Company Profile: Outerknown
Founded by Kelly Slater, Outerknown is a brand focused on quality, fair labor and sustainability.
- Founded
- 2015
- Origin
- Culver City, California, USA
- Website
- Visit
In this article, you'll learn
- Why Kelly Slater and John Moore founded Outerknown, and what makes it different
- How the brand earned Fair Labor Association accreditation faster than any clothing company before it
- Why Outerknown is our Surf Brand of the Year two years running
- What the brand is doing in 2026 — including title sponsorship of the WSL's Outerknown Tahiti Pro
- Which Outerknown pieces we keep reaching for after years of wear
Outerknown is without a doubt one of the best surf brands to emerge in recent years. Founded by Kelly Slater, the brand has an activist feel, focusing on quality and craftsmanship in addition to fairness in the supply chain. The fashion is understated yet super cool and garments made by Outerknown will last years if not decades. It's why we've named it our Surf Brand of the Year two years running.
Here we present a brief guide to the company, including milestones, ambassadors and our favorite products. We posted a roundup of Outerknown gear in 2020.
Outerknown in 2026
What's new with Outerknown?
Outerknown is having a big year. The brand is the title sponsor of the Outerknown Tahiti Pro, stop No. 7 on the WSL Championship Tour, running August 8–18, 2026 in the heavy water of Teahupo'o, Tahiti — with founder Kelly Slater himself in the field. A clothing brand sponsoring the tour's most consequential wave, fronted by the man who's won there five times, is about as on-brand as sponsorship gets.
On our side of the fence, Outerknown earned our Surf Brand of the Year for 2026 — the second year straight — after a year of hands-on wear. The Terrain shorts survived a Fijian thunderstorm, Geniya's tank became the most-worn thing in her drawer, and pieces we bought years ago still look new. Our 2025 review of the range tells the same story: performance that matches the purpose.
History of Outerknown
When was Outerknown founded?
Outerknown was founded in 2015.
Where was it founded?
Outerknown was founded in Los Angeles, California, and remains headquartered in Culver City.
Who were the founders?
Outerknown was founded by professional surfer Kelly Slater and creative director John Moore.
Why was it founded?
Kelly Slater and John Moore started Outerknown to prove that they could make great clothes using fair labor practices and materials that are not harmful to the environment.
Important milestones in the company’s history
By patterning our supply chain processes around the Fair Labor Association guidelines, we reached full accreditation by the FLA in two and a half years, faster than any other clothing brand ever.
Company mission, vision and values
What does the company believe in?
| Vision | A future where clothing contributes to a world where people and planet prosper. |
| Mission | To transform the way we outfit the world by inspiring an industry to reimagine design and embrace circularity. |
| Core Values | Our partnerships are built around transparency, collaboration, and shared values. This isn't normal. This is an uprising: of responsible innovation, sustainable collaboration, better materials, transparent communities, and all around good vibes |
The Company Today
Who is the CEO?
The CEO is Steve Rendle of VF Corporation.
How many staff do they have?
The estimated number of employees is 46.
How much revenue do they earn?
Outerknown earns a revenue of $36.40 million.
Where are they located?
The company is located at 9300 Jefferson Blvd, Culver City, California 90230 US.
Do they have a foundation / non-for-profit arm?
Outerknown has no foundation or non-for-profit arm.
Which products do they specialize in?
Mens': jeans, tees, shirts, sweaters, outerwear, pants, polos ad henleys, trunks, shorts, accessories, shoes
Women's: tees and tanks, tops, dresses and jumpsuits, jeans, bottoms, outerwear, sweaters, sweatshirts and hoodies, accessories, shoes
In the News
Any mainstream news articles referencing the Outerknown
- Outerknown named title sponsor of the 2026 Outerknown Tahiti Pro at Teahupo'o — with Kelly Slater competing
- Surfd names Outerknown Surf Brand of the Year for the second year running
- Outerknown to Unveil Collection With New Denim Project
- Champion surfer Sage Erickson and Outerknown are forging a new kind of brand partnership
Any interesting quotes from executives or ambassadors?
Our growing business shows us that people want to make conscious choices about their clothes—you don't have to harm people or the planet for the sake of fashion.
Kelly Slater
Sustainability
Do they produce any eco-friendly products or have a sustainability focus?
They produce eco-friendly products and have sustainability focus.
- Turning waste into nylon
- Ocean Plastic Buttons
- Launched the most high-performance surf trunks on the market, and made them from recycled water bottles.
Campaigns and Partnerships
Are they doing anything interesting in terms of campaigns or partnerships?
- Title sponsor of the Outerknown Tahiti Pro, the WSL Championship Tour's Teahupo'o stop (August 8–18, 2026)
- The second advocacy campaign to bring awareness to the company's ocean plastic problem. A fundraising tee followed by action: a series of beach cleanups with our retailers, and we'll keep 'em going 'til our coast is clear.
- Outerknown puts together team for 2015 launch
- Champion surfer Sage Erickson and Outerknown are forging a new kind of brand partnership
- Outerknown are ocean lovers and passionate stewards of the earth, and they partnered with Ocean Conservancy to protect our planet’s lifeblood
- Keep a Breast Foundation
Showcase products
For more information
Visit Outerknown website.