Photo: Billabong
Liberated Brands, the company that once held the license to a number of surfing brands, including Quiksilver, Billabong, and Volcom, has filed for bankruptcy. As Shop Eat Surf reports, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on Sunday night.
Liberated had licensed a large portion of the portfolio of Authentic Brands Group, which bought Billabong, Quiksilver, RVCA, Roxy and others from Boardriders in September 2023. Before that, the company had already licensed the Volcom and Spyder brands, also owned by Authentic. However, in December of 2024, Authentic pulled those licenses, citing Liberated’s inability to fulfill commitments. In January, Liberated closed its Costa Mesa corporate offices and laid off nearly 400 employees.
Liberated will now begin liquidation sales at its United States retail locations, which will then be closed. However, in a press release, the company stated that the brands themselves are not in jeopardy, as they “have already transitioned to new, well-capitalized partners who are actively investing in their growth and long-term success.”
“The Liberated team has worked tirelessly over the last year to propel these iconic brands forward, but a volatile global economy, consumer spending changes amid a rising cost of living, and inflationary pressures have all taken a heavy toll,” said Liberated Brands in a statement to Shop Eat Surf. “Despite this difficult change, we are encouraged that many of our talented associates have found new opportunities with other license holders that will carry these great brands into the future.”
