Hasta La Ideas

A counterpoint to the Dogtown generation of surfers and skateboarders in ’70s L.A., Echo Beach surfers in the 1980s sported a loud, colorful style that inspired lifestyle apparel and board companies like Quiksilver, who—in homage to those decadent years—is reissuing a retro-looking set of swimwear in partnership with the Standard hotel. The limited-edition line debuts for sale today through the Standard’s website, with high-tech vending machines to follow in Standard locations across the U.S. starting Saturday, 8 August 2009 to serve the spontaneous habits of patrons in need of boardshorts for late-night impromptu pool parties.

The standout in the collection, a polka-dotted swim piece, replicates almost exactly a pair of pro surfer and Echo Beach original member Danny Kwock’s red-black-and-white trunks from the old days. Other new shorts take their design cues from Standard hotel locations, featuring city guides specific to each printed in the waistbands and edited by Quiksilver creative director and seminal skateboarder Natas Kaupas. Special snap detailing, the incorporation of Quiksilver’s Diamond Dobby anti-rash material and a waterproof travel bag round out the offerings on the shorts. See larger images after the jump.

For girls, Quiksilver reissued one of its first bikinis, a simple, black little number.

Only 250 of each product is available, with a price tag of $75 for the board shorts and $84 for the bikini.

For those heading to Standards in Downtown L.A., Hollywood or Miami after 8 August (and later in the New York location), the vending machines use a touch screen, accept credit cards and have a feature that allows customers to see the product before buying.

We’re waiting on vending-machine surfboards.