The late Brian Button
– Button Wear muse, Legendary Swim Coach
To many top athletes, Brian was known as the best swim coach on the planet! Brian was coaching until well after his 86th birthday and many swimmers have been swimming under his “GO Please!” for over 20 years. Sadly, he passed away in 2019, missed but not forgotten. Button Wear was and continues to be inspired by this legendary swim coach, who brought out the very best in all who knew him.
Meet Hazel
– Button Wear Founder, Cold Water Swimmer
I grew up on a farm in Mpumalanga, schooled locally and studied Fashion Design in Johannesburg after completing matric. The magic of Cape Town lured me in 2002, and I dabbled in various industries – PR and photography for a Surfski Series; Secretary to an attorney; Sales at Media 24; and sales & PR for a sports marketing company. In all this time, swimming kept my life in balance.
In 2009 I took to swimming in the sea and with the help of Brian Button and a few other open-water swimmers. I trained for my very first Robben Island crossing (Robben Island to Big Bay, Blouberg). I managed a successful crossing in 2010. What a challenge!
After struggling to get out of my costume after many a swim in the icy ocean in Cape Town, I came up with the idea of a swim changing robe. Then, enlisting the help from friends on styling and sizing and finding the correct material…. Button Wear Robes was born in August 2020.
Meet Alistair Shaw
– Button Wear Button Maker, Tree Lover
Trees have intrigued me from a young age. With time I learnt basic carpentry from my parents, relatives & friends. I could identify which wood came from which tree & so learnt the qualities of wood & their uses – softwood(pine) vs hardwood (mahogany).
The appreciation of wood grain & colour after various treatments almost became an obsession. However I do avoid new cuts from rare trees for conservation reasons. I started using a wood turning lathe whereby one could cut & turn pieces of wood in to all sorts of shapes (lamp stands, platters & candle holders etc) – then finally polish to enjoy the end product! Making wood buttons on my lathe is my latest fad. I have not indicated that this is a hobby in my pensioner years!