Tuesday, July 5, 2011

1980s GOTCHA Surf & Skate Clothing


GOTCHA was the hottest
'80s clothing and accessory brand

I was fascinated with surfer/skater styles and fashions back in the late 1980s, yet I never skateboarded. I tried, but honestly didn't have coordination and balance needed to stay on the board. Living on Long Island, we had access to many different beaches, however I never once surfed. Yeah, I was a total skate/surf poser. 
Cool GOTCHA gear from the 1980s.
I had completely forgotten about my love of GOTCHA until recently when a reader contacted me regarding GOTCHA brand surf clothing and GOTCHA bracelets. I can't believe I blocked out that memory. I loved their logo and had GOTCHA stickers plastered all over my binders and notebooks. I mastered drawing the logo -- it was one of my favorite things to doodle in class back in the '80s. 

GOTCHA was a favorite line of clothing for surfers back in the 1980s. Originated in Laguna Beach, California in 1978 by pro surfers Michael Tomson and Joel Cooper, the GOTCHA clothing line included everything from t-shirts to jeans.
Shawn Stussy's version of the GOTCHA logo.
I was surprised to learn that the original GOTCHA logo was designed by Shawn Stussy of Stussy clothing fame although I don't remember his version of the logo, I preferred the one above with the cool  flipped "O" and "A."

For more info and to see what GOTCHA is up to today, visit Gotcha.com.

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11 comments:

  1. Jon HansonJuly 5, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    I remember Gotcha. I briefly flirted with the idea of being a skater in the 80's.

    But soon realized my sports skill set was better suited for team sports where my ineptitude could be hidden behind others.

    SD
    TheSimpleDude.com

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  2. pika23July 5, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    OMG! Me and my brother used to get our Gotcha and Quiksilver shirts and pants at STAX. It was a store in the NJ area...don't know if you remember it. They had Gotcha,Quiksilver,SKIDS(those plaid pants that you would fold at the cuff and wear with wigwam socks)

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  3. Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comJuly 5, 2011 at 4:25 PM

    I was never so cool as to get Gotcha, though I love that loud green color. I may have tried boogie boarding once or twice, but that was the extent of my CA beach adventures.
    xoRobyn

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  4. Ms. AJuly 5, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Guess my mind is overwhelmed with the verdict, I'm not remembering Gotcha.

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  5. TeachinfourthJuly 5, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    Never wore this stuff, but I did wear the Rude Dog brand from the 90s...loved it.

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  6. CopyboyJuly 5, 2011 at 10:37 PM

    To me, Gotcha was my favorite all time movie of the 80s starring Mr. Anthony Edwards.

    "Yes Jonathan, I'm spy!"

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  7. CopyboyJuly 5, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    BTW...I made you blog of the day.

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  8. CopyboyJuly 5, 2011 at 11:24 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. ErikDesignworkJuly 6, 2011 at 5:48 AM

    I skate and i also love gotcha!

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  10. Michael DeWeesAugust 17, 2011 at 8:30 PM

    The original Gotcha logo was totally geometric, with a bubble-blowing fish for the O -- Outside of the original Instinct logo, perhaps the best example of a logo capturing the feeling & style of an era......

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  11. Gallon Of SteamFebruary 14, 2012 at 1:17 AM

    WOW! I thought it was just me that recalls this part of the 80's. I still have my gotcha watch. Bless it in it's NEON braided goodness. xo

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