The Surfing Cowboys Story

When Surfing Cowboys opened its doors we decided that it needed a special name. After all, nothing about the store fit into traditional categories.

Think of surfers riding the waves, scooters riding the streets, cowboys riding the range. All these things evoke a sense of freedom and spirit for living. Surfing Cowboys evolved out of a similar spirit.

We worked as commercial fashion photographers; we lived as adventurers and travelers. Always on the search for experiences and items that caught our eye and imagination.

California -- for us the word means freedom. It's the place where the desert meets the sea, where people come from all points on the globe, let their hair down and live the way they want to live, being who they want to be. We knew that home would be in California and on our travels we found ourselves picking up pieces to decorate the home we would one day have and inspire our dreams.

Our collection has always been eclectic and soulful. In the early days it ranged from authentic Navajo rugs and Catalina pottery to Hawaiian collectibles and original vintage long boards. Certainly there were many other things we loved that didn't make the edit. Needless to say there were space constraints as we didn't yet have a storefront.

In 1998, we turned the front of our Venice Beach photo studio into a store. Not a traditional antique shop, not a surf shop, not a museum, Surfing Cowboys seemed the appropriate name. It broke loose of all these categories and gave us the freedom to evolve the business organically. People used to walk into our store and think they were walking into our living room. We actually lived in the back of the store for several years.

Even today, Surfing Cowboys is a store that evokes a lifestyle. Full of honesty, beauty, surprises and inspiration. While we still have space constraints (the shop is 2300 square feet) our range of merchandise has expanded dramatically over the years. Replacing what we sell with whatever happens to inspire us at a given moment keeps our eye sharp, our verve active and our customers always guessing.

Imagine yourself at home. Walk in door, kick off your flip flops and smile. Everywhere around you are pieces that inspire.

Think of us as the source. We're still out there collecting, but today it's on your behalf.

Donna & Wayne