Surfing has its origins in ancient Polynesia. But it wasn’t until the late ‘50s and early ’60s, when Southern California pioneered the sport as a lifestyle choice, that American surf culture came into its own. Two-ply swim trunks, board shirts and “Baja” hoodies became the coastal uniform of Hollywood; movies like Gidget, Blue Hawaii and The Endless Summer conquered the American big screen; The Beach Boys and The Ventures set the soundtrack. Today the era is survived by a handful of style brands that continue to embody the freewheeling spirit of the time. Some have evolved into full-blown fashion brands with new styles every season, while others have decided to remain focused on a limited number of core offerings. But regardless of their differences, their names all share respectable influence in history of surf culture. Here are their stories.
Katin
In 1954, Nancy and Walter Katin started manufacturing boat covers from heavy-duty canvas in Surfside, California. Three years later, they started selling trunks fashioned from the same rugged material to the local surfing community. Their popularity spread, and surfwear soon became a full-fledged occupation for the Katins. Today, the clothing company is led by one of its early seamstresses, Sato Hughes, alongside her son, Glenn Hughes. In addition to swimwear, Katin offers a range of lifestyle clothing, including tees, button-downs and hats. Some garments, such as the Arch Trucker hat ($29), still feature the original “K Man” patch introduced in the ‘50s.
Pendelton Woolen Mills
For over 100 years, Oregon-based Pendleton Woolen Mills has been making among the best blankets and throws known to man. Little known, however, is the brand’s rich pedigree in the California surf culture of the ‘50s and ‘60s. Before modern wetsuit technology, surfers would coat Pendleton Board Shirts ($90+) in petroleum jelly for ad-hoc water resistance. In fact, the Beach Boys, formerly known as The Pendletones, can be seen wearing the Board Shirt on the cover of their 1962 debut album Surfin’ Safari.
