Local Entrepreneurs Go Global With Style

Charlie Stanton and Nat Disston are style savvy fashion entrepreneurs with an eye for casual chic. Last year, the Fairfield county-born duo launched their surf-inspired coastal clothing company, VoyVoy. They’re  just 21 years old and balancing their senior years of college with managing a growing business.

“I started making surfboards with my dad in high school,” explains Disston, a Ridgefield native who recently started his senior year at Georgetown University. “I come from a creative family. My dad is an artist and we would take surf trips to Central America. VoyVoy grew from those experiences. We’re not a surf company, but our roots come from that kind of casual lifestyle.”

Initially, the pair began VoyVoy -- Spanish for “we go, we go,” and Central American surfing shorthand for “calling” a wave -- by splitting the work load down the middle. As the hip clothing company has grown, Disston has taken the lead on design, while Stanton has emerged as the marketing force behind the brand.

“VoyVoy has been an awesome ride for me so far,” says Stanton, a Wake Forest College senior, originally from New Canaan. “It's been hard work but it's also been a ton of fun, as I get to spend every day working with my best friend on something that I take a lot of pride in. I'm currently not taking the most conventional career path, but I hope it stays that way. My Dad is a self-employed architect and my Mom does freelance marketing, so for me the urge to go out and create my own job is definitely something I get from my parents.”

This serendipitous friendship began with family trips to Long Island and has blossomed into an ambitious business for these creative young men. “We have big ideas,” says Disston. “But we’re starting off small. We created a signature style for our shirts, the ‘pocket square.’" The small detail on VoyVoy’s tees and polo shirts—a slightly exposed breast pocket in a second, complementary color—makes the brand’s pieces immediately recognizable and unique.

VoyVoy’s comfortable cotton clothing is all manufactured in Peru, another deliberate detail. “We made a very conscious decision to create a sustainable, quality product,” Disston says. “The best cotton in the world comes from Peru, so we didn’t want to get it anywhere else. We found a really conscientious manufacturer who is certified in fair labor practices. We want our brand to be approachable, comfortable and sustainable.” For Disston and Stanton, this starts with choosing a responsible manufacturer.

In addition to creating a sustainable business, the pair is also committed to completing their degrees. “As for the short term future, I plan on finishing my final year at Wake Forest University and then moving to New York City with Nat to continue working on VoyVoy,” says Stanton. “For now we are still very small, but the buzz has already begun to spread across certain college campuses, which has been really exciting for us.”

Currently, the line includes casual tees, polos and hats. “We’ll be adding new styles like shorts and pants soon,” Disston promises. You can find VoyVoy’s line locally at the Darien Sport Shop. You can also shop on VoyVoy’s website.

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