Billabong and Otis Hope Carey have unveiled their ninth collaborative collection, furthering a partnership that celebrates First Nations culture, surfing and fishing.

Anchored in Otis' experience as a proud Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung man, artist and professional surfer, the long-standing collaboration with Billabong has resonated around the nation, becoming one of the most anticipated drops of the year.

While everything he does through his artistic practice is rooted in his ancestry, this capsule is different, with Otis taking a more playful approach.

Here, the camo pattern, emboldened by the red, yellow and black of the Aboriginal Flag, takes centre stage. It's a homage to an evasive fish, the mangrove red snapper (known as the mangrove jack), to which Otis says is one of his favourites to catch.

"I just love going fishing, walking the bank. And mangrove jack fishing's one of my favorite types to fish to target," said Otis.

"The concept behind the camo is in regards to that; how they're really elusive and they sort of hide. They'll sit up under brush and under logs and crevices, and they'll just come out and smash your lure.

"Fishing is my escape whenever I need to tap out from the world when everything gets a bit too noisy and I need to ground myself."

Underlying the Billabong x Otis Carey offering, which features unisex tees, shirts, shorts, skirts, swimwear and bags, is an adventurous spirit. Manufactured with durability and functionality in mind, the pieces within the collection pieces are designed specifically to be worn all day, every day.

"I just wanted to do a range where there's a bit of fishing gear and a bit of your regular sort of clothing," said Otis.

Standouts in the men's range include the Otis Spray Jacket, which comes in a camo/black colourway and is essential for time out on the river when day turns to night, as well as the Otis Arch SS Tee, featuring Otis' reimagining of the Billabong logo and colourways.

The Otis Sixty40 LT and Otis Dbah Pro boardshorts display Otis' attention to detail, with each pair giving powerful yet subtle nods to the mangrove jack and Country. A snake and mud crab - two animals Otis regularly encounters out on the estuary - are printed on two key tees from the women's edit: the Otis Estuary Tee and Snake Tee.

They help form the earthy, wild energy of the Billabong x Otis Carey capsule, which feels like it was conceived on the water during one of Otis' fishing trips.

To celebrate the campaign, Otis linked up with director Sam Brumby as well as long-time collaborator and fellow First Nations surfer and Billabong team rider Bodhi Simon.

Encapsulating the let's-have-fun ethos behind the collection, the trio hit the beach then the river on a surreal journey to catch the mangrove jack.

"This one was completely different, we had to do a bit of acting and it was pretty funny, and when the video comes out everyone's going to have a little laugh, I reckon," said Bodhi.

"Everyone loves these collabs because Otis' art is amazing and it really tells a story, it's nothing like anything else that Billabong puts out, and every time I watch the videos, I get chills."

The campaign video, along with the Billabong x Otis Carey collection, is a true testament to Billabong's appreciation and trust in Otis and his talents; it's a partnership built on mutual respect and admiration.

"I have a really good relationship with Billabong, and they're like family, we all just have so much fun, there's great communication and it's a really enjoyable collaboration to create every year," said Otis.

The Billabong x Otis Carey collection is available at billabong.com.au, Surf Dive 'N Ski, and all good surf retailers around the country from January 5th, 2026.

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