O'Neill Apparel and Equipment

O'Neill is an iconic American surf and lifestyle brand founded in 1952 by Jack O'Neill. It is widely credited with the invention of the commercial neoprene wetsuit, which revolutionized watersports by allowing surfers to stay in cold waters for longer periods. Originally starting as a small surf shop in San Francisco before moving to Santa Cruz, the brand evolved from a local technical gear provider into a global lifestyle giant.

Today, O'Neill's manufacturing is distributed across multiple countries, including China, Vietnam, and India, to support its global retail presence. The ownership of the brand is currently split based on regional licenses. While the O'Neill family maintained a legacy connection to the business, the global trademark rights for the brand (excluding the United States) were acquired by the Logo International B.V. group. The brand continues to be a staple in the surf community, blending its historic technical innovation with modern sustainable fashion initiatives.