When Kate Spade decided to launch a new low-end clothing line called Saturday, NYC-based surf boutique Saturdays Surf NYC decided they’d take the company to court, according to a story on Complex.com. Unfortunately for them, their bid to stop Kate Spade from launching the new brand was unsuccessful.

Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum concluded that “Saturdays Surf NYC has not shown a likelihood of confusion by a preponderance of the credible evidence. I am particularly persuaded by the relative weakness of the word that the two marks share, the significant distance between the men’s and women’s products, and the consistent inclusion of the famous house mark, Kate Spade, in its Kate Spade Saturday mark.”

Chalk another one up for high fashion big business.

[Link: Complex]

Dakine hasn’t let parent company Billabong’s financial travails keep it from moving into some dope new digs in Hood River, Oregon, according to a story in the Portland Business Journal.

Its new home will accommodate growth and features earth-friendly designs including a rooftop garden, extensive use of daylight, water efficient features and reclaimed wood. Solar panels will be installed in the future.

We just hope they get to grow as they should. We hear Dakine may be out from under the “Billabong umbrella” sooner rather than later, and working right next door to the makers of Tofurkey can’t hurt.

[Link: Portland Business Journal]

When a true waterman has to go it’s not bad to be on the water as Body Glove co-founder Bob Meistrell was on Sunday, June 16, 2013. Meistrell was on his yacht The Disappearance on Sunday morning when he had a heart attack, according to a story in the Daily Breeze. He was 84 years old.

The Disappearance was the lead boat in the 22-mile Rock 2 Rock race Sunday from Isthmus on Catalina to Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro. As he’s done in previous years, Meistrell led the paddleboarders out of the harbor about 6:30 a.m., his son said. . . But around 7, Robbie Meistrell said he’d received a call that his father’s boat, which was also carrying his mother, Patty, and a second cousin, had a double-engine failure. He was nearby and preparing to help tow the vessel in when he heard soon after that his father had suffered a heart attack in the boat’s engine room, he said.

Meistrell, who founded Body Glove with his twin brother Bill, will be remembered as a legendary diver, surfer, and waterman. Our thoughts are with the entire Meistrell family.

[Link: Daily Breeze]

The Los Angeles Times has outlined the current state of financial affairs at surf fashion giant Quiksilver with the headline Quiksilver Is Riding Wave of Red Ink.

The last time Quiksilver posted a profit was 2006. A survey by financial services firm Piper Jaffray & Co. found that Quiksilver’s brands trailed in popularity among teenagers, its core customer base. . . “The company faces competition from other action sports brands. . . ” King said. . . “Much of the company’s potential for success hinges on its ability to accurately predict consumer preferences and fashion trends,” he said. “We believe that the company’s failure to anticipate, identify and react in a timely matter to fashion trends could negatively affect its business.”

Yeah, that’s possible. The analysts, however, believe Quik is still a buy or hold because hey, that new CEO has a great plan.

[Link: LA Times]

686 Technical Apparel has collaborated with Captain Elliot Neese for the crew of the Saga. Apparently, the Saga is a boat and Captain Elliot Neese is the “controversial” bad-ass Alaska native who owns it (sorry, we don’t have cable). He and his crew also are appearing on the Discovery Channel’s The Deadliest Catch tonight.

“I used to snowboard a lot when I was younger in Alaska, and I still get to ride after Opie season in April and May with all my boys in Bellingham, Washington,” says Elliot. He goes on to provide the following feedback on the custom 686 gear, “The Saga crew has never been so dry nor had such technical and bomber gear to work in.”

Oh, that gear is going to get tested. For the official word from 686 (and more photos), follow the jump. Continue reading ’686 + Captain Elliot Neese = Deadly Catch’

We’re always a little worried when major labels announce plans to double or triple revenue, but that’s exactly what Vans is planning to do by the year 2017 according to a report released today. As part of VF Corp’s “global strategy to reach $17 billion in Revenues and $18.00 in earning per share by 2017″ Vans will need to nearly double revenue in the next four.

The Vans brand raised its average annual revenue growth projection, initially provided in June of 2012, from 13 percent to 15 percent. The brand is now targeting total revenues of $2.9 billion by 2017, up from $1.5 billion in 2012.

It’s nice to have a goal, right? But think about how ubiquitous Vans are now and then double that? Doug Palladini and the team have a pretty big job to do. For all the official details on the plan, follow the jump. Continue reading ‘Vans Plans To Double Revenue In 4 Years’

Dennis Busenitz certainly does catch those flips nicely. In fact, there’s not much Busenitz does on a skateboard that doesn’t look good and fast. Here’s a little more proof.

The boys from Bohnam have have set aside their outdoorsy vibe for a moment and picked up paddles for some table tennis action. From the looks of it, no one runs the table like Austin Lycans.

[Link: Bohnam]

Group Y will be kicking off their fourth annual ASC Action Sports + Culture Conference in conjunction with the Agenda Trade Show in Long Beach, Wednesday, July 24 from 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. This year’s focus is the “a” word: authenticity.

The outstanding roster of heavy hitters whose work has impacted youth culture and action sports will draw on their experience, bringing insight and perspective on what authenticity means: how to respect the traditions of the past, break the rules of tomorrow, and recognize and embrace visionary ideas while sustaining a trajectory that is true.

Presenters include Youtube’s Derek Callow, Red Bull North America’s Christopher Mater, Brain Farm’s Curt Morgan, Sol Republic & Monster Cable’s Kevin Lee and a host of others. Follow the jump for the official word from Group Y.

Continue reading ’4th Annual ASC Conference Gets Authentic’

Quiksilver’s stock dropped 10 percent in after hours trading today (June 6, 2013) after the company announced that for the quarter ending April 30, 2013 they had lost $32 million on revenues of $459 million. But new CEO Andy Mooney wants everyone to know that Quik has everything under control.

“We recently announced a multi-year profit improvement plan designed to enhance the performance of our three flagship brands, Quiksilver, Roxy and DC, and accelerate our path to sustained profitable growth,” said Andy Mooney, President and Chief Executive Officer of Quiksilver, Inc. “With a reorganized management structure and our new leadership team largely in place, we have begun working toward globalizing key functions and gaining efficiencies to reap the benefits of our size and scale. We believe that, over time, our new focus and structure will allow us to significantly improve profitability, working capital efficiency and competitive positioning.”

Just keep reorganizing that leadership team and creating new profitability plans and there’s likely no end to the amount of money Quiksilver can lose. Then again, we should probably give Mooney a chance. He hasn’t been on the job all that long.

For the official word from Quiksilver (featuring not one word from Bob McKnight), follow the jump (or if you like numbers and charts click here). Continue reading ‘Quiksilver Loses $32 Million Q2 2013′