Surfer legend works with Steve & Barry's

In a recent phone interview, Hamilton chatted from Hawaii, where hegrew up and still calls home, and where he's promoting hisWonderwall collection at a new Steve & Barry's store. "I'd like to say I discovered Steve & Barry's, but they approachedme about the concept," Hamilton says. "I had little to no knowledgeof their business philosophy. After a very short discussion, Irealized it was something that I definitely wanted to be part of." That philosophy is selling goods at a very low markup, and lettingword-of-mouth instead of expensive ad campaigns draw customers. Hamilton says the fact that his collection would be affordable toall was important. Raised by a single mom in Hawaii (pro surferBill Hamilton later married his mom and adopted him), Hamilton saidmoney was more than tight -- not that he'd change a thing about hischildhood. "I'm where I am because of where I've been," he explains. That said, Hamilton recalls, "I used to get two pairs of long pantsper school year. We didn't have a lot, so I think this is somethingthat would have been really nice. I think it's a wonderful thingthat kids are going to be able to have the opportunity to havegreat stuff and (be able to) afford it." Surprisingly, the athlete and former model says he once had a shortcareer stint in the apparel industry -- working on everything fromconstructing garments at factories in Los Angeles to selling themat trade shows. "I worked in the clothing industry when I was 18," Hamilton says,adding he learned early on that in extreme sports, the money wasoften in apparel merchandising. For Wonderwall, Hamilton says he was involved in "the wholedesigning process," down to the logo. His wife, former model andprofessional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece, also had someinput. One of the pieces in the collection is a graphic tee withHamilton's surfing moto: "We are all equal before a wave." Hamilton says there are no plans yet for a women's or children'sWonderwall collection, but he doesn't rule it out if the collectionis a hit. In the meantime, Hamilton says he's getting ready to reunite inMalibu with Chelios for their summer workouts, which often includebiking up mountains with a group of like-minded extreme sportstypes. He met Chelios because they had the same trainer at thefamed Gold's Gym in Venice Beach. "I think we have a mutual respect for one another," he says ofChelios. "He's an outstanding individual." Hamilton admits his pal doesn't yet have a pair of Wonderwall Men's Board Shorts, but he says Chelios will be getting a box of Wonderwallapparel soon. "He has to bring the (Stanley) Cup back to Malibu," Hamilton says."If he could bring the Cup back, maybe he could get two boxes."