OUR MISSION
Upwind's mission is to give a second life to high-performance materials that would otherwise be burned in landfills — like kitesurf and windsurf sails — by transforming them into durable, stylish accessories and outerwear.
Born between the ocean and the city, UPWIND connects adventure and sustainability. Each piece is designed to embody freedom, creativity, and responsibility, proving that performance and purpose can go hand in hand.
Broken Kite
In September 2023, Dimitri lived in the beautiful lagoon of Kalpitiya in Sri Lanka for a prolonged Kitesurfing trip which transformed his life.
His equipment broke a lot because he was trying new tricks, and he became good friends with Nishanta, the owner of the kite repair shop, who always had a solution for every repair.
NIshanta's workshop
After a while, Nishanta told him his kite was too old to be repaired and had to be replaced. Dimitri didn't want to throw his kite away, given he had so many good memories with it.
He thought about transforming it.
Bags were too small and didn't serve justice to the beautiful designs on kites.
So he tried to make a jacket.
The first prototype
He rushed to Ferroshkan, a local tailor, to bring it to life.
A spark.
It was far from perfect — rough and raw — but it carried something real.
The idea took off. His friends thought it was such a cool idea to bring these forgoten materials back to life.
So he moved to Colombo to work with a more experienced tailor to refine the prototype.
DESIGN STUDIO IN PARIS
In January 2024 he came back to France with the idea of improving the prototype with a design studio. The goal being to develop the best jacket possible.
This collaboration lead to the development of sewing patterns for multiple jacket sizes.
FIRST OFFICIAL SHOWCASE
In April 2024, Dimitri was invited to present his unique products at an event reuniting many artists from Paris.
His creations caught the eye of a famous Hermes designer from Japan who became UPWIND's first client.
Crowd-funding launch
In November 2024, after months of prototyping unique bags, jackets, and caps made from kitesurfing sails and windsurfing sails, he launched a crowdfunding campaign, which was backed by 150+ customers, enabling him to start producing with factories in Sri Lanka.
UPWIND LOGO EXPLAINED
The wind — powerful yet invisible — is at the heart of everything we do. It drives our kites, shapes the waves, and inspires the freedom we feel on the water. Our logo captures this constant movement, a symbol of energy and limitless possibilities.
Corals, the flowers of the ocean, reflect nature’s fragile beauty. They build the underwater landscapes that give birth to the waves we love, reminding us of the balance that sustains our planet.
By blending the wind and coral into our flower, we celebrate the harmony between strength and fragility — a reminder to respect and preserve the forces that shape our world.
LIGHT-WEIGHT
Crafted from high-performance kitesurf and windsurf sails, every UPWIND piece is naturally light and flexible.
What was once built to glide through the air now moves with you — whether you’re cycling through the city or chasing the next swell.
Comfort and freedom of movement, inspired by the wind itself.
DURABLE
Our materials were designed to withstand salt, UV, and years of intense conditions on the water.
Each product is built to last — resisting wear, retaining its structure, and aging beautifully with time.
What once faced the ocean’s power now stands the test of daily life.
ECO-FRIENDLY
Every piece is made from upcycled sails and off-cuts that would otherwise be burned in local landfills.
By transforming these materials, we reduce waste and give new purpose to existing resources — without compromising on design or quality.
A conscious choice for the planet and a cleaner horizon.
LIGHT-WEIGHT
Crafted from high-performance kitesurf and windsurf sails, every UPWIND piece is naturally light and flexible.
What was once built to glide through the air now moves with you — whether you’re cycling through the city or chasing the next swell.
Comfort and freedom of movement, inspired by the wind itself.
DURABLE
Our materials were designed to withstand salt, UV, and years of intense conditions on the water.
Each product is built to last — resisting wear, retaining its structure, and aging beautifully with time.
What once faced the ocean’s power now stands the test of daily life.
ECO-FRIENDLY
Every piece is made from upcycled sails and off-cuts that would otherwise be burned in local landfills.
By transforming these materials, we reduce waste and give new purpose to existing resources — without compromising on design or quality.
A conscious choice for the planet and a cleaner horizon.