FUBU

FUBU is an urban casual wear brand with the acronym standing for “For Us By Us,” meaning clothes for African-Americans made by African-Americans. The company’s founders sensed that sportswear brands were profiting from the style generated by urban street culture and felt the need to make fashion for their community themselves. Today, the brand includes men’s, women’s, kids, shoes, accessories and a home collection.

FUBU Founder Daymond John via DaymondJohn.com

FUBU started in Queens, New York in 1992 by Daymond John who made top tie hats in his home. By mortgaging his house for start-up capital, turning his home into a factory/living space and inviting four of his neighbors to join him in the venture, Daymond John expanded the sales of his products.

04 of FUBU's 05 via DaymondJohn.com

Items from the line displaying “05” represent the five neighbors and childhood friends who started the company and continue to run it today. The company is considered classic or old school hip-hop clothing by urban youth and remains popular with rappers and the R&B crowd in America.

via ShannonPatrick17

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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Les Paul Tribute To Air On CNN

Les Paul: An American Legend

Les Paul, the father of the electric guitar, is the subject of a tribute to air on CNN this week.

The Icon program will focus on Paul’s contributions to rock ‘n’ roll, highlighting interviews with Paul McCartney, Slash and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons.

Air Times on CNN (all in GMT):

• Thursday 26 August: 11:30, 16:30
• Saturday 28 August: 06:30, 20:00
• Sunday 29 August: 03:30, 07:30, 15:00
• Monday 30 August: 01:30

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Ecko

The Ecko brand with its rhinoceros logo is a new American classic urban brand, founded in 1993 by Marc Gecko, Marci Tapper and Seth Gerszberg.  The company began its trend-setting fashions by applying designs to t-shirts with spray paint.

Headquartered in New Jersey, Ecko has 12 brands including the well-known trademarks of Zoo York for skateboarders and Ecko Red for women.

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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New Items Listed On Americana’s Online Shop

We’ve just added a load of Pendleton shirts & baseball jackets to our online shop.  To make it easier for our international customers, this time we have made all descriptions in English. We also have acres of Western shirts listed for both men & women.

Plus, as always, you get free shipping within Sweden & low low shipping everywhere else!

Gear yourself up for fall in the Americana way!

Pendletons Are 300 SEK in Americana's Tradera Shop

Baseball Jackets Are 250 & 400 SEK in Americana's Tradera Shop

Americana will also be bringing you the biggest & baddest classic American vintage online shop this fall!

So stay tuned…

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Vans

Vans - Photo via Spencer C. Curtis

With shoe manufacturing experience on the East Coast, Paul Van Doren and Gordy Lee moved to southern California in 1966 to produce shoes.  After setting up a plant in Anaheim, the company became known as the Van Doren Rubber Company making shoes known simply as Vans.

During this same period, Van Doren & Lee opened a retail shop offering three styles.  The store’s opening was unpromising, as the only models that were available were on display.  Nevertheless, the store had 12 customers that day, whose orders were taken, and a California footwear legend was born.

Photo via SkateHere.com

After customers complained about cracking of the waffle pattern on the shoes rubber bottoms, the company added vertical lines to the ball area and patented the new design.  In the 1970s with the growth of the skateboarding craze, Vans quickly became the skateboarder’s shoe of choice.

Photo via SkateVans.com

In the late 1970s, a slip-on version was introduced which became all the rage in the 1980s, especially when bright color combinations and patterns were added to the shoes’ canvas upper part. Confirming their iconic status during this decade, the shoes were even worn by Sean Penn’s character “Spicoli” in the teenage classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High.

Spicoli Sporting Vans in the Film Fast Times at Ridgemont High

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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Elvis Sunglasses

The King in His Famous Shades - Photo via ElvisPresleyNews.com

Authentic Elvis sunglasses are distinguished by their wide gold aviator-style frames, their “EP” or “TCB” (for his motto “Taking Care of Business”) decorations, and lenses which are tinted dark to light from top to bottom.

The King, who is one of the best-known rock stars to wear sunglasses, even when the sun was not shining, sported the famous shades almost every day and was even known to commission twenty new pairs at a time.

Prime Minister Koizumi Wearing Elvis' Sunglasses in the Jungle Room - Photo via AP

During a 2006 official visit to the United States, Japan’s Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi toured Graceland, where he tried on a pair of The King’s famous sunglasses.  He wore them during his entire visit, even while doing an Elvis impersonation in the Jungle Room.

Taking Care of Business - Photo via Elvis-Postcards.com

The most expensive pair of sunglasses ever sold on eBay in the U.S. belonged to Elvis.  Known as his “Madison Square Garden Sunglasses,” the King’s shades fetched $250,000.

Elvis Foolin' Around With His Sunglasses - Photo via ElvisPresleyNews.com

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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OP

OP is a California surf and street-inspired brand of clothing, swimwear and accessories that has had “open season since 1972.”    Based in Irvine, California, the brand is popular with surfers and anyone looking for a California laid-back beach style.

In the U.S., OP sponsors music tours and surfing competitions.  The brand’s letters OP represent the words Ocean Pacific.

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a surfing sportswear brand founded in 1976 by two surfers from Pasadena, California, Robert McKnight and Jeffrey Hakman.  Quicksilver was borne out of their desire to start a business that could finance long days on the beach. McKnight and Hakman decided to fulfill their goal by obtaining the licensing rights for Quicksilver, a six year old company based in Australia which also was started by two surfers.

Quicksilver Shorts

Quicksilver had gained trend status among surfers in Australia and McKnight and Hakman hoped to achieve similar success with the Quicksilver name in the United States. In negotiations over dinner with the Australian owners for Quicksilver’s U.S. rights, Hakman had to fulfill one condition: eat the large paper doily under his plate, which he promptly did.

Jeff Hakman Today

From that point forward, McKnight and Hakman began making surf wear under the name Quicksilver. By selling in department stores and specialty boutiques throughout the U.S., Quicksilver has over the years become a market leader in surf wear.

As the business became a surf wear empire, McKnight explained, “I thought I could make a few shorts and stay near the beach and party.” Despite his humble plans, McKnight soon found himself guiding the fortunes of a rapidly growing and flourishing global enterprise.

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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The Tank Top

Tank Top Worn by David Lee of The Legendary Shack Shakers - Photo Via Bog King

A tank top is a collarless and sleeveless shirt which has wide shoulder straps and no opening in the front. It is often worn as an undershirt or by athletes as the top part of their uniforms.

The Tank Top's Ancestor: 1920s Wool Tank Swimsuits - Photo via SoJones

The term for the shirt was entered into the American Webster’s Dictionary in 1950.  The word tank top stems from the “tank swimsuit” which is a one-piece lady’s swimsuit that was worn in the early to mid-20th century in “swimming tanks,” which is what swimming pools were referred to in those days.

Ribbed Knit Tank Top - Photo via RL Hyde

The white tank top undershirt, made of ribbed knit, is often referred to as a “wife beater” in the U.S.  It is called this because the type of man who would dubiously wear the shirt with nothing over it would also probably have the bad judgment to engage in domestic violence. Tank tops can also be called singlets or vests in British English.

© Copyright 2010 Americana

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