Hypebeast Visits: Western Hydrodynamic Research Crafts Seaside Style
Touring WHR’s Costa Mesa HQ to discuss the brand’s history, working with Tom Sachs and more.
For founder Pat Towersey, Western Hydrodynamic Research (WHR) is a stream of consciousness. Coming in hot off of a terrain-inspired Crocs Classic Clog collaboration, we connected with Towersey and the WHR team for our latest installment in the Hypebeast Visits series.
Embedded in surfing culture, WHR sees parallels between its brand and the sport — being ready to fail, persistence, knowing your surroundings and enjoying the water. After hauling the team in a mini truck while being chased down by a dog, the brand’s new warehouse space in Costa Mesa, California serves as the place where the magic happens.
Reviewing the brand’s brief history, Towersey shares where the WHR name comes from — giving a nod to Craig R. Stecyk III for reverse engineering the acronym. He also speaks to working with Tom Sachs, being a part of the artist’s “How to Learn How to Surf” movie. Initially, he wanted his own WHR hat and after creating one for him, Towersey and Sachs traded lessons in surfing for the design process in making something of value.
Take a peek behind the scenes at Western Hydrodynamic Research’s headquarters above as part of the Hypebeast Visits series.
For more of the latest Hypebeast TV news, check out the latest installment of Hypebeast Diaries — featuring Mowalola and her Fall/Winter 2023 collection, Bratz collaboration and more.
