Brand Overview

Volcom is a clothing brand located in Costa Mesa, CA. Similar to other action sports-related clothing labels based in Orange County, Volcom is closely associated with surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding. The brand is positioned closer to an anti-establishment aesthetic than many of its popular contemporaries, like Quiksilver and Billabong and champions the slogan "youth against establishment."

In 1995, Volcom also founded a record label called Volcom Entertainment, which primarily features punk rock bands. The label debut saw the release of the underground punk rock band theLINE.

Brand History

As label lore has it, Richard Woolcott and Tucker Hall set off on a snowboard trip to Tahoe in 1991 after Tucker had just been laid off of his job. After four days, Woolcott called work with the excuse that they were snowed in, extending his stay. During the trip, the two discussed starting a clothing company, an idea that would come up again later that spring, when the two discussed the idea of starting a riding company based around the three sports they enjoyed: snowboarding, surfing, and skating. Two weeks after the trip began, Woolcott quit his job to take some time off and snowboard.

The time off proved fruitful, allowing the initial idea for an action sports-based clothing line to mature. The two later borrowed $5000 from Woolcott's father and founded Volcom, based on the concept of "youth against establishment." Neither, at the time, knew anything about clothing design, manufacturing, or sales, nor how to run a successful business.

At times seeming little more than an excuse to travel and surf, skate, and snowboard, Volcom allowed Woolcott and Hall the freedom to do just that, paying only minimal attention to the fact that the two had started a business. Overhead at the time was also low, as the two ran the business out of their respective bedrooms in Newport and Huntington Beach. Sales revenue for the first year is said to have been $2600.00.

The brand has since grown significantly, opening retail stores in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Santa Barbara. Volcom's popularity has also grown significantly since shares of company stock began to be publicly traded (NASDAQ: VLCM) in 2005.

Recent Collections

Fall 2006

External links

Official Volcom Site
Volcom Logos

Category

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