We're doing a monthly feature on our retailers, and this month is Drifter. Drifter is located in Jl Oberoi, Bali. They update their Facebook page on the regular, so become a fan and stay informed.

1. When did you open your store and what inspired you to do so? We opened in jan 2010. Jake and I wanted to do something different and we were inspired by the roots and soul of surfing. We wanted the store to be full of cool stuff that you don’t usually find in surf shops with a real art and design approach. We focused in on the details and stayed away from the mainstream brands and typical boards you would find in other shops. In Drifter everything is unique or one of a kind.

 

2. How did you get into the retail game? I have been managing the license for several brands in south east asia for about 8 years, retail is a natural progression and the best way to tell a brand and lifestyle story…

 

3. Where did the name "Drifter Surf Shop" come from? We were throwing lots of ideas around and it just stuck…I think it is so relevant to so many people who are passing through Bali every year and it fit with the design elements of the shop too, we used lots of old boat wood, driftwood, and other recycled woods.  The shop was also conceived around the same time Rob M and Taylor Steele were shooting their film Drifter in the Uluwatu area near my house, and Rob stayed at one of the villas I manage on the cliff above the surf so it just sort of all connected, even though those guys are not involved in the shop, they are stoked on it.

 

4. Why did you open in Oberoi, Bali? The street has a lot of foot traffic and the shop has a real visible location. Plus that street has a lot of the best restaurants and villas in Bali as well as being known for cool boutiques and cafes. Its also right in the middle of Canggu and Seminyak so its pretty central.

 

5. What labels other than Sitka do you carry? Obey, Insight, RVCA, Rhythm, Critical Slide Society, Freedom Artists, Rake, Macbeth, Vestal, Electric, Sabre. For boards we have Takayama, Gato Heroi, Wegener Alaia’s, Hot Buttered, Lost, and a few other specialty boards. We carry a huge selection of dvd’s, books, art, vintage photography, and collectibles.

 

6. What drew you to Sitka? We like the boards and the independent style of the brand. Its got a cool vibe with an artsy edge…plus we are friends with the crew behind the brand and we like to work with cool people! 

 

7. What are your regular customers like? Our customers are looking for something different than quik or rip or bill. But they come from all over the world. Our customers are definitely tastemakers.

 

b. What keeps them coming back? The best selection of product from the best brands

 

8. What’s the latest trend flying out your doors? We are having success with Tom Wegeners Alaia’s and from a clothing standpoint, a well designed tee shirt that’s comfortable never goes out of style.

 

9. Do you have any exciting news or events coming up in the next little while? We did an amazing premiere of Taylor Steele’s new film, "Castles in the Sky", out on the cliff in Uluwatu right above the surf just after sunset. It was a great party and probably the sickest location ever for a premiere. We are gonna do Rob’s new film, "Melali: The Lost sessions", sometime next month. Its all the extra surf footage from the filming of Drifter that didn’t make it into the film, with a soundtrack by Rob and Jon Swift.

 

 

10. Anything else you want to say about your shop? About anything? Stop by Drifter next time your in Bali and check it out…you wont be disappointed.

All photos by Keegan Gibbs