LONDON, United Kingdom —
After two decades as the face of surfwear giant Quiksilver, top-ranked
professional surfer Kelly Slater has announced that he is leaving the
ailing sports apparel brand to forge a new partnership with luxury group
Kering.
“For years I’ve dreamt of developing a
brand that combines my love of clean living, responsibility and style.
So I am excited to tell you that I’ve chosen The Kering Group as a
partner. They share my values and have the ability to support me in all
of my endeavors,” wrote Slater, the 11-time champion of surfing
competition ASP World Tour, in a heartfelt message on Facebook that has
circulated around surf and sports media outlets.
According to a spokesperson for Kering,
the group will help Slater launch and develop his own clothing line,
and support the brand operationally in areas such as logistics and
e-commerce. Slater, a well-known advocate for marine conservation, will
also act as Kering’s brand ambassador for initiatives around
sustainability. Kering’s stable of brands includes luxury fashion houses
Gucci, Stella McCartney, and Balenciaga,
among others. The group already owns Volcom, a board sports label that
also sponsors surfing competition Volcom Fiji Pro, and has prioritised
lifestyle brands.
“There is little I can say that would
give the credit due or cover the debt of gratitude I feel on a personal
and professional level to Quiksilver. As a brand and on a human level,
they have been a part of my life, career, and personal relationships for
more than 23 years now, well over half my life,” he continued.
The Huntington Beach-based surfwear
company initially signed with Slater as his sponsor in 1990, launching
his professional career. In recent years, however, Quiksilver — part of
surfwear’s ‘Big Three’, alongside Rip Curl and Billabong — has suffered mounting financial losses,
exacerbated by ill-timed and expensive acquisitions in the mid-2000s
and over-expansion. The loss of its longtime brand ambassador may
significantly hamper its turnaround efforts.
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