One of the biggest inspirations behind Joy Ryder was recognising how difficult it can be to find clothing for boys in those in-between years.

They’re beginning to develop their own sense of style and want to feel a little more grown-up, but they still need clothes that allow them to be kids. They want to swim, run around, hang out with their friends and be comfortable — without having to completely change when it’s time to go somewhere a little nicer.

Our first collection was designed with exactly that in mind.

Comfort Comes First

No matter how good something looks, we know boys won’t want to wear it if it isn’t comfortable.

That’s why comfort was at the heart of the collection from the beginning. We focused on creating relaxed, easy-to-wear pieces that boys can actually live in — clothing that feels just as good sitting around the pool as it does heading out for the evening.

But comfortable doesn’t have to mean boring.

A Little More Fun

We also wanted Joy Ryder to have personality.

Alongside easy-to-wear staples, our first collection introduces fun designs, prints and details that give boys an opportunity to express their own style. The idea was to create pieces that feel different without feeling overdone — relaxed, playful and effortlessly cool.

Ultimately, our first collection is about making getting dressed easy.

Beach. Pool. Dinner. Repeat.

Because wherever you are in the world, summer is never too far away.