Anaheim/OC Story Ideas - Surfwear

The Capital of the Surfing Industry

The endless summer surfing culture and lifestyle has inspired many entrepreneurs in Orange County. Peter Hamborg, an OC firefigter, along with his wife and five surfer/lifeguard and junior lifeguard sons, created a this surf-inspired, skateboard/surfboard OC original. Listen to Hamborg recount how the idea of the Hamboards came about and how he continues to bring Orange County cool and the surfing vibe to those landlocked around the world.

"Being a surfer, skateboarding never really felt like surfing to me. And so, I wanted to make something that felt like surfing.
- Peter Hamborg (Hamboards inventor).

All eyes may turn to Paris and Milan for high fashion trends, but when it comes to surfwear, Orange County is ahead of the curve. Here, fashion icons like Gucci and Versace are replaced with Quiksilver, Hurley, Billabong and Volcom. With 42 miles of coastline and a thriving surf culture, it’s only fitting that Orange County is home of the billion-dollar surfwear industry with no signs of slowing.

Based in OC
Check out the growing list of industry heavyweights headquartered in Orange County, CA.

Billabong USA, a part of the thriving company from Australia was brought to Irvine with the help of Bob Hurley.

Hurley International of Costa Mesa is a youth brand, which derives its fashion sense from deep roots in surf, music, skate and art.

Irvine-based Ocean Pacific Apparel Corp. (Op) was one of the first surfboard labels to create an apparel line in the 1970s.

Anaheim’s Pacific Sunwear is among the world’s largest specialty surf retailers and its PacSun stores are located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Quiksilver Inc. and its Roxy label designed for women are both based in Huntington Beach.

Rusty International’s signature R-dot is one of the most powerful surfing insignias around the world.

Volcom Inc., now based in Costa Mesa, had a humble start in its founders’ Newport Beach and Huntington Beach bedrooms.

Beyond Board Shorts
Surfwear companies aren't the only ones who call Orange County home.
Check out these hot fashion icons based in OC.


Back to OC's Surf Culture