At Monoprint, our mission is to fuse premium, ethical printing with design that tells a story. When Rapanui Surfschool approached us for a new t-shirt merchandise design, we saw a chance to create something truly special—a graphic that honored the deep heritage of surfing while remaining rooted in the soul of the Canary Islands, Fuerteventura.
This is a look behind the curtain at how we translate a simple concept into retail-ready apparel.
Finding the Anchor—The Duke’s Legacy
Rapanui isn’t just a surf school; it’s a hub for the local community, blending Canarian spirit with a global love for the ocean. For inspiration, we looked no further than the iconic statue standing proudly outside their surf bar: Duke Kahanamoku.
Duke is widely regarded as the “Father of Modern Surfing.” Hailing from Waikiki, Hawaii, he was an Olympic swimmer who dedicated his life to sharing the Polynesian sport of wave-riding with the world. His statue, a symbol of aloha, tradition, and the spirit of the ocean, provided the perfect historical and emotional anchor for the design.
The challenge was to capture the dignity and power of the statue’s silhouette while simplifying it into a clean, print-friendly graphic for their new surfschool merchandise.
Translating Heritage into Vector Art
Using the statue as our reference, our design team set to work, focusing on creating a bold, timeless graphic that would hold up under our premium printing process.
- Black and White Sketch: We meticulously converted the photograph into a black and white vector sketch. This critical step ensures the design has clean lines, perfect symmetry, and the distinct, high-contrast look necessary for flawless single-color printing.
- Adding Context: To frame the Duke, we incorporated a classic longboard silhouette behind him, connecting him directly to the sport he popularized.
The result was a powerful, immediately recognizable graphic that paid homage to surfing’s roots.
Fusing Message and Materials for Retail
With the central graphic locked, it was time to finalize the message and the production details that reflect both Rapanui’s vibe and Monoprint’s commitment to sustainability.
The Tagline: “Aloha State of Mind”
To reinforce the Hawaiian heritage embodied by the Duke, we chose the phrase “Aloha State of Mind.” This simple yet profound statement captures the peaceful, respectful, and joyful approach to life and surfing—a perfect fit for a Fuerteventura surfschool. The text was curved and integrated as a graphic element, surrounding the central icon alongside the clear “Rapa Nui Fuerteventura” lockup.
The Shirt:
The final design featured a clean, dual-color print on a premium, neutral-toned oversized shirt. This garment is a modern boxy-shirt cut from heavy, luxurious 210g/m² organic cotton. This style choice was deliberate, offering a contemporary, relaxed fit perfect for the Fuerteventura surfschool vibe.
The final piece is a beautiful blend of history, artistry, and ethical production—a retail garment that tells a story of the ocean, ready to be worn by surf students around the world.
Do you need custom merchandise or premium apparel printing in Fuerteventura? Contact us to start your creative partnership. We handle the design, the ethical sourcing, and the premium printing, so your surfschool can focus on the waves.
Contact Us: https://monoprint.es/get-a-quote/
