"When you hit rock bottom and all you have left is a board... believe me, that board can save your life."

I wasn’t born a businessman. I was born a rebel. Surfer, adventurer, seeker of waves and strong emotions. In the 60s, I lived in Australia and spent more time in the water than on land. I worked in a textile factory to survive, but every day I dreamed of something more: to create clothing that represented freedom, youth... and surfing.

With my friend John Law, we gave up everything to create a different short: comfortable, water-resistant, stylish. Nobody knew us, we had no money, and we sold the first batch from backpack to backpack. We slept in vans, ate what we could, and bet every penny on a garment that many thought was absurd. Sometimes we only sold two a day. But when I saw a professional surfer wearing one of our shorts... I knew we were doing something right.

Just when we were starting to grow, a fire destroyed the little workshop where we worked. Everything, absolutely everything was reduced to ashes. We cried like children. I thought about giving up. But with the help of other surfers, friends, and sheer stubbornness, we started over from scratch. We re-made every garment, every design, until Quiksilver began to resonate in the most important competitions in the world.

Today Quiksilver is not just a brand... it’s a statement. It’s the shout of those who dare to live differently. It’s clothing made by people who know what it’s like to lose everything... and still return to the sea.

"It doesn’t matter how many times the wave tumbles you... what matters is having the courage to swim back towards it."

Alan Green