Willy - The scaleless tail

Willy's tail is different from everything we've created so far. A scaleless mermaid tail. It gives me shivers just to think about it! Scales are the identity of our Guardian tails, they're our core, our signature as a brand.

But how do you make a mammal-inspired tail? An orca tail, inspired by such majestic beings — fearless, powerful, intelligent predators? How do you transform all of that into a mermaid tail and keep it scaleless?

How do you give that depth and magnitude to a fabric tail? Orcas have almost no skin texture, and texture is such an important part of how we create realism and that 3D effect in our designs.

It was such a challenge. One that took me a loooong time to figure out. I wanted to capture the unmistakable presence of an orca while staying true to what makes a Guardian tail feel like ours. And honestly, my heart ached a little at the thought of creating something without our signature scales. But I also knew that, to do justice to such an incredible animal, I had to embrace what makes it different.

And then there's Willy's name. I know the movie that inspired it carries a complicated history, especially with everything we now understand about orcas in captivity. But the name comes from that childhood perspective, from something that filled us with wonder and nurtured our love for the ocean long before we knew better.

Willy is a limited, somewhat experimental creation, and that makes it even more special to me. I hope you love it, and I can't wait to see all the adventures you'll have with it!