Is Rip Curl still Australian owned?
The recent $350 million sale of surfing icon rip curl to new zealand outdoor clothing and accessories retailer kathmandu marks the end of an era, with the big three pioneering aussie surf brands (rip curl, quiksilver and billabong), all founded around the same time, now in the hands of international owners. Iconic australian surf brand rip curl has been acquired by new zealand specialist outdoor retailer kathmandu in a $350 million deal, following years of sale attempts by the company’s founders. Rip curl was founded in 1969 in torquay, victoria, by surfers-turned-business owners brian singer and doug warbrick.Now designing, producing, and distributing a variety of innovative products in more than 60 countries worldwide, Rip Curl takes pride in our world-class roster of surfers and the simple objective to Live The Search.The Brand. Born at Bells Beach in Australia in 1969, Rip Curl is a true Aussie icon specialising in surfwear and surfing gear. Rip Curl has ridden a wave of success since its humble beginnings of shaping boards in a small garage and sewing wetsuits in a house basement behind the Torquay Pub.Rip Curl became a Certified B Corp brand in early 2023, demonstrating its commitment to high social and environmental standards. The certification aligns with its ongoing sustainability efforts, including responsible material sourcing, ethical labor practices, and reducing its environmental footprint.It was the idea of adventure, looking for and surfing good waves, having a few beers at night and a good time, then getting up the next day and doing it all again. Brian Singer, Rip Curl Co-Founder. This iconic logo represents that relentless urge to explore, the anticipation, the laughs, the disasters, the surf.
Is Rip Curl aussie?
Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear (also known as boardwear) and accompanying products, and a major athletic sponsor. Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia, Europe, South America, North America and South Africa. In October 2019, Kathmandu announced it would buy 100% of Australian surf brand Rip Curl for A$350m. In March 2022, Kathmandu Holdings was rebranded KMD Brands.Shares hit a record low of $0. August, having fallen by half in the last year, and down from $2 when KMD bought Rip Curl in late 2019. According to KMD, the store closures would not only reduce costs – they’re hoping to free up $25 million – but figure in a shift towards online commerce.In October 2019, Kathmandu announced it would buy 100% of Australian surf brand Rip Curl for A$350m. In March 2022, Kathmandu Holdings was rebranded KMD Brands.Rip Curl is an Australian designer, manufacturer, and retailer of surfing sportswear (also known as boardwear) and accompanying products, and a major athletic sponsor. Rip Curl has become one of the largest surfing companies in Australia, Europe, South America, North America and South Africa.
Why is it called Rip Curl?
The name ‘Rip Curl’ was taken from a vee-bottom surfboard that Doug bought in 1968, on which he’d written “Rip Curl Hot Dog. The words didn’t mean anything, he later admitted, “Except ripping was groovy; surfing the curl was groovy; we wanted to be groovy — so that was it. While the company started in 1969 as outlined previously, the name Rip Curl actually came about in 1967.
Who bought out Rip Curl?
Rip Curl (the “Company”) has been acquired by Kathmandu in a $350 million deal. In September, KMD Brands – a New Zealand-based retailer that also owns Rip Curl and footwear brand Oboz – announced plans to shut more than 20 Kathmandu stores worldwide in the next financial year, including 14 in Australia. That represents just under ten per cent of the brand’s 170 stores across the country.
Who is the CEO of Rip Curl Australia?
Announced this week, former Nike executive Ashley Reade has been appointed CEO of the iconic Australian surf company. Replacing previous CEO, Brooke Farris, who resigned in October 2024, the announcement comes from Rip Curl’s parent company New Zealand-based KMD Brands. Ashley Reade is Rip Curl’s new CEO. Reade spent the past eight years as VP and GM of Nike’s Asia Pacific operations.