FLIKS FORTELA CANVAS

The extraordinary story of Mr. Fliks unfolds from historical documents from Redondo Beach, California, USA.

Located just south of Los Angeles, this iconic beach town is celebrated for its laid-back atmosphere and distinctive horseshoe pier.

The first reference to Mr. Fliks surfaced in Lightning Archives’ 2019 publication “Vintage T-shirts.” Among the first finds in that search was a yellow T-shirt with “Mr. Fliks” written in bright red.

This 100% cotton T-shirt dates back to the late 1960s, specifically between 1967 and 1968, perfectly aligned with the famous "Summer of Love."

During the summer of 1967, approximately 100,000 young people, then known as "hippies," gathered in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.

This rally marked a pivotal moment in the counterculture, symbolizing a collective desire for freedom, love, and peace in the context of the Vietnam War and widespread social unrest.

The era witnessed a stark contrast between the anti-war protests of the "Flower Powers" and the war veterans who returned home, adopting the M-65 Field Jacket as a symbol of peace and counterculture. This trend of reappropriating military items extended to other garments, reflecting a broader movement to redefine war symbols as emblems of peace and civilian life.

In this transformative time, the narrative of Mr. Fliks emerges. A Vietnam War veteran from Redondo Beach, he returned with his military uniform and a particular fascination with the vulcanized “Deck Shoes” worn by U.S. Navy personnel. Recognizing the popularity of military-inspired fashion, Mr. Fliks began producing these shoes, adding a subtle nod to his hometown with the inscription “Redondo Beach, CA” and two stars, honoring the Californian night sky, near the ankle bone.

Thus, the legend of Mr. Fliks is intertwined with the cultural changes of the 60s, embodying the transition from war to peace and from military utility to civilian fashion.