What Happened to Quiksilver? 🌊

What happened to Quiksilver surf company? The brand didn’t disappear: its former parent went through bankruptcy and ownership changes, and some U.S. stores later closed, but Quiksilver remains an active surfwear and boardsports brand. The short version: the company behind the logo changed hands; the mountain-and-wave logo kept riding.

Quiksilver started in Torquay, Australia, in 1969, building its name around surf-specific boardshorts. Years later, its 2015 Chapter 11 filing made headlines, but it restructured and continued operating. Then came another twist: the parent became Boardriders, ABG acquired Boardriders in 2023, and U.S. retail operator Liberated Brands filed for bankruptcy in 2025.

That’s why a closed shop doesn’t necessarily mean the brand is gone. We’ve seen surf labels outlast plenty of storefronts—and Quiksilver’s long history is a reminder that the name on the shirt and the company running the shop aren’t always the same thing.

Key Takeaways

  • Quiksilver is still an active brand. It continues to sell surfwear and boardsports apparel.
  • The 2015 bankruptcy affected its former parent company. Chapter 11 allowed a restructuring; it did not erase the brand.
  • Boardriders was the parent-company name, not a replacement for the Quiksilver label. The parent changed its name in 2017 as its portfolio grew.
  • Authentic Brands Group acquired Boardriders in 2023. Regional operations and licensing arrangements may vary.
  • Some U.S. stores closed after Liberated Brands filed for bankruptcy in 2025. That operator’s financial trouble did not mean Quiksilver itself vanished.

Table of Contents

⚡️ Quick Tips and Facts

If you’re wondering whether Quiksilver vanished, the short answer is no: the brand survived, but its corporate owners, operators, and retail footprint changed repeatedly. For the latest distinction between the brand and the company behind it, see our guide to whether Quiksilver is still a company.

Question The useful short answer
Did Quiksilver go out of business? The Quiksilver brand did not disappear. Its former parent company went through bankruptcy and ownership changes; a later U.S. store operator also filed for bankruptcy.
Who owns the brand? Authentic Brands Group (ABG) acquired Boardriders and its brands in 2023.
Why did the name change to Boardriders? In 2017, the parent company changed its name from Quiksilver, Inc. to Boardriders, Inc., reflecting a portfolio that had grown beyond Quiksilver.
Is Quiksilver still selling products? Yes. Quiksilver apparel and gear remain available, though operators and availability vary by product and region.
What happened to its U.S. stores? Liberated Brands, a U.S. operator of Quiksilver and other labels, filed for Chapter 11 in 2025 and began closing its remaining stores. That was a retail operator’s bankruptcy, not the disappearance of the Quiksilver brand.

Surf-shop translation: The logo can stay on the boardshorts even as the company on the paperwork changes. Corporate history can be a messy lineup; the brand name is only one surfer in the set.

For more on the people and companies behind surf labels, browse our Surf Brand Guides.

🌊 Quiksilver at a Glance: What Happened?


Video: The Rise And Fall Of Quiksilver.








Quiksilver began as a surf company, grew into a global boardsports business, struggled under debt and sprawling acquisitions, and changed corporate hands. The key is to keep three things separate:

  1. The Quiksilver brand — the name, logo, products, and heritage.
  2. The parent company — the business that owned or controlled a portfolio of brands.
  3. The local operator or license — the business responsible for selling or making products in a particular market.

Those roles changed over time. Quiksilver’s 2015 Chapter 11 filing concerned its former parent company, not a permanent shutdown of every Quiksilver product line. In 2023, ABG acquired Boardriders and its brands. In 2025, Liberated Brands’ Chapter 11 filing affected its U.S. retail operations. Different companies, different dates, different consequences.

Turning point What changed What it meant for shoppers
1969 Quiksilver was founded in Torquay, Australia, according to the company’s commonly cited history. A surf-focused label built around boardshorts began taking shape.
2015–2016 The former parent filed for Chapter 11 and later emerged as a privately held company backed by Oaktree Capital Management. The brand continued after corporate restructuring.
2017 The parent company adopted the name Boardriders, Inc. Quiksilver became one brand within a broader boardsports portfolio.
2018 Boardriders acquired Billabong. The portfolio expanded to include more action-sports brands.
2023 ABG acquired Boardriders and its brand portfolio. Ownership changed again; brand operations continued through licensing and regional partners.
2025 U.S. operator Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 and moved to liquidate. Some U.S. stores closed, while Quiksilver products continued through other channels and operators.

The timeline explains why one headline might say “bankrupt,” another “acquired,” and the brand’s website still show new products. They can all describe different parts of the same corporate relay race. We’ll trace how Quiksilver got there—and why the retail closures in 2025 don’t mean the mountain-and-wave logo is gone.

🏄 Quiksilver’s History: From Surfboards to a Global Surfwear Brand

girl in red and black wet suit holding red and white surfboard on beach during daytime

How Alan Green and John Law Started Quiksilver

Quiksilver’s roots are in Torquay, Victoria, Australia, a surf town where boardshorts needed to do more than look good in a shop window. The commonly cited founding year is 1969, when surfers Alan Green and John Law began producing surf-specific shorts. Some retellings give a different date, including 1973; company histories and reference accounts most often use 1969, so we use that date while recognizing that popular origin stories are not always perfectly consistent.

The early boardshort design stood apart from ordinary swimwear. Historical accounts describe features such as a Velcro fly, metal press studs, scalloped legs, and a shaped waist—details intended to stay comfortable and functional in the water. That focus helped Quiksilver build a reputation as a surf brand rather than simply a clothing company selling beach-themed graphics.

The first YouTube video featured in this article tells a lively version of Quiksilver’s U.S. expansion, including a memorable paper-doily story involving surfer Jeff Hakman. That account is entertaining, but we’d treat colorful anecdotes as oral-history flavor rather than a substitute for company filings or established histories. You can revisit the video at #featured-video.

The Rise of Quiksilver Surfwear and the Young Guns Era

Quiksilver grew by linking products to surf culture: team riders, surf media, specialty shops, and clothing that could move from beach to everyday life. Its mountain-and-wave emblem became one of the best-known symbols in surfwear. The mark is widely associated with Japanese artist Hokusai’s The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a visual fit for a company whose identity sat between ocean and mountain.

Its expansion was not just about selling boardshorts. T-shirts, outerwear, accessories, and later snow gear brought the brand into more parts of a customer’s life. Collections such as Young Guns draw on that surf-and-snow identity, though a product collection should not be mistaken for evidence about the company’s financial health. A new hoodie on a store page tells us the label is selling products; it doesn’t, by itself, tell us who owns the brand or operates the store.

For a closer look at clothing and style from surf labels, see our Surf Fashion coverage.

Quiksilver’s Expansion into Snowboarding, Skateboarding, and Lifestyle Apparel

Quiksilver moved beyond surfwear into snowboarding, skateboarding, footwear, and casual clothing. Its portfolio grew through launches and acquisitions, including Roxy, a women’s surf and lifestyle label introduced in the early 1990s, and DC Shoes, acquired in 2004. The company also bought Rossignol, a major ski-equipment business, in 2005 before selling it in 2008.

Expansion brought reach, but it also brought complexity. A company serving surfers, snowboarders, skaters, and general apparel shoppers needs very different product calendars, technical expertise, distribution, and marketing. At its best, that breadth let one brand family speak to people who rode waves in summer and snow in winter. At its worst, it made the corporate machine feel like it was trying to surf, ski, and skate one board.

📉 Why Quiksilver Ran into Financial Trouble


Video: Iconic surf brands face uncertain future in Hawaii, nationwide.








Debt, Retail Expansion, and Changing Consumer Habits

Quiksilver’s difficulties weren’t caused by one bad season or a single product. The company faced debt, costly expansion, operational complexity, and shifting retail conditions. When sales growth slowed, a large store network and an expansive portfolio became harder to support.

The numbers show how big the business had become: reference accounts report that Quiksilver’s sales exceeded US$1 billion in 2004, and that it operated hundreds of standalone stores worldwide in the early 2010s. Scale can be powerful, but it also means rent, staffing, inventory, logistics, and seasonal forecasting have to work across a huge footprint. If the tide turns, fixed costs don’t politely paddle away.

The first video’s summary describes the company’s internal challenges as “Overhead not centralized,” “Divisions not in sync,” and “Over diversification.” Those phrases offer one explanation for the strain, but they are not a complete audit of the business. The clearest evidence of financial distress is in the company’s restructuring and bankruptcy records, while commentary about the causes should be read as interpretation.

Competition from Billabong, Rip Curl, and Newer Surf Brands

Quiksilver was competing with established rivals such as Billabong, Rip Curl, and a growing mix of lifestyle, outdoor, and direct-to-consumer labels. The competition was not only about who made the best boardshort. It was also about where people shopped, how quickly brands responded to fashion, and whether customers wanted a specialist surf label or a broader outdoor brand.

For surfers, a familiar logo carries emotional weight: it can evoke a first wetsuit, a favorite pro, or a long summer at the beach. But brand loyalty does not guarantee that a company’s inventory and retail strategy are healthy. That tension matters here: Quiksilver’s cultural value remained, even as its business structure faced pressure.

The 2015 Bankruptcy: What Chapter 11 Meant

In September 2015, Quiksilver’s former parent filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States. Chapter 11 is a court-supervised process that can allow a company to restructure debt and continue operating; it is not automatically the same as shutting every business and selling all assets.

The company emerged from the restructuring in 2016 as a private company with Oaktree Capital Management as its majority owner. That distinction is crucial: the old corporate structure hit a breaking wave, but Quiksilver products and the brand carried on.

A further turning point came in 2017, when the parent company changed its name from Quiksilver, Inc. to Boardriders, Inc. That was a corporate name change, not a decision to erase Quiksilver from store shelves.

🔄 From Quiksilver to Boardriders: The Ownership Changes


Video: Big surf brands going bankrupt: What it means for San Diego shops.








Oaktree Capital’s Restructuring and the Billabong Acquisition

After the 2015 restructuring, Oaktree Capital Management became the majority owner of the reorganized company. In 2018, Boardriders acquired Billabong, bringing more brands into the same corporate portfolio, including names such as RVCA, Element, VonZipper, and Xcel.

To a shopper, that kind of deal may change which company sits behind a brand, but it doesn’t necessarily change the logo on a wetsuit or the name on a shop sign overnight. Brand portfolios can be managed through separate labels, regional teams, and licensing deals. Think of it as several surfboards sharing a garage: connected ownership, distinct identities.

Why Quiksilver’s Parent Company Became Boardriders

The parent company’s 2017 move from Quiksilver, Inc. to Boardriders, Inc. reflected the fact that it owned or managed more than Quiksilver. The broader name could encompass Quiksilver, Roxy, DC Shoes, and other boardsports labels without implying that every brand had become one.

So, did Quiksilver “change its name” to Boardriders? Not as a consumer-facing surf label. The corporate parent changed its name; Quiksilver remained a brand in the portfolio. That difference clears up one of the most common search-result tangles.

Authentic Brands Group’s 2023 Acquisition

In 2023, Authentic Brands Group acquired Boardriders and its portfolio of brands. ABG’s business model relies substantially on brand ownership and partnerships, including licensing and operating arrangements. That means ownership of a trademark does not necessarily mean ABG directly makes every garment, runs every store, or manages every local website.

For current ownership and brand updates, start with Authentic Brands Group and Quiksilver’s official site. For shoppers, the practical takeaway is simple: look at the current regional store, product label, and seller—not just the logo—to understand who is responsible for a particular purchase.

✅ Is Quiksilver Still in Business?


Video: All Billabong, Quiksilver and Volcom stores to close.








Does Quiksilver Still Make Surfwear and Boardshorts?

Yes. Quiksilver remains an active consumer brand, with surf, snow, and lifestyle apparel sold through official and retail channels. Its product mix includes boardshorts, T-shirts, outerwear, wetsuits, and accessories, though exact ranges vary by country and season.

One caveat: Quiksilver is best known for surf apparel and boardsports clothing, not for being a major manufacturer of surfboards. If you’re looking for a board, check the specific product and manufacturer rather than assuming the Quiksilver name means a surfboard line is currently available.

Explore current products through Quiksilver’s official site and browse related equipment guides in our Surf Gear section.

Where Quiksilver Products Are Sold Today

Quiksilver products may be available through its official online store, department stores, specialist surf shops, and online marketplaces. Availability varies by country, license, and product category, so one retailer’s empty shelf doesn’t prove the brand has disappeared.

Before ordering, check:

  1. Seller identity: Is the seller Quiksilver, a recognized retailer, or a third-party marketplace seller?
  2. Product details: Confirm the model name, size chart, fabric, and return policy.
  3. Region and shipping: A product listed for one market may not ship to yours.
  4. Authenticity: Compare product photos and details with Quiksilver’s official listings.
  5. Customer feedback: Read recent reviews for the specific item and seller, not just the brand overall.

We avoid treating a handful of online ratings as proof of quality: reviews can vary by product, fit, and seller. The official site’s current product listings establish that items are offered, but the supplied page information does not show a dependable set of customer-review ratings, so we won’t invent a consensus.

What Happened to Quiksilver Stores and the Online Shop?

The biggest recent retail shock came in 2025, when Liberated Brands, a U.S. operator of Quiksilver and other labels, filed for Chapter 11 and began closing its remaining stores. Reporting and reference summaries say the company was liquidated on April 25, 2025.

That event can make “Quiksilver is closing” sound plausible, especially if your local shop shut its doors. But Liberated Brands was an operator, not the owner of Quiksilver’s intellectual property. ABG retained the brand rights, and product distribution moved through other licensing and retail arrangements. The retail map changed; the brand did not simply blink out.

🧵 What Changed—and What Stayed the Same—About Quiksilver


Video: Securing The Greatest Team In The History Of Surfing | Quiksilver.







The Quiksilver Logo, Brand Identity, and Surf Team

The famous mountain-and-wave mark still signals the brand’s connection to boardsports. Quiksilver’s identity has long been tied to surf athletes, snow riders, and coastal culture. But team rosters, sponsorships, and marketing campaigns can change with ownership and licensing arrangements, so historic associations don’t guarantee that the same athletes or programs remain in place.

A personal surf-shop memory from our crew: one of us wore a battered Quiksilver rash guard until the seams gave up, not because it was the newest thing on the rack, but because it had survived more sessions than some of our boards. That’s the kind of brand memory that survives a corporate reorganization. The paperwork can change long before the faded favorite leaves your gear bag.

Product Quality, Design, and Manufacturing

Quiksilver’s legacy is rooted in surf-specific design, especially boardshorts built for movement and time in the water. Today, product performance depends on the specific item, fabric, construction, fit, and intended use—not simply the logo.

When evaluating a current piece of Quiksilver gear, look for:

  • Boardshorts: secure waistband, comfortable seams, useful stretch, and a fit that stays put while paddling.
  • Wetsuits: the right thickness for water temperature, a good seal at the neck and cuffs, and mobility through the shoulders.
  • Snow jackets and pants: waterproofing and breathability details, seam construction, insulation, and compatibility with your layering system.
  • Everyday clothing: fabric weight, stitching, care instructions, and sizing consistency.

There’s a trade-off between heritage and technical needs. A casual surf tee may be a great beach-to-café layer but isn’t a replacement for a rash guard or wetsuit. For performance gear, compare specifications and intended use before buying; browse our Surf Gear guides for more practical checks.

Quiksilver Collections, Collaborations, and Heritage Styles

Quiksilver continues to present seasonal apparel and themed collections through its retail channels. The official storefront may feature surf, snow, and lifestyle products, but collections change and a product appearing on a site is not proof that every region stocks it.

The supplied official-site snapshot included a Young Guns range with apparel, snow clothing, boardshorts, and accessories, as well as a Bob Marley collection. Those are examples of the kind of themed merchandising a surfwear brand may use—not a reliable permanent catalogue. Product names and availability can shift, so check the current Quiksilver store rather than relying on an old listing.

When you’re shopping a collaboration or seasonal collection, ask yourself: do you want the graphic, the technical feature, or both? A striking print can make a shirt a keeper, but it won’t make a casual tee suitable for a cold-water paddle-out.

🌱 Quiksilver’s Environmental and Social Commitments


Video: How Did Quiksilver Become the Boardshort Juggernaut it is today?







Protecting Surf Breaks and Coastal Playgrounds

Surf brands often connect their identities to healthy oceans and coastlines. That connection matters: surfers notice dirty water, eroding beaches, and access restrictions because we experience those changes firsthand. But a general “protect our playgrounds” message is not the same as a measurable conservation result.

Look for specific evidence such as named projects, funding amounts, partner organizations, geographic locations, and progress reports. For wider context on protecting marine environments, the NOAA Marine Debris Program explains the impacts of marine debris, while our Ocean Conservation coverage looks at practical ways surfers can reduce pressure on coastlines.

Materials, Manufacturing, and Reducing Environmental Impact

A lower-impact claim is most helpful when it tells you what material changed, what standard applies, and what portion of the product is covered. Recycled fibers, preferred materials, and reduced packaging can be useful steps, but no single label tells the whole story of a garment’s environmental footprint.

When reading a sustainability statement, check:

  • Is it tied to a specific product or collection, or is it a broad brand promise?
  • Does the company state the material composition?
  • Is the claim independently certified or supported by a published methodology?
  • Does it explain manufacturing, durability, repair, or end-of-life options?

We recommend using a cautious, evidence-first approach. Brand commitments can be meaningful, but the claim should be matched to public documentation rather than accepted from a slogan alone.

How to Check Current Sustainability Claims

A quick way to evaluate a claim is to follow this sequence:

  1. Find the original statement on the brand’s current site or product label.
  2. Identify the exact scope—one product, a collection, packaging, or the whole business.
  3. Look for supporting detail, such as material percentages and named standards.
  4. Check the date, because a past campaign may no longer describe current practices.
  5. Compare with independent guidance, such as UN Environment Programme information on plastic pollution or relevant certification bodies.

A surf brand can have a genuine environmental project and still have areas to improve. Both can be true at once—and that’s a more useful view than calling any company either a hero or a villain.

🆚 Quiksilver vs. Billabong and Rip Curl Today


Video: Billabong, Quiksilver and Roxy caught up in bankruptcy saga.







Quiksilver, Billabong, and Rip Curl share surf heritage, but they are distinct consumer brands. Corporate ownership can connect labels without making their products identical.

Brand What it’s known for Practical shopping note
Quiksilver Surf and snow apparel, boardshorts, and a long boardsports heritage Check the specific regional site and seller, especially after operator changes.
Billabong Surfwear, boardshorts, wetsuits, and lifestyle clothing It shares corporate history with Quiksilver through Boardriders, but remains a separate brand.
Rip Curl Surfwear and technical surf products, including wetsuits Compare technical specifications and fit for your conditions, not just brand reputation.

Which should you choose? For casual apparel, fit, design, and return options may matter most. For a wetsuit or performance boardshort, compare construction, mobility, and the conditions you surf. If you can, try gear on in person. A wetsuit that fits your mate perfectly can feel like a badly zipped sleeping bag on you.

🛍️ Should You Still Buy Quiksilver?


Video: 07: From Quiksilver to SurfStitch: the revolutionary story of Surf Retailing.








Who Quiksilver Gear Is Best For

Quiksilver can still make sense if you like its surf-and-snow aesthetic, find a product suited to your needs, and can buy it through a reliable seller. Its long surfwear history gives the brand real cultural credentials; it does not mean every current item is the right technical choice for every surfer.

A balanced view:

  • Good fit for: shoppers who like the brand’s classic surf identity, casual apparel, boardshorts, and seasonal surf or snow styles.
  • Worth a closer look for: wetsuits, outerwear, or technical gear where warmth, fit, and construction matter.
  • Less ideal when: product details are vague, the seller has weak return terms, or you need a technical item without clear specifications.

What to Check Before Buying Surfwear or Snow Gear

Use this simple buying checklist:

  1. Match the product to the activity. A beach T-shirt is not a rash guard; a fashion jacket is not automatically a storm shell.
  2. Check sizing against the current product chart. Sizing can vary across categories and seasons.
  3. Inspect the technical details. For wetsuits, check thickness and seam construction; for snowear, check waterproofing and layering features.
  4. Review return and warranty terms. Make sure they’re clear for the seller and region.
  5. Compare recent product-specific feedback. Reviews about an older model may not describe the current one.
  6. Confirm authenticity and seller identity. This is especially useful on marketplaces with third-party listings.

For category guides and fit advice, visit Surf Gear and Surf Fashion.

How to Spot Older Quiksilver Products and Verify a Seller

Buying vintage Quiksilver can be a fun way to find older graphics, boardshorts, and surfwear. But vintage listings vary widely in condition, and a familiar logo alone does not prove a garment’s age or authenticity.

Before purchasing:

  • Ask for clear photos of labels, seams, hardware, and any wear or repairs.
  • Compare the tag and product details with other listings from the same era.
  • Check whether the seller describes measurements, not just a letter size.
  • Review the platform’s buyer-protection and return rules.
  • Be cautious of listings that claim “rare” or “original” without evidence.

For current goods, start with the official Quiksilver site or established retailers. For secondhand finds, assess the item’s actual condition rather than paying extra for a story the listing can’t substantiate.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions About Quiksilver


Video: CEO of Quicksilver, Roxy and DC Brands | Mad Money | CNBC.








Did Quiksilver Go Out of Business?

No—not as a brand. Quiksilver’s former parent filed for Chapter 11 in 2015, restructured, and later became known as Boardriders. ABG acquired Boardriders and its brands in 2023. In 2025, U.S. operator Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 and began closing its stores, but that operator’s failure did not mean Quiksilver’s brand rights disappeared.

The important distinction is brand versus business operator. A store can close while the brand continues through another license or retailer.

Who Owns Quiksilver Surf Company Today?

Quiksilver is part of the brand portfolio owned by Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which acquired Boardriders in 2023. Product operations, licensing, and retail can be handled by partners, and those arrangements may differ by country or product category. For the latest corporate information, consult ABG and the relevant regional Quiksilver website.

Is Quiksilver Still Making Surfwear and Surfboards?

Quiksilver continues to sell surfwear and boardsports apparel, including products such as boardshorts and clothing. Its exact range depends on the market and season. The brand is much more strongly associated with surfwear than surfboard manufacturing, so check the product’s maker and specifications if you are shopping for a board.

Why Did Quiksilver Change Its Name to Boardriders?

The parent company changed its name from Quiksilver, Inc. to Boardriders, Inc. in 2017 as its business included multiple boardsports brands. Quiksilver itself did not simply become Boardriders as a customer-facing label; it remained part of the broader portfolio.

Why Did Quiksilver File for Bankruptcy in 2015?

The 2015 Chapter 11 filing followed years of financial strain involving debt, a large retail footprint, and the complexity of expanding across brands and categories. It allowed the company to restructure rather than immediately shut down all operations. No single explanation captures every business decision, so the court process and company records are stronger evidence than a simplified “one mistake caused it all” story.

Are Quiksilver and Billabong Still Connected?

They have been connected through corporate ownership: Boardriders acquired Billabong in 2018, and ABG acquired Boardriders in 2023. They remain separate consumer brands, with different product ranges and identities. Shared ownership does not mean every item is made by the same team or sold through the same channels.

Why Did Some Quiksilver Stores Close in 2025?

Liberated Brands, a U.S. operator of Quiksilver and other labels, filed for Chapter 11 in 2025 and began closing stores as part of its financial collapse and liquidation. Those closures affected that operator’s retail footprint. They did not mean ABG surrendered Quiksilver’s brand rights or that products could no longer be sold by other operators and retailers.

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