Our Story

Biography

Hope Durot

Hope Durot is the founder of Cool Waves Everywhere, a community-driven brand born from a deep belief in human connection, resilience, and the power of showing up for one another. A returned Peace Corps volunteer from Colombia and an English teacher based in Spain, Hope has spent her life building bridges between cultures and people.

She launched Cool Waves in New York City, starting by making every product entirely by hand. As the brand grew, she transitioned to working with local community members in Morocco to bring the pieces to life, keeping the spirit of grassroots, people-first creation at the heart of everything.

From New York to Valencia, Spain, where she is currently based, Hope has carried the Cool Waves spirit with her everywhere she goes. With plans to expand to Barcelona next, her mission remains the same: to bring cool waves to every corner of the world and connect people from all walks of life along the way.

Our Story

Cool Waves started at the beach in Rhode Island. Going to the ocean was just something she did when she needed to clear her head.

When her friend died by suicide, it hit hard. It made her think about how many people are carrying things alone, without a real space to just exist and be honest about it. Watching the waves helped her process that. They keep moving no matter what. Up, down, crash, repeat. She thought, that's kind of what life asks of us too.

That's where the name comes from. Not a brand concept, just a feeling. The idea that you can be in the middle of something hard and still believe something good is coming. Honestly, half the time it just means saying "cooool wavesss" in your best hippie accent and choosing to vibe with life exactly as it is.

"Community is a group of people who agree to grow together." Simon Sinek

Who We Are

Cool Waves is a grassroots, nonprofit startup. They are teachers, artists, dancers, singers, public servants, Peace Corps volunteers, students, and organizers, all bringing their different backgrounds into one shared space. They started in New York, with connections and people in cities around the world.

What We Are Building

Cool Waves is working toward becoming a fully registered nonprofit, and every step taken is moving in that direction. Right now, the way they fund that vision is simple: they sell t-shirts, and every dollar goes directly into community projects, events, and micro-grants for creatives.

If you've been looking for a place like this, you found it. Come ride the wave with us.