The story of the Hurley brand
With the knowledge gained working for the US division of Billabong, Bob Hurley had all he needed to begin creating his own top-of-the-line products. Their range of Phantom boardshorts, for example, has earned the title ‘Boardshort of the Year’ multiple times since their release. But it’s not just Bob’s incredible drive to help elevate the performance of essential surfwear that helped get Hurley where it is today. It’s his undeniable passion for surfing, combined with his forward-thinking attitude within the industry, that has generated an enormous amount of respect from both surfers and industry types alike. Something rarely achieved in action sports.
Hurley’s entry into becoming a brand was incredibly successful; again, the product rivalled, if not bettered, most other items on the market, but it must be said that the marketing team was absolutely on fire. During the late ‘90s and early 2000s, action sports in general were huge; skateboarding, freestyle motocross, surfing and everything else in between could be seen everywhere. So, it only made sense for Hurley to lean into that, angling the brand towards all aspects of the growing counterculture, even entering the music industry with bands such as Blink-182 repping the clothing in music videos and live shows.
After such a massive initial success, by 2002, Nike – for an undisclosed fee – decided to purchase Hurley, with Bob becoming the chairman of the brand, ensuring he could help with the day-to-day running of the business. With Nike’s backing, Hurley just kept on growing, with ever-expanding clothing lines for women and children, too.
When looking back at the names Hurley has supported over the years, and to this day, it is no surprise the brand is still so well-loved. Jay Adams, John John Florence, and Curren Caples have all repped the logo, and nowadays, with the likes of Elliot Sloan and Kai Lenny proudly waving the flag, Hurley isn’t going away any time soon!