Quiksilver

Quiksilver
	File:Quiksilver logo.svg Quiksilver logo, inspired by Hokusai's The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Apparel, sporting goods
Founded	1 January 1969; 57 years ago in Torquay, Victoria, Australia
Headquarters	Huntington Beach, California, United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Dave Tanner (CEO as of 2018)
Products	Surfwear, swimwear, footwear, accessories
Parent	Authentic Brands Group (since 2023)
Website	www.quiksilver.com

Overview

Quiksilver is a globally recognized brand specializing in surf-inspired apparel and accessories. Established in 1969 in Torquay, Victoria, Australia, the company has since relocated its headquarters to Huntington Beach, California. It ranks among the leading brands worldwide in surfwear and boardsport-related products. The parent organization rebranded from Quiksilver, Inc. to Boardriders, Inc. in March 2017, overseeing the Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC Shoes labels. In 2018, Boardriders expanded by acquiring Billabong International Limited, adding Billabong, Element Skateboards, Von Zipper, RVCA, and XCEL to its portfolio. In 2023, Authentic Brands Group purchased Boardriders along with its associated brands and intellectual property.

Quiksilver's product lineup includes a diverse array of sportswear such as swimsuits; various clothing items including T-shirts, polo shirts, flannels, jackets, hoodies, pants, and shorts; footwear like sneakers and sandals; as well as accessories such as hats, backpacks, and wallets. The company also offers a dedicated women's apparel collection under the Roxy brand and markets additional women's clothing through Quiksilver Women.

Recent corporate developments

In 2005, Quiksilver acquired Skis Rossignol for $560 million but later divested Rossignol on 12 November 2008 for a total of $50 million, comprising $37.5 million in cash and a $12.5 million promissory note. Quiksilver also previously owned the golf equipment manufacturer Cleveland Golf until it was sold to a Japanese sporting goods firm on 31 October 2007.

By 2009, Moody's had listed Quiksilver among companies at high risk of defaulting on their debt obligations.

As of 2013, Quiksilver maintained 834 standalone retail locations across key urban centers in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa. Of these, 540 stores were company-owned while the remainder operated under licensing agreements. The retail outlets were categorized as either "Boardriders Club" or "Factory" stores. Additionally, Quiksilver products were distributed through various other retailers worldwide such as PacSun, Fells Point Surf Company, and the Ron Jon Surf Shop. The decline in PacSun’s market position negatively impacted sales for Quiksilver and similar brands. The company also managed dedicated Roxy and Quiksilver Youth stores.

During this period, Quiksilver experienced a six-year financial downturn and launched a recovery strategy aimed at reversing its fortunes. In September 2015, the company filed for protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Co-founder Bob McKnight resigned as CEO on 11 January 2013 but remained executive chairman until his retirement in October 2014. Following McKnight’s departure, Andy Mooney—formerly chairman of Disney Consumer Products—served as CEO from 2013 until 2015.

In March 2015, Mooney stepped down and was succeeded by Pierre Agnes, a veteran employee with 27 years at the company, who was tasked with leading the brand’s restructuring efforts. That same year Agnes was elevated from president to chief executive officer.

Quiksilver successfully emerged from bankruptcy protection in early 2016 and transitioned back to private ownership, with Oaktree Capital Management holding the majority stake. However, by the close of 2016, the company’s retail footprint had been significantly reduced following Oaktree’s restructuring initiatives.

In March 2017, the organization rebranded as Boardriders, Inc., which now owns the Quiksilver, Roxy, and DC Shoes labels. In 2018, Boardriders expanded its portfolio by acquiring Billabong International Limited.

On 30 January 2018, Pierre Agnes—the global CEO of Boardriders—was reported missing after his powerboat was found adrift near Biarritz, France. He had communicated a delay due to dense fog before disappearing. A search operation involving air and sea units was promptly initiated but was called off days later when he was presumed lost at sea. Subsequently, Dave Tanner, who had formerly served as chief turnaround officer for the company, assumed the role of CEO on 6 February 2018.

Boardriders, Inc.’s brand portfolio includes Quiksilver, Roxy, DC Shoes, Billabong, Element, Von Zipper, RVCA, and XCEL.

In April 2023, Authentic Brands Group submitted a binding proposal to acquire Boardriders, Inc. for approximately US$1.25 billion.

On February 2, 2025, Liberated Brands—which operates Quiksilver and Roxy retail outlets within the United States—filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The company disclosed assets and liabilities ranging between $100 million and $500 million. It also announced plans to close all remaining Quiksilver and Roxy stores in the U.S., with liquidation sales commencing one week prior to the bankruptcy filing.

Roxy

Quiksilver introduced its female-focused sister brand, Roxy, in 1990. Following the surf industry downturn in 1991, the brand was temporarily discontinued but was brought back to life by Bob McKnight and Danny Kwock in 1992, with Lisa Andersen joining as a signed athlete in 1993. Randy Hild, the company’s senior vice president of marketing, explained that Roxy was developed separately to avoid any negative impact on the men's Quiksilver brand. The name "Roxy" was selected because it evoked the vibe of a punk band or club—likely referencing Roxy Music and The Roxy—and it also holds personal significance as it is the name of the daughters of CEO Bob McKnight and founder Alan Green. Approximately 30% of Quiksilver’s revenue is generated through the Roxy line.

Since its launch, Roxy has expanded to become the leading action sports fashion brand targeting young women. Beyond clothing, its product range now includes accessories, homewares, hard goods for snow and surf sports, wetsuits, footwear, and books. The brand also caters to younger demographics with sub-brands such as Roxy Girl and Teenie Wahine.

In spring 2013, Roxy collaborated on a limited-edition swimwear and beachwear collection titled "DVF loves Roxy," which also featured accessories.

Brand image

The Quiksilver logo, created in 1973 by founders Alan Green and John Law, draws inspiration from Japanese artist Hokusai’s famous woodcut The Great Wave off Kanagawa. The emblem portrays a towering wave alongside a mountain set against a red backdrop. Roxy’s distinctive heart-shaped logo was designed by mirroring and duplicating the Quiksilver logo, then rotating both elements by 45 degrees.

Controversy

In 2023, Beach Grit published a report accusing Quiksilver of appropriating a design from the smaller brand Ola Canvas, specifically their Blackball boardshorts. Quiksilver shared the design on their Instagram page on February 14, 2023, to which Ola Canvas issued a public response five days afterward.

References

External links

Lua error in Module:Official_website at line 90: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Boardriders (parent company)
Official website (Roxy)

Template:Sports equipment brands Template:Running shoe brands Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 159: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).