SOS Wyong

‘Varken’ is an Australian owned surf brand that was established in 2003 by Australian larrikin Matt Coonan, living on the Central Coast, NSW, Australia.

In Matt’s own words: ‘Varken came about as I was coming to the end of year 12. I sucked at school and was feeling the pressure of having to find a way to make money so I began to create my own clothing label. Having been one of the more disruptive students at school, I always felt that people didn’t quite get where I was coming from and as a teenager I didn’t think anyone really cared. It felt like I was getting pressure from the school, peer pressure, parents, and society to be someone that I didn’t want to be. So the first words that came to mind were VARKEN CANT.

These words had no real meaning at first except for the obvious play on words. In my mind Varken was a boy who couldn’t please everyone. He ended up failing miserably at everything he tried because of this pressure. He became isolated and depressed. This wasn’t based on my life but I do know what it is like to be isolated at school and in life.’ More recently the logo points to both the solitude and inner strength that each of us feels at some stage in life. Varken now symbolizes chilling out. Hitting the beach, taking in the awesomeness of the wind, the waves and the sun, before and after a surf. If you need to chill out you VARKEN CAN!

We all need time to chill out and think about what’s doing, in life, so that we don’t get isolated and we don’t become depressed. Think about who you are and don’t pretend to be something your not. Get a Varken good shirt and have a Varken nice day.

Since the invention of the ‘Varken’ brand name the owner Matt Coonan has become a born again Christian. While he now has a dislike of ‘swearing’ and ‘slang’ he cannot deny the humor on the play on words which his name brand represents…and neither can his mates.

Matt is hopeful that as the brand continues to grow it will be able to fund his dream to feed and look after the homeless and the poor and needy. Matt has taken a ‘hands on’ approach to this task with his good friend Jason Wilson. Both men are committed to their local area Wyong where they have begun putting on a free BBQ for those who are struggling to make ends meet. As the business grows he is hopeful that eventually all proceeds from T-shirt sales will go towards this endeavor.