Boardshorts Go Greg Noll This Summer

Greg Noll was already a retired legend by the time I was born, but he was no less "Da Bull" for his ability to charge down a wave. He cemented this legendary status in 1956 by leading the first surf session at Waimea Bay on the North Shore of O'ahu. He was only 19.

In the 1960s, everybody knew who he was and which waves were his. His white-striped "jail house trunks" made him more identifiable than anybody as he pioneered big wave surfing. And through it all, he also became one of the most iconic surf story tellers on the planet. In my book, he still is iconic. So are his board shorts.

"Going back to when I was about 13 years old, everybody was wearing plain old trunks from JC Penney's or wherever you bought trunks from in those days," says Noll. "[In the films] Bud would show guys piling down the wave and everybody would be going 'There's me, there's me!' Half the time it was bullshit. So I thought 'Hey, I don't want to steal anybody's waves and I don't want anybody stealing mine.'"

Noll Surfboards teams with Billabong to revive the "Jail House" boardshorts.

The Da Bull-inspired board shorts aren't merely retro. Billabong has modernized much of the original look, making every pair out of their ultralight Zero Gravity fabric, which is a polyester-Spandex blend with Quad X Stretch (four-way stretch) that boosts flexibility. And some people say it helps prevent rashing.

But I like the way Noll spells out the benefits better. He calls it how he sees it, saying there is "no way you can blow the ass out of these shorts." If you do, then you get a free replacement pair when you come out of the water, he says.




The Jail House board shorts are also made out of recycled PET bottles, much like last year's Recycler board shorts that carried Marley magic and Rastafari colors. But the real draw is also in the design.

In addition to the classic oversized stripes in black, like Noll used to wear, Billabong added smaller stripes on the inseam, drawstring waist, side pocket, and custom logos sporting the Greg Noll name. It also comes in red. And, there is an additional board short with artistic flair, featuring illustrations lifted from the original flyer Noll's surf shop put out years ago.

If you like the look, check out the vintage T-shirts too. They revive more of the art from Greg Noll's Surf Shop. Other Ts feature the iconic stripes or scenes from the vintage 1960s films that immortalized Noll.

"When you think about it, it's pretty damn cool that we're working with an industry classic like Billabong, originating from Australia," says Noll. "I first visited Melbourne and Torquay for the 1956 Olympic Games. We brought the first modern-day Malibu-style boards with us, and I saw the beginnings of the surf industry there."

Other board shorts to spot along the beaches this summer. 

After the Rastafari color scheme of alternating green, yellow, and red stripes started to make appearances last year, Billabong did a better job at creating some matching board shorts for women. The shorts are made out of the same material, and include a Bob Marley logo patch. Alternatively, they also have a Jamaican board short with more black and just a touch of the colored stripes.

Even so, this year, with some Noll black and white stripes catching more surf time, it seems likely Roxy is ready with its own unrelated but matching board shorts. The big black and white stripes are tied together with a retro lace front, hidden slit pocket, and vintage patch. While these shorts aren't Billabong, they still capture the spirit.

Jail House Board Shorts By Greg Noll And Billabong Surf 7.6 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

To kick off the collaboration between Noll and Billabong, a limited run of signed and numbered board shorts were auctioned off on eBay. It didn't take long for all the shorts, in every size, to vanish. Bidding started at $200. Some of the folks who missed the auction still found signatures on April 5 as Noll and Greg Long signed limited edition Billabong X Noll Posters. About 600 people turned out.

If you missed the exclusives, you can still find plenty of Noll board shorts and T-shirts at BeckerSurf.com. Once on the site, search for Noll or Wave Womper for the shorts (about $60). Once you are on one of the products, look for a link to the left for the full line. For the Roxy stripes, search for Epic Boardshort ($44). You can also find the Rasta board shorts under Gals, Boardshorts.

The Satchel Takes A Twist For Summer

The satchel might have first originated with the Roman Legions, but the late Renaissance helped it come into fashion in England. As the cultural movement swept across Europe, education became Increasingly coveted and English students found the single-strap design especially useful for carrying papers and books.

Students weren't the only ones who found the design smart. They also became favored by military and postal messengers from the Pony Express and World War II, giving the bag a distinctly masculine persona. But that might be changing up this summer as three designs combine the satchel idea with a smaller tote.

All of them have added the functionality of a side strap, along with handles. And they all have contrast lining on the inside.

Fossil Releases A Vintage Reissue Drawstring With Its Hobo Collection.

The semi-modern retro appeal has little in common with with those from Middle English, old French, and late Latin. Fossil borrowed from the 1970s to create a vintage appeal without sacrificing function.

Fossil. The two newest designs in Fossil's hobo handbag collection include grounded, natural colors. The canvas (above) and color cotton (right) are more striking than their leather counterparts. All of them have an internal lining to help the bag keep its shape and they include an internal side pocket (with zipper) for phone and PDA.

Another interesting feature, which other designers have followed, is adding hardware to the bags, making them look much more casual and rugged at the same time. The bags have a 22-inch length with the strap and 11-inch length with the handle. Fossil says its hobo line is characterized by its crescent-like shape, which gives it a relaxed look.

George Gina & Lucy. Although slightly different, Fossil isn't the only designer looking to revive the women's satchel. One up and coming handbag designer based in Germany carries a similar look. Made of a high quality cotton/nylon blend, the bag loses the crescent shape in favor of a mini-duffle.

The bag, which they consider a tote, features silver hardware and several interior and exterior pockets. Some pockets zip and others button. Two of the interior pockets are open; one is zipped. We spotted the Olive Sun Oil from George Gina & Lucy at National Jean Company. Overall, it's a much a bigger bag than the Fossil design.

Billabong. Billabong also relied on a Seventies feel to bring its "lay low" handbag to life. The Billabong Lay Low Buckle Bag has a burlap exterior with a tribal screen print and vegan leather trim. Like the other designs, it has a small zip pocket on the inside with a contrast lining.

What sets the Billabong bag apart from the other two is easily the price. But don't let the product shot fool you. The bag's shape resembles a tote with a longer strap (once you add a few items). The Billabong logo is metal, and hidden under the drawstring.

Fossil Also Carries Some Great Vintage Satchels.

I suppose some people might argue that the women's satchel could be considered a tote (with a longer strap) or hobo (with its slouchy look). But the truth is that the original satchels didn't take their messenger bag shape until much later. Even the famed satchel that was somewhat popularized by Indiana Jones movies was a late design.

Although the original movies placed him in the 1930s, fan researchers note that Indy's bag is loosely based on the MKVII gas mask bag used by British military personnel and British civilians in the 1940s. It was also the preferred shape by messengers and mail carriers.

It's still the most popular style employed by bicycle messengers in London (even if many have added stabilizing straps help to prevent the bag from shifting while riding). If you're interested in a classic satchel, Fossil carries some of the best courier and messenger models.

Most of them feature coated twill canvas and soft vintage leather. Like most messenger bags, it includes several pockets under the flap. But unlike most, the interior is padded for laptops.

The Fossil Hobo Design Carries A 3.8 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

If you like the bags, the detail to look for is in the lining. The smarter designs are waterproofed on the inside, even if the offside is not. If you find the side straps to be too long, shoemakers can usually shorten them for added comfort, allowing the bag to fall where you like.

The Vintage Re-Issue Drawstring is available direct from Fossil. They range from $128 to $188. The George Gina & Lucy Olive Sun Oil is available from the National Jean Company ($227).

Billabong Adds Recycled Boardshorts

During the late Sixties and early Seventies, surfing was a different animal. As Gordon Merchant might remember it, it meant a van packed to the the hilt with surfboards, surf maps, tents, and sleeping bags and heading to the coast for a classic surfing safari.

Merchant had already introduced a surfboard with a tucked under edge and the first semblance of a leg rope, but it was the development of tougher board shorts that made a lasting impact. Merchant's Billabong is still at it, too.

Their Platinum X Recycler Series board shorts are made from a unique process that turns plastic polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into a stretch fabric. It's a smart idea, given that PET fibers are also the same fibers used to make most sailcoth.

As a material, it has resiliency, high abrasion resistance, high UV resistance, and high flex strength. But even more remarkable, Billabong has saved over 14,000,000 plastic bottles from ending up in landfills.

Recycler board shorts rock Marley magic and Rastafari color.

Using Bob Marley and Rastafari as an inspiration to capture a sense of the mystical wilderness, Billabong created a line of board shorts that carry with them a sense of environmental awareness. The shorts are not only made with recycled polyester, but also capture the images or colors associated with Marley and Rastafari.

The flagship shorts, Billabong Rastaman Vibration, carry a collage of vintage Marley black and white archival photos. The construction is solid, with a Velcro fly and tie closure. The material is 100 percent recycled polyester, with the balance made from all organic goods. Like most board shorts, they hit at the knees ($54.50 U.S.).

What's really striking about these Billabong board shorts is that Merchant and the company have never settled. Most surfers know that Merchant achieved his primary objective to develop the highest quality, best cut board short on the market. But 30 years later, it's great to see they are still looking for a bigger wave.

If you want something with more color,
Billabong Rasta's board shorts have a striking patchwork design with muted yellows. Like the other Marley collage, they have a tie and Velcro closure and one pocket on the right hand side. The difference is in the martial. The Rasta's board shorts are made from 47 percent recycled poly with the balance being cotton ($59 U.S.).

My favorite is the Billabong Exodus board shorts (pictured), with the simple Rastafari color scheme of alternating green, yellow, and red stripes, with each tricolor combination separated by a thin line of black. The design is virtually the same as the other two board shorts, but the material is 87 percent recycled poly and the balance spandex ($60 U.S.).

All three combine key materials and components to create the perfect board shorts with extreme flexibility, lightness, and comfort. In Southern California, the weather is still cool enough to wear wetsuits, but it won't be long before the board shorts are all that's needed.

Environmentally smart board shorts aren't just for guys.

Although the colors and patterns aren't generally as busy, the construction is much the same. The women's Piper board shorts are also made of 100 percent recycled polyester. The design carries most of the same features, except the tie and Velcro fly also has a button. The shorts don't hang to the knee. Instead, they have a 5-inch leg.

The primary board shorts are made in black, but there is also a striking solid turquoise for anyone looking for color. Both designs also have a side pocket with a Velcro flap closure. For a shorter cut, the Billabong Ruthie board shorts (also in turquoise) with a dual snap instead of tie, works. All three are made with 100 percent recycled polyester (ranging from $34 to $39.50).

Billabong Recycled Board Shorts Shoots 8.6 On The Liquid Hip Richter Scale.

Billabong will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in two years, if you can imagine. It all started in Burleigh, Australia, when Merchant, aided by his wife, Rena, began producing handmade board shorts under their flat overlooking the surf. Now, they help save the planet with shorts made from plastic bottles.

You can find Billabong at a number of retail outlets, but one has a history just as rich as Billabong. Becker Surfboards first opened up in Hermosa Beach, in sunny California in 1974, just one year after Billabong entered the scene. Many people consider them old-time industry dogs who know about the best gear, who still get excited looking for what people want and need. You can find more surf scene fashions and accessories at Becker Surf.