Katin x Heritage Research Canvas Shorts, Navy WAS £74.95 NOW £49 Size 30

Ref: SH238

Price: £49.00 / €61.25 (Including  at 20%)

Quantity:

please select size 30 waist 36 waist

We spotted these Katin board shorts on a trip to California. A colab project followed with friends at Heritage Research. Katins are here in the UK for the first time !

The shorts and swimwear the guys were using around Huntington Beach in the 1950s just wouldnt do. They were ok for a dip in the pool, but they needed something that was tough enough for their daily adventures on the board.

Walter and Nancy Katin were in the boat covers business. You had a boat , you needed a heavy canvas cover to exactly fit your boat, the Katins would make one for you. So when a young surfer asked if they could use the same canvas fabric to cut and sew for him a pair of board shorts, to his own design, Katin Board Shorts were born.

The Katins opened a little surf shop, with some sewing machines out the back. You wanted a pair of board shorts, you journeyed down to their Huntington Beach store, they measured you while you told them the details you need and then they made them out the back, just for you. If you had your own fabric, you could take that too. This was the same kind of deal that Vans first offered, further up the California Coast. To make you one pair was not a problem, custom made was the way to go, all part of the service.

The word about Katins spread. Other emerging surf shops in the area began to keep stock of a Katin short they could sell off the rack, no need to wait for a custom pair. Look In any surf magazine from the 1960s and 1970s you will see that Katins were the chosen board short for most of the top surfers, before the major sponsorship deals took hold.

Walter passed away in 1967 but Nancy Katin carried on with the business. In 1977 she was instrumental in organising the first Pro/Am Katin Team Surf Challenge at Huntington Beach, yards from the store. The top surfers from around the world came to compete alongside the hot local surf crews. Shaun Tomson was the first winner. Its always been a great event on the surf calendar. Other winners include Tom Curren, Martin Potter, Sunny Garcia and Kelly Slater. The Katin Pro/Am is still being held, the winner in 2010 was Chris Waring. When Nancy passed away in 1986, the Katin business continued.

These Katin Board Shorts are still made in Orange County California. The shorts are as good as they ever were. Fit for their purpose in traditional canvas fabric. Take them on your own journey.

Cotton canvas outer, fully lined
Side velcro pocket with drainage eyelet and key lanyard
Fly front with poppers/stud closure
Drawstring waist for perfect fit
Trim Fit
Crafted with pride in the USA