Know Your Jazz! (Product that matters!)
Gather round Stab’s fire and hear some rhythms from the surf biz! Product that matters. There is such a thing. And what makes product is its story. Here, you’ll find some stories behind some of our favourite pieces, from our favourite companies. Wanna know why simply reading ‘Cons’ triggers understanding in your sartorial memory? A non-bland lesson waits below! **** 01. Chuck Taylor All-Stars Classic Hi, $90, by Converse Someone says the word ‘Cons.’ And you know immediately that they’re talking about Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Why? Because they’re so heavily entrenched in pop culture that all it takes is four letters for you to reel off a slideshow in your head that mashes various scenes, lifestyles, cultures, movements and musical explosions. There’s two things in particular you should know about these. First, they’ve essentially remained unchanged since initial production back in 1917 (yeah – they’re almost 100 years old). If it ain’t broke, right? And second, while these exist in so very many forms of signature series, collab joints, and various materials – because everyone wants a piece of ‘em – the more common canvas All-Stars are story-tellers of their own. The canvas allows for posca, paint, unique wear and tear, and any and all wearing-in and customisation you can spin. The more you wear ‘em, the better they look. So beat the shit out of your Cons! These shoes are made for walking. (Shop here) **** 02. Txoko by Craig Anderson, $350, by Electric A Txoko is a typically Basque type of closed gastronomical society who come together to cook, experiment with new ways of cooking, eat and socialise. Not this time though, fam. just pure eye protection from the haus of Electric and style oligarch Craig Anderson. A lil Warhol, a lil Basquait… yum. (Shop here) **** 03. Vibe Dumpster boardshorts, $70, by Rusty Lose your inhibitions, lower your tone and pass the peace pipe. Flaunt flora. It’s a one way street to utopia. Kick it under a tree and rep your knee. This is how Summer time should be. (Shop here) **** 04. Soul boardshorts, $70, by RVCA Turn your wardrobe into an art gallery and your buzz won’t dry. Timeless pieces aid. Just starting out? Step #1: Reach for a post-it. Step #2: Call, email or direct your personal drone at a RVCA agent immediately. Equip stock broker tête-à-tête and ensure repetition of the not so secret word of democracy (buy, buy, buy!) until these trunks are in your possession. No regrets. They’re hypno hipnition. (Shop here) **** 05. Hikari Jacket, $400, by Globe Design will save the world. Globe know it and now you do. Their Hikari range pledges ‘design without compromise’ which translated means they design and manufacture these style without regard to cost of materials or price points or sales objectives, they are pure design projects. The jacket is a core temp-conscious two-in-one deal too, the inner bomber jacket pulls out and can be adorned solo, weather gods permitting. We applaud – and whether you’ve got a bone to pick with capitalism or not – we’re sure you will too. Suave waterproof warmth is a precious commodity. (Shop here) **** 06. Leash, $38, by Modom Any brand that’s incorporated a palindrome into their name is worthy of your time because intelligence attracts intelligence. And nothing’s quite as smart as securing that foam to your ankle, no matter what the craft. Modom, despite its underground beginnings in Victoria, reps one of the most stacked teams in the accessories market. TB, Ando, Freestone, even Alana Blanchard, they’re all here because they are smart, just like you, and just like our palindrome friend here, Modom. (Shop here) **** 07. Limpio Dopp Kit, $125, by Nixon Maintaining your gentility on the road isn’t always an easy thing, even for a sophisticated steeze solider like yourself, and let’s be real here, dropping your jazz just ain’t an option. Welcome the Nixon toiletries bag; champagne poppin’ fresh, it screams “money ain’t a thang” out of the sunroof. Swoon your fellow time travellers. Pack your tusk tools, your meds, your comb. Leave ‘em dripping. Stay balling. (Shop here) **** 08. Leash, $45, by Creatures Of Leisure Minutes before departing for a quick snatch and grab Fiji swell in November, I picked up this Creatures leash. Cloudbreak was too big and a session of wash-throughs left me with a hole in my arm and little else. We motored back in and Restaurants was clean and fiveish feet. I was sharing the boat with two baby-faced teens who had never surfed over reef until this trip. My arm was leaking blood and (new pals) Max and Everett were psyched. As Ev tried to wax a 6’4” he’d found during council cleanup, I suggested he take my board, a 5’11”. It took some convincing but he finally agreed, paddled out and scratched himself into a four footer. He hesitated as he got to his feet and took one of those classic fall-outta-the-lip beatings. Sets kept piling up and Ev was caught. He started dragging under and didn’t know why. Turns out, his leash was caught round the reef and the natural pull of the ocean was dragging him toward the beach while the board and leash were trapped. Ev tugged at the board but it wouldn’t release. He wore another wave on the head. The drag worsened and he lunged forward, got his finger in the plastic loop and broke free. He was washed across the reef by another set. The board and leash stayed jammed and tombstoning and surfers in the lineup thought there was a kid still attached. Finally they saw the surfer was free as Ev made it back to the boat. It took another 30 minutes for a lull until the board could be broken away. Ev was cut up and visibly shaken – I sent him back into the lineup and tried to make light of the sitch. This is completely unfounded but I can think of a number of
Gather round Stab’s fire and hear some rhythms from the surf biz!
Product that matters. There is such a thing. And what makes product is its story. Here, you’ll find some stories behind some of our favourite pieces, from our favourite companies. Wanna know why simply reading ‘Cons’ triggers understanding in your sartorial memory? A non-bland lesson waits below!
****
01. Chuck Taylor All-Stars Classic Hi, $90, by Converse
Someone says the word ‘Cons.’ And you know immediately that they’re talking about Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Why? Because they’re so heavily entrenched in pop culture that all it takes is four letters for you to reel off a slideshow in your head that mashes various scenes, lifestyles, cultures, movements and musical explosions. There’s two things in particular you should know about these. First, they’ve essentially remained unchanged since initial production back in 1917 (yeah – they’re almost 100 years old). If it ain’t broke, right? And second, while these exist in so very many forms of signature series, collab joints, and various materials – because everyone wants a piece of ‘em – the more common canvas All-Stars are story-tellers of their own. The canvas allows for posca, paint, unique wear and tear, and any and all wearing-in and customisation you can spin. The more you wear ‘em, the better they look. So beat the shit out of your Cons! These shoes are made for walking.
****
02. Txoko by Craig Anderson, $350, by Electric
A Txoko is a typically Basque type of closed gastronomical society who come together to cook, experiment with new ways of cooking, eat and socialise. Not this time though, fam. just pure eye protection from the haus of Electric and style oligarch Craig Anderson. A lil Warhol, a lil Basquait… yum.
****
03. Vibe Dumpster boardshorts, $70, by Rusty
Lose your inhibitions, lower your tone and pass the peace pipe. Flaunt flora. It’s a one way street to utopia. Kick it under a tree and rep your knee. This is how Summer time should be.
****
04. Soul boardshorts, $70, by RVCA
Turn your wardrobe into an art gallery and your buzz won’t dry. Timeless pieces aid. Just starting out? Step #1: Reach for a post-it. Step #2: Call, email or direct your personal drone at a RVCA agent immediately. Equip stock broker tête-à-tête and ensure repetition of the not so secret word of democracy (buy, buy, buy!) until these trunks are in your possession. No regrets. They’re hypno hipnition.
****
05. Hikari Jacket, $400, by Globe
Design will save the world. Globe know it and now you do. Their Hikari range pledges ‘design without compromise’ which translated means they design and manufacture these style without regard to cost of materials or price points or sales objectives, they are pure design projects. The jacket is a core temp-conscious two-in-one deal too, the inner bomber jacket pulls out and can be adorned solo, weather gods permitting. We applaud – and whether you’ve got a bone to pick with capitalism or not – we’re sure you will too. Suave waterproof warmth is a precious commodity.
****
06. Leash, $38, by Modom
Any brand that’s incorporated a palindrome into their name is worthy of your time because intelligence attracts intelligence. And nothing’s quite as smart as securing that foam to your ankle, no matter what the craft. Modom, despite its underground beginnings in Victoria, reps one of the most stacked teams in the accessories market. TB, Ando, Freestone, even Alana Blanchard, they’re all here because they are smart, just like you, and just like our palindrome friend here, Modom.
****
07. Limpio Dopp Kit, $125, by Nixon
Maintaining your gentility on the road isn’t always an easy thing, even for a sophisticated steeze solider like yourself, and let’s be real here, dropping your jazz just ain’t an option. Welcome the Nixon toiletries bag; champagne poppin’ fresh, it screams “money ain’t a thang” out of the sunroof. Swoon your fellow time travellers. Pack your tusk tools, your meds, your comb. Leave ‘em dripping. Stay balling.
****
08. Leash, $45, by Creatures Of Leisure
Minutes before departing for a quick snatch and grab Fiji swell in November, I picked up this Creatures leash. Cloudbreak was too big and a session of wash-throughs left me with a hole in my arm and little else. We motored back in and Restaurants was clean and fiveish feet. I was sharing the boat with two baby-faced teens who had never surfed over reef until this trip. My arm was leaking blood and (new pals) Max and Everett were psyched. As Ev tried to wax a 6’4” he’d found during council cleanup, I suggested he take my board, a 5’11”. It took some convincing but he finally agreed, paddled out and scratched himself into a four footer. He hesitated as he got to his feet and took one of those classic fall-outta-the-lip beatings. Sets kept piling up and Ev was caught. He started dragging under and didn’t know why. Turns out, his leash was caught round the reef and the natural pull of the ocean was dragging him toward the beach while the board and leash were trapped. Ev tugged at the board but it wouldn’t release. He wore another wave on the head. The drag worsened and he lunged forward, got his finger in the plastic loop and broke free. He was washed across the reef by another set. The board and leash stayed jammed and tombstoning and surfers in the lineup thought there was a kid still attached. Finally they saw the surfer was free as Ev made it back to the boat. It took another 30 minutes for a lull until the board could be broken away. Ev was cut up and visibly shaken – I sent him back into the lineup and tried to make light of the sitch. This is completely unfounded but I can think of a number of these incidents and they often end in death. I reckon this kinda wipeout drowns more surfers than any other. And, the thing that saved Ev’s life? This new ring-pull easyeject leash design. And, yes, I know what you’re thinking. If he’d stayed on his 6’4” and not a board five inches smaller, then he’d probably have made the drop and not gotten into this mess in the first place. And, yes, I’d say you’re probably right. – Sam McIntosh
****
09. Warhead Scallop, $80, by Quiksilver
This right here is the earliest trace of Quiksilver DNA. The “Warpaint” print lining in turquoise blue was famed in the 80’s as one of artist Simon Buttonshaw’s leading legacies. He drew inspo from the New York graffiti art scene, Jean-Michael Basquiat and Keith Haring, but deserved credit is a contentious issue. See, it was fellow artist, Peter Webb, who physically painted the original warpaint artwork. But only after hearing of Buttonshaw’s trip to NY and his newfound artistic direction. #teamwork
****
10. Garza Decksider boardshorts, $80, by Vans
A pair of trunks that stands out from the pack, a well-made, well-finished, conveniently tapered mashup of polyester, cotton and elastane. It’s enough tie-dye for impact but not too much for rear-view stigma. A hybrid time warp of pastels. Yes, Vans, yes.
****
11. Blackstix 3.0, $170, by Future Fins
New ain’t always best. Sometimes, it’s the all-too familiars that warm the heart better! But combine the two and uh, what a pleasurable commotion! The original Blackstix Future Fins were a best-seller, a trusted skeg, a must-have for any surfer familiar with the edge. No one had introduced carbon display along the outside curve, and and there was never a foil (called the Vector 2) on the inside quite as deep as the Blackstix. And all the qualities of old are here still in 3.0, with a colour way that’ll tickle the retinas.
****
12. Barry Poncho, $150, by Brixton
Ponchos are the most loveable of garments. So embrace such warmth with just enough ventilation. And this is the most loveable of ponchos. Why? Because it’s named after, and made in the memory of, a fine gent named Ian “Poods” Barry. Poods, a brill skater from Encinitas, passed too early in life, just 22 and ripping. Nature was his drug, the outdoors his domain and he was a damn cherished member of the Brixton family. “Thanks for always making us feel special and showing us how we should all love one another,” says co-founder, David Stoddard. “You had a personality like no other and we’re proud to call you our family.” But, a sign of a tight-knit and wholesome community, despite such sadness, shows just as much joy in a new way. Here, it’s the Rollin from the Heart Foundation, an almighty organisation improving the lives of worse off and at-risk youths.
****
13. Reflector Jacket, $100, by Imperial Motion
Maximum futuristic lad styles at work here and not a moment too late. Is it strange to admit we’ve been waiting for reflective detail to have its time in the sun? This isn’t too hot (temp-wise) but, in true honour of its name, breaks the wind very well. It might even make a swish-swish-swish sound as you walk over that sand dune before the sun’s up. It’s a fully reflective outer shell fabric with a black reflective contrast yoke at the front and back and it reacts to all types of light: Natural, headlights, camera flashes, whatevs. And, water-resistant!
****
14. JJF Phantom Elite Boardshort, $200, by Hurley
Like to get high? In the air? On land? Yeah, us too. Working the mathematics of love, covering the legs that shake our world, Hurley and John John’s latest output is our tip towards transgressing heaven. High fidelity all round. If performance, quality and comfort is your ankh, slip into the future and repeat after us: “I want to fly like an eagle – To the sea – Fly like an eagle – Let my spirit carry me – I want to fly like an eagle – Till I’m free.”
****
15. Easyrider boardshorts, $100, by Afends
Y’see the playful explosion on this hemp canvas here? It’s the work of conceptual artist, Jasper Hills from where else but Byron Bay and it’s just about the most exciting replica of marble cake we’ve ever seen. Hills digs the 60’s trip and bathes in the abstract. “My art is more than anything concerned with psychedelia and nature patterns found in nature.” Hills rides on the grass beside the footpath, backwards, and Afends designers (and our retinas) couldn’t be happier.
****
16. Earplugs, $60, by Surf Ears
Chk Chk Chk, Asha Puthli, Shabazz Palaces, Grace Jones, Sun Ra, Lene Lovich, Chic, Eric B & Rakim, The Congos, Nina Hagen, Fela Kuti, The Knife, Tamikrest, Brian Eno, Cut Copy, New Age Steppers, World’s End Press, The Durutti Column… We’re hardly listing artists and groups worth sussing out for the sake of it, consider it highlighting the joys of propagated vibrations (life!) that you will miss out on if you don’t protect those ears of yours.
Seriously though, say au’revoir to ear infections and laying horizontally shaking your head from side to side like a patient in Girl Interrupted for halfa post every surf. Creatures’ Surf Ears have you covered. Plugs that maximise hearing and balance all while keeping the water out. Genius technology if we can say the least.
****
17. JAX, $40, by Sol Republic
Listen listen little man. Step inside a wall of sound and you will find yourself in a room of fur. Untangle your tether and let the beat hit your spirit like a live wire. Music is here to keep you in control, music matters. Paradise is a pair of headphones away. These are your calling. Crisp freqs and well fitting. Eat bass, thank Sol Republic.
****
18. Versa boardshorts, $80, by Billabong
58 million plastic bottles. 58 million! That’s enough to build a small floating vessel, sail it to a Cuban paradise to sip on mojitos and swing that Latin American way with a gorgeous stranger. Now that’d be a story worth telling. But, it’s also the amount of bottles that’ve been recycled by Billabong since 2007 to make product – also a story worth telling. In fact, these trunks, Creed Mctaggart’s favs, are part of such conscious decisions. And that, in itself, is worthy of your attention and dollars.
****
19. Volcom & Jamie Browne Coolaboration, shirt $70, shorts $70
Music, pizza, skateboarding, shakas… Peace! Open sesame, welcome to Shangri La. Jamie Brown’s onto it. Let his “Chiller Instinct” and “light-hearted tropical death” coolaboration align your third eye.
“Things can get a little serious in the world of clothing,” he says. “It’s awesome to have an opportunity to make something that’s mine. There’s no ceilings so I knew I wanted to go loud and crazy and get the 80’s beach vide and psychedelic feel and my little drawings are swimming around in the tie dye.”
With Volcom lauding the pun there’s not much left for your pals at Stab to do other than remind you that the kingdom of heaven is within. Live the Michelangelo lifestyle and make this your freedom suit. Resurrect yourself, save others, change the world… One free thought at a time.
****
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