Manu, the Basque surfer who sweeps the networks with his Hawaiian shirts and tattoos

SARAI VAZQUEZ

Dawn surprises Manu Lamela on Sopela beach with his board under his arm about to enter the sea. "In Bizkaia we are lucky to have waves 300 days a year," he celebrates. This sport captivated him when he was 10 years old: «My uncle would take me for a walk along the cliffs of Uribe Kosta and from there I would see the surfers in the water. Also, I have always lived close to the sea and all my friends surfed, so it came into my life naturally,” he says. Today, at 42 years old, this adventurer from Leioa who is dedicated to telecommunications, has not stopped getting on his board daily. "My work allows me," he says.

Surfing has become his lifestyle. "What I like the most is the wildest part: traveling in search of waves and being in contact with nature," she confesses. Something that is reflected in his way of dressing: relaxed, carefree and with a surfer aesthetic. In fact, his stylistic references are people from countries where he has moved to surf, such as Bali or Australia (especially the city of Byron Bay), since these enclaves have marked his "own style", so rare in Biscay. In his very personal style, comfort prevails without losing the 'buzz'. And, in addition, it has several basic rules: "You only have to wear skinny jeans with long-sleeved shirts", "never wear shorts below the knee" and it is essential to avoid "the appearance of footballers or the style that It's sold at Zara."

Manu dresses outside of trends. "I wear what I want, yes, I always try to flow," he says. In his wardrobe, oversized T-shirts with minimalist lines and Hawaiian shirts are a constant. On the other hand, he is a lover of the sailor look (or 'navy' in its Anglo-Saxon facet), a groundbreaking trend that was established in 1837 and has become a spring classic. He knows and handles his basic components very well: a navy blue striped T-shirt and a cap. He is "a big fan" of black and neutral colors, and only opts for a pattern "if it's pretty." In winter, he is a lover of fur coats and long woolen cardigans. "I have to look for them in the girl's section," he admits.

In the field of accessories, she is fascinated by the aforementioned sailor caps, hats and large rings. His favorites, the exclusive pieces that craftsman Juan Luis Zubizarreta made for him. And it is that Manu values ​​​​"handmade with taste" items. "If I can, I always try to invest in local projects to generate more creativity," he says.

She's not looking for fashion, she just crosses her path

She's one of those people who try to change the course of the fashion industry by consuming clothes sensibly. "I don't want to have millions of clothes that expire over time, but a few that identify me," she admits. In fact, he does not look for fashion, but crosses his path. And it is usually in 'Picos Pardos', the second-hand store of his friend Diego Fernández, located at number 26 Alameda Urquijo street in Bilbao. “There I find different things. I don't like to wear clothes that everyone else has," he admits. He also acquires pieces at the click of a button on 'online' brands with a surfer spirit that he discovers on Instagram.

This 'rider' has made his hair his hallmark. "I've been like this my whole life. Four years ago I cut it off, but since then I've let it grow; And I don't think it will change," he says. In his opinion, accompanied by a "cool" aesthetic, the long hair provides a "different touch". Long, curly hair with a natural lightening caused by the sun and sea salt to which he does not pay much attention: «I am a disaster. In winter, with the neoprene hood I get knots that look like dreadlocks. Sometimes, I think that it will have to be cut, but I always fix it with a lot of mask, "he says with a laugh. She usually wears high bows or leaves her hair loose under her characteristic hats.

Her skin, from arms to legs, is painted by the fashion accessory: the tattoo. "I will be over 20," she says. For him, they are a form of expression and fun. "Many of the tattoo artists are my friends and I really appreciate the time I spend with them developing the idea," he says. Some have meaning, like the panther tattooed on him when his father was battling an illness. Others simply arise from "wild occurrences," like Mickey Mouse cutting a heart with a chainsaw or himself surfing a rainbow in a polka-dot shirt. Among his wide variety of 'tattoos', there is also room for his "geekier" side: "I have a version of the tattoo that Johnny Depp got for the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie."

She saw Instagram as an opportunity to combine her passions: surfing, photography and writing. "It allows me to convey how I feel," she says. Among his photos, uploaded to the table, which are the majority, “a little posturing” sneaks in. Some 'posts' in which he shows his lifestyle, "a bit of a hippie" and his "great vibe" when it comes to dressing. But at Manu's house, he is not the only one who succeeds in networks. Duque, his dog, a year-and-a-half-year-old brown Pomeranian, already has more than 1,400 followers. "It's beautiful and it even goes to the spa," he says with a laugh.