Evan Mock Talks Wahine’s New Flip-flop Capsule With Reef

Flip-flops may be trending among the fashion crowd, but they are nothing new for Evan Mock.

“I can’t help but think about Hawaii every time I see slippers [flip-flops],” Mock said in an exclusive interview with WWD ahead of the launch. “They’ve been such a big part of my life growing up in Hawaii. And, if I didn’t start skating so early as a kid, I probably wouldn’t have worn actual shoes for a few more years. Because, where I’m from, you either went barefoot, or you wore slippers.”

On Monday, the model, actor and skateboarder will release a new capsule of flip-flops with Reef in collaboration with his apparel label Wahine. The limited-edition capsule features two flip-flop styles and was “born from a love of surf culture and effortless style” shared between the two brands.

As for how the project came together Mock noted that he worked with legendary surfer and Reef ambassador Makoa Ho on the partnership. As lifelong friends and O’ahu natives, Ho and Mock co-designed the pieces together to “celebrate the essence of Hawaiian surf culture” while blending Reef’s footwear heritage with Wahine’s modern island aesthetic.

“I was instantly down when Reef and Makoa asked me to collab, because Reef has been a part of my life forever, pretty much since growing up on the North Shore,” Mock added. “So, I thought this was a cool opportunity almost instantly. And just to work with Makoa to kind of bounce ideas off of was great. I’m really happy with how everything came out.”

The two-piece collection, which Mock said was a year in the making, includes a unisex flip-flop, the “Reef Smoothy,” that has been updated with rhinestone embellishments and a subtle platform. Then, the “Reef Ginger,” is a women’s rubber flip-flop made in navy and butter yellow.

“I kind of wanted to keep the classic styles of what Reef has been making for years, but I also wanted it to make it look like we did a collab together, you know,” Mock maintained. “So, we added a little bit of Wahine flavor into the mix and pulled a lot of inspiration from the old-school Reef sandals we grew up with in the nineties and 2000s. Also, I think both styles are truly unisex, to be honest. But seeing the final styles we chose, I think we made the right decision. It was a hard decision to make to narrow down the styles to produce, because we came up with a lot and they all looked so great. In the end we had a great time. It didn’t seem like work at all. It was pretty fun.”

“This drop is a mix of everything we love. It’s about Hawaii, our community, our roots, our people,” added Ho. “Reef has always been part of the culture here, so reimagining that through a Wahine lens just made sense.”

For Brianna Showell, Reef’s vice president of marketing, working with Mock and Wahine buts the sandal brand “at the center of culture,” not by chasing trends, but by “embodying the laid-back, coastal spirit we’ve always stood for,” with people that are authentically a part of the Reef community.

“It’s a natural extension of our heritage and values, sparking new consumer energy while reinforcing our relevance across generations,” Showell said. “Partnerships like this demonstrate our role as a credible connector in the cultural conversation, with a confidence that’s both timeless and forward-looking.”

As for what Mock thinks about the flip-flop being a part of the current fashion conversation, the former “Gossip Girl” star called the resurgence of the footwear trend “hilarious.”

“It’s funny to me because wearing flip-flops is something I’ve done my whole life,” Mock added. “But actually, the timing for releasing our new collaboration is actually perfect. I think flip-flops are great. I think more people need to be open to wearing them. I think growing up on an island like I did, wearing flip-flops makes more sense, but more people are now wearing them in cities like New York, so it’s kind of come full circle.”