From the shapers of Montauk to the dedicated riders stowing their boards on the subway in search of a ripe wave, we've known New York is a treasure trove of surf's history and talent for a while now. Business savvy surfers are taking advantage of the East Coast's burgeoning reputation as surf authority with a flourish of apparel companies like Saturdays Surf and Mollusk. Our newest Northern obsession? New York's Break East, an upscale men's apparel brand catering to patrons who prefer understated board shorts and wear-to-work button-downs over the West Coast's flashier fare.

The just launched line, headed by founder and president Jason Latos, may only be for the boys, but its lead designer is Anna Drastik, a German designer fighting to put East Coast surf on the map.

"When I first met the [Break East] crew I had no idea that there were New York surfers," Anna says. "It seems like a lot of effort and not always the desired reward."

That sentiment led Anna to design pieces that lend function and fit to the oft-rushed businessman/surfer hybrid. Her favorite piece is a naturally wrinkled button-down– perfect for balling up in briefcases when the surfing gets good.

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