Town and Country Surf Designs Has Been Resurrected

I lost my favourite pair of trunks after a bout of nude, ecstasy-fuelled nightswimming at Stab alumnus Elliot Struck’s 30^th birthday party. I haven’t found a replacement, and that was almost two years ago. Whenever concentration wavers I inevitably find myself on Gralied, trawling in vain for some bygone relic of surf brands past. Op shop shopping, virtual or otherwise, is a myth. Sure there’s romance in finding a rare sartorial gem nestled amongst the piles of musty tatt that frequent these landfill waiting rooms, but strike rates are low. So low, that for the determined archeologist—if you added up all the time wasted on the hunt—it’d be far more cost effective to buy new clothes. After countless hours whittled away, I’d called off my search for the ultimate pair of heritage trunks. Or so I thought, as last week a tasteful lookbook containing the finest pair of surfing shorts in hazy memory landed in my inbox. The intrigue? They’re Town & Country, and, they’re new.

Godamn that’s a handsome pair of trunks.

Town and Country began it’s long, colourful history as a surf shop, set up by founder Craig Sugihara in the shell of an old barbershop in Pearl City, Hawaii, 1971. During the formative years of surfing in the islands, the Kamehameha highway was the only road that connected the city and the North Shore. Pearl City is just about halfway up the Kam—in between Honolulu and Haleiwa—thus the name “Town & Country”, and, the yin-yang logo that represents the juxtaposition of surfing in Hawaii and beyond. Town and Country Surf Designs evolved from boards to apparel, and the emphasis has always been on roots and fun. Since the brand’s honest beginnings the list of surfers who’ve borne the iconic yin-yang over the years reads like a progressive who’s who; from Larry Bertlemann and Dane Kealoha through Archy and Christian Fletcher, and even Bruce and Andy in their brash formative years. The brand’s been bubbling away in Hawaii for the duration, but it’s been missing from Australian shores for some time. Until now. The license had been re-forged, T&C Aloha has come to life, and boy have they done a good job with the range.

“Surf”, colour, and totally wearable.

When you’ve got a lineage as rich, and a logo as pleasing as Town & Country Surf Designs, you don’t need to overcomplicate things. T&C was always at the more daring end of surf fashion, and the spring Australian offering pays homage to what’s come before in infinitely wearable style. The trunks, particularly the Yin-Yang’s in both shades, are just sensational. The tee with “T&C Surf Designs” across the chest is the only garment with the word “surf” printed on it that I’d wear. And, if you’re going to dabble in logo tees, then it may as well be the yin-yang that’s such an integral part of our collective heritage. Then there’s the boards: updates on some of the classic silhouettes shaped by none other than master-craftsmen Ian Byrne and Gunther Rohn. Quite frankly, it’s a triumph. Hit the link below if you’re a fan of packages arriving at your door, or (Full list of stockists below).

Tell me that’s not a pleasing silhouette and I’ll call you a liar.

Browse the digital racks here.

Or pick it up and try it in at these fine institutions: AUS: Surfection Mossman, Surf Culture Bondi, Slimes Central Coast, Saltwater Wine Port Macquarie, Wicks Collaroy, Finbox Thirroul, Aquatique Nowra, Alfreds Gold Coast, Glass Ave Newport, Keel Freshwater, Zink Kiama, Sanbah Newcastle, Stay Lucky Perth. NZ: Backdoor Surf, Modern Collective.

Timeless…