Back in the '80s, '90s and early 2000s brands such as Billabong, Ripcurl and Quiksilver produced apparel, worn by most of the top surfers of that time, which transformed the surf clothing scene internationally.
These brands created superior quality, eye-catching surfwear that flooded the pages of tracks magazines, the iconic go to all things surfing has stood the test of time and have increasingly started to make a resurgence in the modern surf style.
These treasured pieces inspire nostalgia and take you back to the golden ages of surfing. Which the popular surf brands are currently recreating to capture the popularity of surfing history.
Dedicated to the cause, I found myself chasing these historic surf pieces and fast forward one year, I have now created a thriving online community and business that all have an immense appreciation for surf clothing culture.
More than just an aesthetic, recycling vintage surfwear contributes to the slowing down of the fashion era which is becoming a consumer consideration.
So where do I find authentic vintage surfwear?
I'm asked this often and it is without a doubt the hardest part of the process.
Each item is sourced online, items are handpicked and haggled over, then the wait begins for the fresh kit to arrive. It's honestly like Christmas morning every time.
I'm also always on the hunt for a steal at the local oppy or markets which is always a treat but definitely a lot harder to come across.
How did I get started?
Early beginnings, all I needed was just my phone, an Instagram page and five tees (. Sold these within two weeks and flipped them to buy eight tees, then 10 tees and so on.
My advice is to make sure you have a market to sell to before going all in, be patient and have a passionate love for what you are selling. When building a business, customer satisfaction is vital to your success and the sustainability of your business's growth.
Also not to mention focussing on having an engaging social media allows your customers to understand more about your brand and the owner behind it.
I focus on creating content about the rich surf history around the clothing and the nostalgic era it came from. Its not just about the piece, its about the history it holds within it's stitching.
My passion help develop a different approach to selling vintage surfwear in the current market and found that placing priority on building a community of like-minded surfwear enthusiasts created a thriving and engaging platform.
In return the clothing really started selling itself because the customer gets the opportunity to get a taste of what the old surf culture was all about.
So how do I know my vintage surfwear find is legit?
Authenticating '80s, '90s and 2000s surfwear is a skill I continue to master. I won't bore you with the nitty gritty - if you want to learn more about this process, check out my blog about identifying and authenticating vintage surfwear.
Thanks for checking out my blog, please let me know if you want more.