Rip Curl apparel and wetsuits

Rip Curl is a premier global surf brand that originated in Torquay, Victoria, Australia, in 1969. Founded by Doug Warbrick and Brian Singer, the brand initially focused on handcrafting surfboards before expanding into high-performance wetsuits and technical surf apparel. Today, Rip Curl is recognized as one of the 'Big Three' brands in the surf industry, alongside Quiksilver and Billabong.

While Rip Curl's roots and design headquarters remain in Australia, its manufacturing is distributed globally across multiple countries, including China, Thailand, and Vietnam, to meet international demand. In 2019, the brand was acquired by the New Zealand-based outdoor retail group KMD Brands (formerly known as Kathmandu Holdings), which also owns the Kathmandu and Oboz Footwear brands. This acquisition integrated Rip Curl into a major multinational outdoor and action sports company while maintaining its distinct identity as 'The Ultimate Surfing Company.'