Surfing became fashionable during the 60s & 70s. Surfers were a saleable commodity used by business for promotional purposes. Surfers appeared in advertisements featured in Fashion & Surf Mags and the News media.
During this period WA surf industry pioneer Len Dibben ran his own Surfboard manufacturing business and did modelling on the side (initially to promote his surfboard business).
In 1969 renowned Australian surf photographer John Witzig took the following photo of Len Dibben modelling in front of his business premises (aka old church) in North Fremantle. The image was used in a Len Dibben Surfboards advertisement which appeared in Surf International Magazine.
Photo: Len Dibben Surfboards advertisement courtesy of John Witzig & Len Dibben.
WA surfing pioneer Dave Williams got Len Dibben started in the model industry. Dave couldn’t attend a photo shoot at Rottnest and put Len’s name forward. Len went on to model menswear for city fashion houses (Parker & Co & Walsh’s Menswear), strut the cat walk at fashion parades held at the Royal Show and feature in a television commercial for Karri Smoked Bacon.
Len also got champion board paddler Dave Ellis and some mates from Warrain Surfboard Club into modelling with him at Boans Department store in Summer & Winter Cat Walk modelling jobs.
Photo: 1970s Len Dibben (bottom tight) modelling for a Parker & Co menswear brochure. Image courtesy of Parker & Co.
In 1972 NZ surf photographer Ric Chan did a fashion shoot with Len Dibben at Injidup Point in the South West. The following images are from that fashion shoot.
Photo: 1972 fashion shoot for Len’s surf clothing business. Image courtesy of Ric Chan.
Photo: 1973 Len in his shaping bay at North Fremantle . Photo credit Ric Chan
Surfing became fashionable during the 60s & 70s. Surfers were a saleable commodity used by business for promotional purposes. Surfers appeared in advertisements featured in Fashion & Surf Mags and the News media.
During this period WA surf industry pioneer Len Dibben ran his own Surfboard manufacturing business and did modelling on the side (initially to promote his surfboard business).
In 1969 renowned Australian surf photographer John Witzig took the following photo of Len Dibben modelling in front of his business premises (aka old church) in North Fremantle. The image was used in a Len Dibben Surfboards advertisement which appeared in Surf International Magazine.
Photo: Len Dibben Surfboards advertisement courtesy of John Witzig & Len Dibben.
WA surfing pioneer Dave Williams got Len Dibben started in the model industry. Dave couldn’t attend a photo shoot at Rottnest and put Len’s name forward. Len went on to model menswear for city fashion houses (Parker & Co & Walsh’s Menswear), strut the cat walk at fashion parades held at the Royal Show and feature in a television commercial for Karri Smoked Bacon.
Len also got champion board paddler Dave Ellis and some mates from Warrain Surfboard Club into modelling with him at Boans Department store in Summer & Winter Cat Walk modelling jobs.
Photo: 1970s Len Dibben (bottom tight) modelling for a Parker & Co menswear brochure. Image courtesy of Parker & Co.
In 1972 NZ surf photographer Ric Chan did a fashion shoot with Len Dibben at Injidup Point in the South West. The following images are from that fashion shoot.
Photo: 1972 fashion shoot for Len’s surf clothing business. Image courtesy of Ric Chan.
Photo: 1973 Len in his shaping bay at North Fremantle . Photo credit Ric Chan
Click on www.facebook.com/facebppk113 to view Len’s Face Book page.
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