Film/Edit: @lyhkmedia / Additional Footage: @billy_leepope / Photography: @ryanheywood

Tai Kehu Collection, the third collaborative release from Kehu Butler and Quiksilver, goes beyond your regular clothing drop and it might even make you a better surfer… maybe.

In terms of a partnership, there aren’t many in surfing as enduring as Kehu Butler and Quiksilver’s. First sponsored at the age of nine, he would go on to ride for Quiksilver as a competitor on the WCT before quitting the tour to reconnect with his love for surfing, rather than chasing points in subpar conditions. There’s no doubt that was the right decision, and with Quiksilver still by his side, the 25-year-old is surfing with precision and power like we’ve never seen before.

Throughout his career, Kehu’s focus has been on staying grounded in his heritage while championing his people. Born in Mt Maunganui, Aotearoa, the proud Māori has used opportunities to elevate his culture and celebrate the ocean, which brings us to the Tai Kehu Collection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsST1V2A1cc

Created with tā moko artists Maia Gibbs and Henare Brooking, the collection features boardies, hats and singlets, all adorned with traditional patterns and art that pay homage to Aotearoa and the culture that anchors it. Of course, being a Quiksilver drop, you can rest assured that it’s also quality garms, with the boardshorts engineered for performance (even if you’re not dominating waves and popping airs like Butler).

To source inspiration and help bring the concept to life, Quiksilver took Gibbs, Brooking and Butler on a journey through the Pacific, chasing waves while reflecting on their relationship with Moana and surfing’s history, past and present. That duality comes to life in Butler’s quiver from the trip — an Alaia board representing the sport’s earliest roots, a classic single fin symbolising surfing’s timeless soul, and a modern Sharpeye quad capturing its progressive future.

Safe to say, this drop goes beyond slapping logos on a bunch of shirts. It’s a raw convergence of cultural identity and craftsmanship.

“The Tai Kehu Collection has always been about more than just products; it’s about connection,” says Butler. “To our ancestors, to the ocean, and to each other. This collection is a celebration of that.”

Take a look at the Tai Kehu Collection below and head here to shop it now.