Papa x Birdwell Beach Britches.

There's no need to reinvent the wheel as the Papa can attest and as  much as I would love to develop my own surf trunks I have to admit there is nothing on the market quite like Birdwell Beach Britches. Since 1962 Birdwells of Santa Ana have been making bullet proof surf trunks that are legendary. In this day and age its so easy to make unsubstantiated claims about quality and the big three of the surfing industry are often the worst offenders, serving up the latest and greatest in a hope to win over the uninformed and to schmooze shareholders focused on dividends, but Birdwells? Birdwells just make great shorts, pure and simple. The Papa's has owned 9 pairs and every pair has lived up to expectation before being passed on or sold off to finance a new pair.

Taking advantage of the custom make service, the Papa has pulled out all the stops this time around to create a truly unique pair of trunks for this summers surfing season using the last of Birdwells WWII USMC frogskin camo nylon. Custom options include 60's inspired football lace front and double rear pockets and in the true nautical tradition of the US Navy, matched silk liberty cuffs on the internal waistband that evoke the mystic power of the Sirens and enlist the fortuitous blessings of Neptunus Rex allowing the Papa to wear the mantle of the Seaweed Caesar.

Over time Birdwells take on a patina second only to vintage denim, the constant assault by salt water, sun and wax bleaching out the print and encrusting the thread lines. Shown below are my old pair which are 6 years old, battered and beautiful showing all the signs of a mutual love and hard wear. The Papa now looks forward to his new pair and a new era on the beach, the adopting of a new favourite and the riding of  new swells, the future is bright indeed!

The Papa recalls.

It would seem friends that Ive been a little hasty in congratulating Makolo on his good work. Whilst preparing battalion hats to go out to a new batch of customers the Papa was dismayed to discover that his exacting specification have not been met and that Makolo has been at the torpedo juice instead of monitoring the floor at the production facility.
In a just move the Papa has not sacked Makolo but merely demoted him from captain of the native labour force and put him back on the line tying grass skirts for tourists.
The hats, well the Papa has had no choice but to withdraw them from the market and refund the monies already paid by those wonderful customers that have been quick to purchase this lastest collection. The Papa is sincere in his apology but will be back in near future when all issues have been resolved. As for Makolo, well I'd be checking the knots in the next grass skirt you buy!

The Beach Battalion is back.

  Friends, its been a long absence, but I've not been idle. Things here on the Atoll have a way of frustrating a man and nothing ever seems to happen in an instant. Not so long ago when I was down visiting the production facility I came across Maloko, who heads up the local native labour force. He was excited and animated, jumping up and down and brimming with pride for the Papa because of the success of  the initial order of Beach Battalion hats. It would appear however that Maloko took matters into his own hands and decided to do another run of hats, "For you Papa", he said, ''No waiting, Maloko have hats now!" Arrgghh I thought what do you do? Luckily with the sale of the first order I still had many potential customers who missed out on these frog skin beauties and who had been on my case waiting for another chance to buy, and so I had to pat 'ol Maloko on the back and thank him and take possession of another order which now I can offer up for sale.
  So hear this, the Papa officially announces the sale of 34 new Beach Battalion Hats, sizes 57 through to 61. These are expected to move quickly as many are back orders already so don't avast a moment,  tell it to the Papa and send $50 Australian which includes airmail worldwide, to the Papa's PayPal address, rocket_ace47@hotmail.com and include your size requirement.
Semper the Papa!