Essendon AFL stars Jayden Laverde and Zach Merrett have teamed up to launch their own unisex streetwear label called Dryp.
The brand launch includes a new website, with the initial product range consisting of eight styles across three primary categories: tees, crews and hoodies.
Laverde and Merrett said they are already in the process of adding more items to its offering.
“Fashion has always been a passion for us both, a form of expression, and we wanted an outlet to be able to pursue this passion further,” the pair told Ragtrader. “And we would both be lying if we said that loading our own wardrobes with a brand we created to wear all the time wasn’t a driving factor.”
They said the first step in building the business was identifying the right style.
“The name came second and we thought that the word Dryp represents two important pillars for us: firstly ‘style and swagger’ and secondly ‘sweat’, something which we put in for everything we do in life,” Laverde and Merrett said.
“We think the streetwear market automatically attracts the younger market, but when creating the brand, we wanted the brand to be attractive to all. This is why we wanted something that would accommodate all body types and genders.
“We believed its less about a target market and more about placing a greater importance on being appealing to all. Wearing Dryp makes you apart of our community and we have huge plans on building initiatives for the community as the brand grows.”
Dryp price points range from $89.99 for t-shirts, with hoodies priced at around $170, with all starting products made from 100% cotton according to its website.
“As athletes, the untamed desire to be the best at everything we do transcends to our plans with Dryp," Laverde and Merrett said. "We want to be the best streetwear brand on the market.
“We believe that with the partners we’ve engaged, materials we’ve sourced and the brand’s diverse appeal will assist in our optimistic plans for Dryp’s growth.”