There has always been a constant two-way flow of ideas between California’s surf scenes and nearby cultural centers. As a result, the surfing lifestyle is very much shaped by the cities that line California’s coast. Whether it’s the classic, clean-cut look of the surf scene of the 50s and 60s, the gritty crucible of 70s Dogtown in West LA, or the bold neon palette of 80s Echo Beach and other Orange County lineups, the California coastline consistently informs aesthetics—and the lifestyles surrounding them—that go on to shape entire generations.

Every year, California’s products—its foods, movies, and software, to name just a few—reach billions of people around the world. But the state’s most notable export might be a specific brand of laid-back cool that has spread its influence worldwide. California’s long history of defining the zeitgeist can be traced directly to its beaches and the movements that first took hold on these iconic stretches of sand.

Any discussion of California’s lasting effect on the world’s creative landscape must also mention surfing. Surfing is not just the official sport of the state but the genesis of many of the trends we associate with the California aesthetic. Whether it’s old-school woodie station wagons with boards sticking out the back, beat-up canvas sneakers, or sun-bleached hair, many elements of California’s signature look are taken directly from surfing. This is no accident, as surfing has always had an affinity for good style. Mere technical proficiency isn’t sufficient in surfing; one also has to look good while riding a wave. This focus on aesthetics naturally bleeds into the pursuits surrounding surfing, too.

Surfers Scotty Stopnik, Jake Tousseau, Brian Bent, and Titus Haug mine the rich vein of California surf history for their own unique modes of self-expression, seamlessly integrating other eras of surfing into their approaches to riding waves and living life. Stopnik rides and restores vintage motorcycles with his dad and brother. Tousseau grew up steeped in surf culture — his grandfather was an early Malibu local who hosted notable shapers like Gene Cooper at his home shaping studio, which informed Tousseau’s love of vintage longboards. Brian Bent is known for pulling up to the beach in a 30s Hot Rod with a wooden “kook box” surfboard from the same era sticking out of the seats. Titus Haug primarily shoots on film, inspired by photographers like John Witzig and Art Brewer, who documented surfing’s so-called Golden Age in the 60s.

There’s a familiar thread in Buck Mason's ethos. The same rich tradition of learning from the past has informed our development over the years. Like our coastal community, the deep and ever-evolving heritage of the California lifestyle inspires our new line of swimwear.

This season, we debut a durable Japanese nylon oxford cloth board short, inspired by the shorts our fathers wore in the '60s and '70s, and a lightweight swim trunk made from recycled ocean waste, in the colors of our coastline. Our swim trunks and board shorts are an ode to California itself—garments designed for experiencing its beaches and the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean, informed by a deep appreciation for the diversity of life in this great state. It’s something we’ve learned to do by studying the past, emphasizing craftsmanship and functionality. The result combines the enduring classics with modern innovations for something informed by the past and designed to endure for decades to come.