Stab Magazine | 63 Years In Surf's Gotta Count For Something

Live Now: Chapter 11 Mini-Documentary With Dane Reynolds

1023 Views

63 Years In Surf’s Gotta Count For Something

A heritage range worth viewing from veteran trunk makers, Katin.

style // Dec 14, 2017
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

What could be more on trend’s pulse than a bearded man with lavish golden locks, an antique van, a log and his gorg girl in tow. It’s the look of the era; hip, double-tap-friendly, “hipster!” Only thing is, Californian based surf label Katin, have been in this game since 1954, that’s several decades longer than most of us have existed. Kinda transcends the whole trend thing, right?

Story time, gather round.

Brainchild of Surfside California locals, Nancy and Walter Katin, Kanvis By Katin (as it was originally named) started out peddling canvas boat covers and ‘boat shorts’, revered for their sturdy construction and limitless durability. Then one day a sunbleached teen turned up at their humble establishment looking for shorts designed for surf – turns out wearing zero-way-stretch denim cutoffs wasn’t working out for him. So good ol’ Walt and Nancy knocked up a custom set for the boy, tailored for his waveriding needs. Word got out, the Katin’s found a hole in the emerging surf market and the rest is history. By the way, the kid’s name was Corky Carroll, who went on to become one of the world’s first professional surfers and the custom shorts designed in his name became one of California’s first surf trunks.

309Surviving the turbulent eras of fashion is an amicable achievement. Looking at the current state of the surfwear industry with all its competition, downsizing, budget strangling and overseas production, it’s great to see a wholesome US based (and made) brand hold its own for so long.

So what do they have here for you today? How can you support their continuing longevity? Well they’ve just released an exclusive range available through SurfStitch called The K-Man Collection. Basically it’s a range of tees, hoodies, hats and their world famous surf trunks, all saluting the heritage of the brand through colours, patterns and logo design. Hit play on the above reel for some 50’s flavour and peruse the imagery we ripped right out of the campaign shoot to get a taste of the wearables. 310

311

312

313

Shop more over here.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: João Chianca Had A Remarkable Hawaii Season Before His Injury

Plus an update on his condition.

Mar 28, 2024

Pittar’d And Feathered

Do the WSL judges deserve the internet's wrath? We asked the man of the hour.

Mar 28, 2024

Robbo, Pickles, And Tyler Wright Become The Underdogs Breakfast At Uninspiring Winkipop

The foreboding blade sharpens and inconsistent judging prevails on Day Two in Torquay.

Mar 27, 2024

“I Don’t Always Win Heats, But When I Do, I Try To Beat John John”

Slater shines and the axe begins its descent on Day 01 at Bells.

Mar 26, 2024

Back Against The Wall: The Ramzi Boukhiam Redemption

Morocco's first CT surfer on speaking six languages, having no coach, and snatching Fil Toledo's…

Mar 25, 2024

Will Kirra, Babies or JJF Stop a GOAT Winning at Bells?

Bluesky BOAG advice from a Superman specialist and former Trials winner.

Mar 25, 2024

Bells Preview: The WSL’s Victorian Sword Dancing Equinox Ritual

Will a Brazilian crack the Top 10 at Bells?

Mar 25, 2024

69 Shin Bones Later + the Anticlimactic State of Big Wave Record-Breaking

Lucas Chumbo might have surfed the biggest wave ever this year. But how will we…

Mar 23, 2024

Watch: ‘Fresh and Fried’ Ft the Quik Kids

How taxing is it to tackle the Gold Coast’s Triple Crown in a single day,…

Mar 23, 2024

The Popular Vote: The People’s Stab In The Dark With Kolohe Andino Champion

Which board looked best — to you —under Kolohe's talons?

Mar 22, 2024

Six Key Learnings From Portugal

Three CT events in, what do we know? 

Mar 21, 2024

‘Zipper’ Is Going On Tour, Here’s Where You Can Watch It  

Dates, times + locations for the Venice, Encinitas, Sydney + Byron premieres.  

Mar 20, 2024

Dane Reynolds On His Future, His Past, And Chapter 11’s Raison D’être

Our 9-minute plunge into the collective psyche of Ventura's pillar(s).

Mar 20, 2024

From ‘Blue Ribbon Cross Country Runner’ to Vogue – How Steph Again Is Back With A Rip Curl Remix

Everything we know about the she-GOATs sponsorship boomerang.

Mar 18, 2024

Stab Interview: Darren Handley Explains Why You Can’t Buy The Winning Stab In The Dark Model

And his decades-long standoff with Slater.

Mar 17, 2024

Griff Embraces Portugal’s Eternal Time Loop To Vanquish Medina + Ewing, Defay Delays The Inevitable

A redeeming closing act at Supertubos.

Mar 16, 2024

The Secret Behind Lungi Slabb’s Inconceivable Greenmount Funnel

Six broken boards, one leaking forehead, and five days of Superbank mysticism.

Mar 16, 2024

Cheat Codes: A Million Miles Worth Of Travel Advice From Coco Ho

Hard-earned wisdom from more than 2,000 hours in the troposphere.

Mar 15, 2024
Advertisement