Katin USA
In 1954, Nancy and Walter Katin opened a small boat cover business called Kanvas by Katin in Surfside, California, just north of Huntington Beach. Walter, a tenaciously friendly man, both short and robust, always donned an iconic ensemble of a powder-blue jumpsuit zipped up to the neck with a captain's hat. Earning the nickname the "Captain," for both his style and passion for sailing his boat "The Southern Seas," proudly took on the title of craftsman within the business. Walter's wife Nancy, standing less than five feet tall possessed a personality far greater than her stature and a mind brighter than her crimson hair, was the salesperson. Walter and Nancy's canvas boat covers were practically bulletproof, using hundred-pound-test, waxed-nylon thread, and nickel grommets. Locals soon took note of these sturdy canvas covers and sought alternate uses for the canvas. After special requests from a select few friends, the "Captain" constructed a couple of custom boat shorts. Although impressed with the short's design, Walter chose to continue his focus on the canvas boat covers. However, a couple of years later, things quickly changed for the Katins when a local teen walked into the shop asking for a new kind of short. One made specifically for surfing, using the same durable canvas as the boat covers. The young surfer explained his struggles with surfing in cut off jeans, and how the denim threads would quickly break, leaving him nearly nude when exiting the water. This determined teenager's name was Corky Carroll, who unbeknownst to Walter, would go on to be one of the world's first professional surfers. The custom surf trunks Walter made for Corky would become one of California's first surf trunks. After Walter's surf trunk creation for Corky, word spread and the shop became flooded with young surfers wanting a pair of trunks. In true Walter fashion, he measured and tailored each pair of custom surf trunks for every surfer. Overwhelmed with hopeful surfers pleading for a pair of trunks, Walter sought the help of Sato Hughes, a skillful local seamstress who is still sewing at the Katin shop today. The sport of surfing reached mainstream popularity in the mid-1960s, and the Katins were firmly entrenched in the surfing community and known for creating the best surf trunks around. Champion surfers of the time, Shaun Tomson, Peter Townend, Reno Abelliro, Mike Purpus, and Gerry Lopez, to name a few, wore Katin surf trunks, purely out of passion and respect for these impressive trunks and their creators, Walter and Nancy. Even notorious surfer Eddie Aikau was photographed wearing Katin surf trunks. Passionate about surfing, the Katin couple helped sponsor early California surf contests and organizations, including the "Katin Underdog Contest" for competitors who had never won a surf contest. When Walter passed away in 1967, Nancy not only kept business intact, but she also expanded her involvement in the surf world by providing surfing scholarships. She even went on to start the Katin PRO/AM Team Challenge in 1977. The annual Pro/Am took place on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier. Not only did the Pro/Am featured some of the world's best surfers, but it also provided amateur surfers all across the U.S. to compete alongside their heroes. World Champion surfers such as Shaun Tomson, Tom Curren, Martin Potter, Sunny Garcia, and Kelly Slater have gone on to win the Pro/Am. By the early 1980s, the surf industry had officially skyrocketed, and many manufacturers were quick to take advantage of the trend. Though there were many offers made to Nancy to sell her business, she was determined to keep Katin a cherished surf haven for all. Nancy continued making surf trunks in the back room of the Surfside Kanvas by Katin store, selling them up front and relying on the existing loyal network of surf shops for additional distribution. Nancy became known as the "First Lady of Surfing," not only because of the famous surf trunks, she befriended many of the surfers that came to her shop, even acting as a second mom to most. Despite the initial local dislike for the sport of surfing, Nancy made sure that the Katin's surf shop had a couch and chairs for all the surfers to hang out. Sadly, in 1986 Nancy passed away, leaving the surf industry and all of the Katin-wearing surfers with a heavy heart. However, when Nancy passed, she left the company to Sato Hughes, her loyal seamstress since 1961. Sato and her son Glenn have since continued to run the original surf shop with the same love, dedication, and care as Nancy and Walter, sewing custom surf trunks with the same quality, durability and good looks since 1954. Having been born by the beach and raised along the California coast, Katin remains a staple of Southern California culture. Katin continues to take pride in its title as California's first brands to make surf trunks and continues its commitment to selling high-quality, durable goods.
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