O'NEILL
BRAND HERITAGE
The O’Neill brand started life in 1952 when our founder, Jack O’Neill began designingand producing the world’s first neoprene wetsuits out of the world’s first surf shop -a humble garage off the Great Highway, San Francisco.
Word of Jack’s craftsmanship in both shaping boards and designing wetsuits soon spread with surfers from all over the world keen to get their hands on his designs in order to be able to surf better, for longer. Before long Jack’s satisfied customers included windsurfers, divers, water skiers and snow skiers. As the business continued to grow and evolve, Jack got all his six kids involved in the manufacturing and marketing process.
By the 1980s Jack O’Neill’s trailblazing workshop had become a respected and much-loved international surf brand, leading the lifestyle sportswear markets in the U.S, Europe and Japan.
O'NEILL WETSUITS
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Throughout every step of the O’Neill journey, Jack, his family and his team have stayed true to their mission. To produce the finest, most robust, enduring and stylish surf and sportswear clothing and accessories possible. To work with innovators and enthusiasts. To push the technical boundaries of what sports clothing can do so we can all explore and enjoy the natural world for longer.
The future health and promotion of adventure sports remain at the heart of the O’Neill brand and we continue to sponsor and support new and upcoming surfers, kiters, snowboarders, and skiers as well as established, high-profile athletes.
The O’Neill ethos is simple. We believe that life is good and we are committed to living and behaving ethically and responsibly in everything we do. Alongside the Ocean Sea Odyssey, our free educational program, he O’Neill supports a wide range of environmental protection projects as part of Our Ocean Mission.
We know that this is an ever-changing, always evolving journey and we are committed to making meaningful progress towards protecting our precious planet so it can be enjoyed for many years to come. We work collaboratively and without judgement. Supporting and encouraging others in their efforts to leave the world as beautiful, diverse and healthy as we found it.
As part of their Ocean Mission, O’Neill introduces
O’Neill Blue. An initiative to create sustainable
casual and performance wear in order to reduce
their impact on the environment.
O’Neill releases the Hyperfreak Series wetsuit featuring Technobutter neoprene, the
lightest and most flexible material on the market. The Hyperfreak Hydro featuring the
“No Tie Fly” closure system changes the game in boardshort design, maximizing comfort
and security in the water.
O'NEILL WETSUIT ACCESSORIES
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In 1996 Jack set up the O’Neill Sea Odyssey program (OSO), a free, ground-breaking marine and environmental education program designed to encourage others - particularly young people from deprived backgrounds - to gain a deeper understanding of the ocean world and play their part in its protection. The OSO has gone from strength to strength and is proud to now welcome over 100,000 students. Jack said that the OSO was the thing he had been most proud of in his eventful and admirable life.
His legacy lives on through his environmental work, his pioneering designs and the community of surfers and natural world enthusiasts that he has inspired throughout the world.
THE O'NEILL VALUES
We have a winning mindset. We see obstacles as opportunities. We thrive on change and adapt to it. We keep going until we have reached our goals.
We are part of a community. Everybody is invited and truly welcome to join.
We are constantly pioneering, experimenting, reinventing ourselves, striving to become better.
We are active people. We are full of positive energy. We never stop. Always going for the extra mile.
We have a natural drive to take care of each other, our product,
our planet and our brand. Together, we will do our part.
