History of Hurley
Hurley was founded in 1999 by Bob Hurley, an experienced surfboard shaper and entrepreneur. Before launching the brand, he had worked with Billabong USA in the 1980s, helping it expand in the U.S. market. Drawing from his deep connection to surf culture, Bob Hurley created Hurley as a brand that blended surf, skate, music, and youth lifestyle. The company quickly gained popularity, especially with its innovative boardshorts and sponsorship of top athletes, including multiple-time surfing champion John John Florence.
In 2002, Hurley was acquired by Nike, which helped expand its global reach and improve product innovation. Under Nike, the brand became a leader in performance surfwear, introducing advanced materials like the Phantom boardshorts. However, in 2019, Nike sold Hurley to Bluestar Alliance, marking a shift in its strategy. Despite changes in ownership, Hurley remains a well-known brand in surf and streetwear, continuing to influence action sports and youth fashion worldwide.