Coral
Every year since we launched SMMT, we have delivered one Nine80 annually with a Community Cast. This is a community-centric invite to vote and be a part of the design process for an upcoming limited edition launch. And, every year, the Community Cast reminds us of something important. We don't always know what you will love. It’s an important reminder.
We spend months collecting inspiration for our Community Cast. From mountain town life, coastline vacations, road trips, and once-in-a-lifetime destinations. We sketch, refine, debate, and eventually narrow the collection to a handful of designs that feel directionally SMMT.
Then we let go. The final decision belongs to our community. This year, you surprised us.
The Sunsets annual inspiration has always been an opportunity to be more vibrant, but Coral wasn't the direction we expected. It was brighter, more energetic, and more expressive than anything we'd released before.
And the more we sat with it, the more we understood why.
Inspired by travel to tropical waters and sunlit beaches of places like Florida and the Caribbean, Coral captures a side of outdoor life we hadn't fully explored. The sense of getting away from it all. It's the paddleboard tied to the dock. The beach chair that stays until sunset. And the sound of the ocean waves rolling against the beach as nature’s sound machine. It’s the choice to wear Nantucket Reds when khaki would suffice.
Ultimately, it's a reminder that the outdoors isn't defined by one landscape, and neither should we.
Sometimes the best ideas ask us to step outside our comfort zone. Sometimes the community sees something before we do. We talk about our Nine80 limited edition program as ‘Uncommon Drops.’ Coral is our boldest and most unique yet. It was an invitation to try something unexpected, to let our drinkware stand out. And maybe, to let a little more of ourselves stand out too.
Thank you for casting your vote! We hope you all have a moment to spread your toes in a white sand beach this summer…but if not, let Coral be your momentary escape to the beach. Sunsets Volume 03: Coral is available now, and early access is always community first.
