After Essentials the Popular Style, Comfort and Environmentally Driven Brand That Is Built On Adventure.

After Essentials, the vibrant and passionate brand is invested in blending quality and style with eco-friendly comfort for every day. Marketing director, Remi Chaussemiche spoke to Source about how they built their identity and continue to gain popularity.

Can you give us a brief history of After Essentials?

It all started with 2 friends, Guillaume and Damien, who share a passion for board sports and outdoor activities. Guillaume and Damien come from different worlds, business and digital, but they’ve always cherished the “after session moments”: those quiet moments after being outside. The moments when you warm up, dry off, and slow down. They realized that these “after” moments are just as important as the adventure itself, yet the gear for them is often overlooked. So, they decided to create something better.

They started by rethinking the poncho: a simple, practical piece that deserves more attention. The goal was clear, combine functionality, comfort, and style while using eco-friendly materials. What began with one idea has grown into a collection of thoughtfully designed products made to enhance every after moment, after surf, after ride, after rain, or whenever the day slows down.

What are your key brand values?

We believe that an active life doesn’t end when the adventure does. The moments after the climb, the surf, the ride, the swim or the hike, those transitions between movement and rest, are just as meaningful as the effort itself. That’s why we design products that balance performance with comfort. Created for people who embrace the outdoors, we combine functionality, softness, and durability while reflecting a lifestyle in exploration, sports, and respect for nature. Every detail supports a way of living that is active, adventurous, and environmentally conscious.

How do you stand out in the poncho market?

When we created After Essentials, Ponchos were very basic with plain colours and traditional branding. Our idea has always been to revisit the product category, bringing vibes, style, colours and patterns to this very functional item.

We offer an extensive line, mixing styles, designs, fabrics and inspirations and provide many options to fit different outdoor activities. We use carefully selected premium quality fabrics for a soft, comfortable, durable feel.

How has the general surf community helped shape the brand?

When we created After Essentials, surfers were our first users in mind , as beach ponchos are a must-have accessory for any aquatic activity lovers. So, most of our products have been inspired by surf culture.

From the start we’ve surrounded ourselves with core surfers who wear the product daily. Soon after we started, we’ve collaborated with athletes such as Maud Le Car, Kyllian Guerin, Ian Fontaine, Joan Duru and Tony Silvagni who have all developed Pro-models based on their personality, influences and expectations for the product. To us it is super important to hear our surfers’ feedback to make sure our products are matching their needs.

We have also received huge support from the surfboard manufacturing industry. Some of our shaper friends such as Timmy Patterson, Stewart, Polen Surfboards, Chienville and Chipiron have also collaborated with us. Without surfboards there is no surfing so we are proud to connect with the shaping world and contribute to promoting this sport to a wider audience.

On a business perspective, surf shops have been supporting us since day one. They were the first retailers to trust the brand and the products. After Essentials brought a new vibe to the poncho category and surf shops backed it up.

How do you ensure your ponchos are both functional and eco-conscious?

We make sure to select premium quality materials from which to produce our poncho’s, the longer they last, the lower the impact on the environment. Additionally 70% of our products are made in Europe, with manufacturing partners that offer low minimums, helping to limit transport and overproduction. Our Rain and Heat uses 100% recycled polyester, and we carry over most of the styles to avoid a fast fashion effect. Last but not least, we support Save La Mermaid an environmental association working on beach cleanings and ocean plastic pollution awareness.

What are some of your best sellers from this year?

Our Best Seller for years has been the Madrague Poncho which has become an iconic product for After Essentials.

Any upcoming projects or products you can share?

This year we will launch After Lab, an artist collaborations series curated by artist and illustrator Jerome Masi. This project features five internationally renowned artists; former pro skateboarder and photographer Arto Saari, UK based designers Kai & Sunny and abstract Street Artists Mambo and L’Atlas. We gave them total freedom to design their own beach poncho and the results are amazing.