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JENNIFER PLANTIER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
0.107a13 7.E112:El121;i7
I
IDIAMCNID
(313) 843-9376
ACV'S
RIVER !OURS
t's always been called 'West
Coast style." But the au-
thentic surf wear and
lifestyle sportswear pro-
duced by the Southern Califor-
nia surf industry has become a
teen phenomenon throughout the
country and around the world.
Whereas sportswear compa-
nies like Gotcha, Quicksilver,
Rusty, Billabong and others have
their roots in the hard-core world
of professional surfing, they have
expanded — noticeably — into the
realm of active and rebellious
world youth culture.
And it seems it's not just the
avid surfer, skater, snowboarder
or otherwise extreme athlete who
is drawn to its self-styled "go for
it" attitude.
unteInp
!tur
tomers crave the clothes as a link
to the casual, carefree lifestyle
that speaks to youth - and those
with a youthful attitude.
BEYOND SURF WEAR
The surf wear industry has
pushed way beyond the heavy-
duty surf trunks and T-shirts
that made them famous; they
now offer multifaceted sports-
wear lines that include weekend
wear, such as shorts and shirts,
long pants, sweaters, jackets and
snow gear.
"The thread that runs through-
out the clothing is a lifestyle, the
culture based around the youth
of the world's coastal strips," says
Gilovich.
Surfing is an international
sport, Gilovich notes, and those
who spend their time searching
the globe's beaches for the ulti-
mate wave are exposed to people,
cultures and fashions from
around the world. He claims that
their designs also draw inspira-
tion from their rich understand-
ing of the world's diverse
fashions.
IT'S A GIRL'S WORLD
—
D E A R B O R N
For reservations call
(313) 593-1234.
nring in this coupon for a FREE trip to our Sweet Shop
with the purchase °fa luncheon or dinner entree.
olle,
Surf-inspired clothing may
be an understandable fact of
life for Californians, but Gotcha
spokesman Dave Gilovich sug-
gests it has become a national,
and even international, com-
modity. More than 40 percent of
Gotcha sales come from the East-
ern Seaboard, and the company
is making waves in other parts
of the United States, Japan and
Europe.
Designed with the needs of
professional athletes in mind,
surf styles rely heavily on the in-
put of the world-traveling surfers
(snowboarders, etc.) who wear
the clothing both in competition
and everyday life.
This clothing may respond to
surfers' needs, but most cus-
Jennifer Plantier is a writer for
Copley News Service.
The growing number of girls
and women participating in
sports, including surfing, has fu-
eled an expansion of the beach
wear market into clothes for girls
and women.
Holly Sharp, designer of
Gotcha's Girlstar beach collec-
tion, characterizes her line as "the
fern-fashion interpretation of
surf." The 150-piece collection
ranges from classic surf suits to
sophisticated everyday wear.
The centerpiece has to be a
hard-core, technical board short
for the water - complete with all
the detailing and technology
available to men. Sturdy fabrics,
Velcro closures and sand-reduc-
ing eyelet - along with some more
feminine styling - make it a suit
female surfers can really live
with.
This spring's offerings from
Girlstar include simple Lily
Pultzer-style sun dresses, hip-hug-
ging slim pants with close-fitting
halters, short-shorts with little
tops and loud, hokey '60s prints
with a sense of humor.
❑