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Globe International

From Alfawiki
Globe International Ltd.
Company typePublic
IndustryFootwear, apparel, skateboard hardware
Founded1985
FounderPeter Hill, Stephen Hill, Matt Hill
Headquarters
Melbourne
,
Australia
Area served
Global (offices in Melbourne, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, San Diego, Hossegor, Shenzhen)
Key people
Matt Hill (CEO)
ProductsFootwear, apparel, skateboard hardware, swimwear, bicycles

Globe International Ltd. is an Australian company specializing in footwear, apparel, and skateboard hardware, established in 1985 by three brothers from Australia. Its primary operations include proprietary brands, licensed lines, and distribution partnerships. Globe operates global offices located in Melbourne, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, San Diego, Hossegor (France), and Shenzhen, China. The company is publicly traded on the Australian Stock Exchange.

History

The origins of Globe International trace back to the 1980s with the creation of Hardcore Enterprises by former Australian skateboarding champions Peter, Stephen, and CEO Matt Hill. Frustrated by the limited quality of local skate products, they began importing skate goods from the United States into Australia, eventually expanding Hardcore into one of the world’s leading skateboard distributors.

Through books, videos, tours, competitions, and marketing efforts, the Hill brothers played a crucial role in popularizing skateboarding across Australia and New Zealand throughout the mid-1980s. In 1987, they introduced Die Hard Pty Ltd as a division focused on clothing and accessories, securing licenses for prominent youth brands such as Vision Streetwear, Stüssy, Mossimo, Freshjive, and Paul Frank. Die Hard evolved into Globe’s Streetwear Division before being sold to Pacific Brands in 2006.

Globe expanded into the US market in 1995 by establishing operations in Los Angeles, embedding itself within the American boardsports culture as a major provider of apparel, footwear, and skateboard hardware. The company went public on the Australian Stock Exchange in 2001.

In 2002, Globe acquired Kubic Marketing—which owned World Industries and Dwindle Distribution, responsible for managing brands like Enjoi, Blind, Darkstar, and Tensor—positioning Globe among the largest skateboard companies worldwide. The European headquarters opened in Hossegor, France in 2003 to serve key markets including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Austria.

Following the sale of its licensed Australian Streetwear Division to Pacific Brands in 2006 to concentrate on proprietary labels and global growth, Globe purchased Cliché—the leading European skateboard brand—in 2009. In 2010, Globe reentered the Australian streetwear market via "4Front Distribution," overseeing brands such as Stüssy, Obey, and Misfit. That same year saw Globe relocate its Melbourne headquarters to Port Melbourne.

Globe produces skateboards and trucks at its DSM (Douglas Street Manufacturing) Premium Woodshop facility in Shenzhen, China. DSM sources maple logs from Canada’s Great Lakes region for its deck manufacturing. Established in 2003 with guidance from skateboarding legend Rodney Mullen, DSM represented a strategic move from North American manufacturing to China while preserving high-quality standards.

Marking its 30th anniversary in 2015, Globe launched Unemployable: 30 Years of Hardcore, Skate and Street, celebrating its influence within the industry. The company acquired US-based Salty Crew in 2017 and divested its Dwindle business unit in 2019. Later that year, Globe introduced an electric skateboard model known as the dot board.

In 2022, Globe diversified into swimwear by investing in It's Now Cool and debuted MilkBar bicycles. By 2023, Globe operated branded retail locations in St Kilda (Melbourne), Hossegor (France), and Hong Kong.

Proprietary brands

  • Globe
  • FXD Workwear
  • Salty Crew
  • Impala Skate
  • dot electric skateboards
  • Milkbar Bikes
  • It's Now Cool

Third party brands

Skateboarding

Source:

Surfing

Snowboarding

Filmography

Globe has created a variety of films that celebrate both skateboarding and surfing lifestyles. From 2007 through 2010, it released six short films titled United By Fate, directed by Joe "Joe G" Guglielmino, which spotlighted its skateboarding team. This series featured riders such as Paul Machnau, Jake Duncombe, Louis Lopez, and Chris Haslam.

In 2013, Globe initiated production of the surf film Strange Rumblings in Shangri La, which earned the Surfer Poll Movie of the Year award in 2014. The film showcased team surfers including Dion Agius, Nate Tyler, Creed McTaggart, Taj Burrow, CJ and Damien Hobgood, Yadin Nicol, Brendon Gibbons, and Noa Deane across diverse settings like Iceland, Brazil, France, Mozambique, and Indonesia.

Skateboarding videography

  • Canvas
  • Opinion
  • United By Fate 1–6

Surfing videography

  • Somewhere, Anywhere, Everywhere
  • The Secret Machine
  • New Emissions of Light and Sound
  • Ungu
  • Year Zero
  • Electric Blue Heaven
  • Icecream
  • Strange Rumblings in Shangri La
  • Cult of Freedom web series
  • Dark Hollow

Skateboarding

  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2002
  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2003
  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2004
  • Globe World Cup Skateboarding – Melbourne, Australia 2005
  • The Global Assault!!! – Melbourne, Australia 2006
  • Double Stack Cash Attack – Gold Coast, Australia 2007
  • Slaughter at the Opera – Sydney, Australia 2008

Surfing

  • Globe Pro Fiji WCT Event – Tavarua Island, Fiji 2005
  • Globe Pro Fiji WCT Event – Tavarua Island, Fiji 2006
  • Globe Pro Fiji WCT Event – Tavarua Island, Fiji 2008

Special projects

The Special Project Division at Globe has partnered with a range of influential brands and artists to boost product innovation and expand market reach. Collaborations have included:

  • The Clash
  • Jason Ellis
  • Devo
  • Christies of London
  • G-Shock
  • Gears of War
  • Splatterhouse
  • Gojira
  • Sekure D
  • Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew
  • Martin Potter
  • Pete Townend
  • Halo X
  • Neff
  • Beavis and Butt-Head
  • Desillusion Magazine
  • Monster Children
  • Sesame Street
  • Yes. Snowboards

External links

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