Rip Curl/Roxy Outerwear Sales Ignite
Interest in outerwear is heating up in beachside communities in Southern California as shoppers snap up shearling, denim and corduroy coats accessorized in cushiony fur.
“Anything with a sheepskin interior is the hot ticket right now,” said Chris Ayotte, manager of women’s clothing at Becker Surf and Sport in Hermosa Beach.
Already, Roxy’s light beige and brown corduroy jackets lined with fur collars and sleeves have sold out. Ayotte said only one coat remains from a shipment of Rip Curl’s wide-wale corduroy jackets with sheepskin lining. The line also carries denim coats with fur, which are selling strong as well. Both retail for $102.
“They’re not wearing them, but making sure they have them for when the weather turns cool,” said sales associate Korina Kempf. The coats go well with Hurley and Lucy Love dirty-wash denim and stretch-corduroy pants, she said.
Other top juniors labels at Becker are Volcom, Toes on the Nose and Angie.
For the past 23 years, surfers and sun lovers alike have shopped Becker, which began carrying women’s clothes in the last decade. The store atmosphere blends beach hut comfort with warehouse chic and draws both youngsters and parents for clothes as well as hard goods including surfboards and skateboards. Becker is one of the few board apparel companies that has strong roots to hard goods. Partner Phil Becker has manufactured surfboards since 1958. —Nola Sarkisian-Miller
