Gold Coast duo Jase Alpen and Kevin Painter, founders of drinkware and bottled water company, Hope Water.
Gold Coast duo Jase Alpen and Kevin Painter, founders of drinkware and bottled water company, Hope Water.
What do you get when two Gold Coast mates mix a round of golf with a few beers and a big idea? Hope Water, premium, reusable bottles that look good, last forever, and leave single-use plastic in the dust.
From Mermaid Beach beginnings to collabs with AFL teams and five-star hotels, Jase Alpen and Kevin Painter have built a global hydration brand that’s still proudly Gold Coast at heart. We caught up with the Water Boys to chat about how they turned a local idea into a worldwide wave.
How long have you been Gold Coast locals?
Jase has been on the Gold Coast since he was sixteen & Kevy since he was 20!
What do you love most about the Gold Coast?
Jase: You mean about God’s country? Haha what’s not to love – surf, sun, and lifestyle. It’s heaven. And as a city, it’s only getting bigger and better with so many opportunities for small businesses like ours.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves.
Jase: We’ve been mates for years, the kind of friends who clicked instantly and never looked back. These days, we’re basically joined at the hip (and on a golf course whenever we get the chance whether or not we’re actually any good is up for debate).
Kev’s built a powerhouse of a manufacturing business over the last 12 years, while I have built up a barbering business ‘Zeppelin Barbers’ on the Gold Coast & one in Melbourne. We’ve always tossed around big ideas, and one day we finally thought, “Why not build something together?” That’s how Hope was born, blending our skills, our passion for sport, and a shared drive to shake things up.
How did Hope Water come about?
Kev: Hope Water was born the classic Aussie way over a couple of tins one Saturday arvo, throwing ideas around. We kept coming back to the same thing: the world didn’t need another plastic bottle, it needed a better solution. So we decided to be part of that change.
First came the water, then the drinkware and we didn’t just want to make bottles, we wanted to reimagine them. Now, with our signature custom sports lids and premium design, we’re not only changing the way people hydrate, we’re doing it on the world stage. From AFL clubs to the Wallabies, even Formula 1 teams, our love for sport and good design has opened doors we never imagined.
Where can we purchase Hope Water on the Gold Coast?
Jase/Kev: You can find us in a number of cafés and hotels across the Coast:
What has been the biggest opportunity and/or challenge so far?
Kev: We’ve had some incredible opportunities recently, doing water bottles for:
The biggest challenge? Keeping up with how fast Hope is moving, it’s like a Ferrari!
How have you managed to secure collaborations with major sporting teams like AFL, F1’s Alpine Team, and the Wallabies?
Jase: I don’t know how Kev does it, but he can really lock in a deal. I just try to look good and sell it on Instagram, haha.
In all seriousness, I think we bring a strong vision and great design that appeals to these sporting organisations. They want us to help them refresh parts of their business that might be feeling a bit stale.
Tell us a bit about your refillable water bottle design.
Kev: Meet our performance drink bottle:
What’s next for Hope Water?
Jase: The biggest thing right now is the Lions tour, it only happens every 12 years and there’s a huge buzz.
We’re also working with the Wallabies and gearing up for the Ashes tour at the end of the year. It’s honestly a pinch-me moment.
How do you choose to spend your days off?
Kev: Golf, beach, and family time.
What are your Gold Coast favourites?
Café: Rafiki
Restaurant: Cantina, Piatto, Glenelg, Rick Shores, Labart
Bar: Cantina
Beach: Mermaid Beach
