That Rip Curl Flash Bomb? These guys invented it!
Are you like me? Do you think it’s flashy American and Australian know-how that gets our suits just so?
You are so wrong and maybe racist too!
Taiwan’s Sheico Group has got their paws all over the wetsuits market. Biggest maker of sports wetsuits in the world. Closing in on half-a-billion US dollars a year in trade.
Billabong’s Xcel, O’Neill , Quiksilver and Rip Curl all use Sheico.
According to Forbes Asia,
“Five years ago Sheico was the first to deliver the material for Rip Curl’s Flash-Bomb series, validating its claim to be the world’s fastest-drying wet suit. Within two minutes 90% of water is drained through the inner layer of the suit or heated up by body temperature to give the wearer a greater sense of comfort. Years of exclusive rights to the component were granted to Rip Curl for its competitive edge. ‘At this point Sheico is making the best wet suits in the world…. They are definitely the guy,’ says Greg Wade, president of Xcel in California. What’s amazing, he continues, is that Sheico contract-manufactures for various top brands but manages to customize components so that each can have its own look and feel.”
Who knew!
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Somebody should share this with Stab – perhaps they can just have one guy rolling in fruit instead of 12.
Great story; for some reason it warmed the cockles of my heart that a hard working honorable Taiwanese family owns a good chunk of surfing. So much for the image of salty, bong addled iconoclast’s driving the surf industries success.
“But they aren’t COREEEEEEEE!” Scream and cry the hippies.
Dude with a comb-over like that is next level hard-core. That shits underground.