When I was younger and visiting California in the 70s and early 80s, t-shirts that represented the surfing culture became popular. There were many brands coming out, usually from surf shops in Hawaii, that were trying to create merchandise around their board-shaping business. One particular brand was the most sought-after and a rare find. T&C Surf Designs. If you grew up in Southern California at this time, you would instantly recognize the logo because of the use of the ancient Chinese Yin-Yang symbol. I had one of these shirts, and after coming back from my trip to California, I would wear it around my small Colorado town with great pride.
The story behind this brand is fascinating. Craig Sugihara founded the original Town & Country Surf Shop in Pearl City, Oahu in 1971. As a young boy in the ’60s, he would rent surfboards from a local shop and try to emulate the iconic surfers of the time. Craig would not be a professional surfer, but he certainly “got stoked.” I saw a video of him describing his first experience catching a wave, and you can still see a sparkle in his eyes as he shares that story that happened well over 50 years ago. He did indeed become stoked, spending his entire life focused on this love of surfing.
Craig became a laminator at a popular surfboard shop and later picked up a job as a shaper in Wai’anae. He was passionate about this and loved the process, but it was not too much longer after moving there that he opened up his own shop in Pearl City. The Kamehameha highway was the only way to the North Shore, and his shop was uniquely positioned. Shortly, his shop became popular as the demand for quality surfboards increased. He decided to start merchandising, and after contacting a local t-shirt artist, the fateful logo was created. One that inspired, “balance,” which is an obvious requirement for the art of surfing.
Craig’s advice that I heard him give in an interview while he was standing in his Pearl City location many years later? Stay Stoked. When you find something you love, stick with it. Pour your passion into it, and by so doing, you will be happy. From the moment that he caught that first wave until today, he has remained stoked for sure.
I found a location selling vintage surf shirts and bought one today. When it arrives, I will once again wear it with pride and as a great reminder that I should stick with what I love and stay stoked.
Visit https://tcsurf.com/.
