Who Owns Von Zipper?
Von Zipper is owned by Authentic Brands Group, a privately owned brand management company founded by Jamie Salter in 2007. ABG acquired Von Zipper through its $1.25 billion acquisition of Boardriders in 2023. Authentic Brands Group is headquartered in New York City and operates through brand licensing partnerships rather than direct manufacturing.
Parent Company
Authentic Brands Group
Acquired
2023
Status
Private
Headquarters
San Clemente, California, USA
Who Owns Von Zipper?
- Parent Company: Authentic Brands Group
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2023
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Von Zipper | Authentic Brands Group | Wholly owned |
History of Von Zipper
- Founded: 2000
- Founders: Group of friends (limited public information on specific founders)
- Acquired by Authentic Brands Group: 2023
Von Zipper was founded in 2000 in San Clemente, California, by a group of friends who shared a passion for action sports and eyewear. The brand began with humble origins, producing a limited range of sunglasses and goggles from their base in the heart of Southern California's surf and skate culture.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Von Zipper established itself as a prominent eyewear brand in the action sports community. The company expanded its product line to include sunglasses, snow goggles, optical glasses, and moto goggles, all designed with the active Southern California lifestyle in mind.
Von Zipper became known for its distinctive designs, quality craftsmanship, and strong connection to surf, skate, and snowboard cultures. The brand sponsored athletes and events across multiple action sports, building credibility and recognition within these communities.
In 2023, Von Zipper became part of the Boardriders portfolio acquisition by Authentic Brands Group. This acquisition brought Von Zipper under the same ownership structure as other major action sports brands while maintaining its focus on eyewear and accessories.
About Authentic Brands Group
What does Authentic Brands Group own?
ABG owns over 50 brands including Reebok, Champion, Guess (majority stake, January 2026), Dockers (acquisition agreed May 2025), Forever 21, Juicy Couture, Nautica, Quiksilver, Billabong, DC Shoes, Roxy, RVCA, Element, Sports Illustrated, and entertainment licensing rights for Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Muhammad Ali, among others.
Is Authentic Brands Group publicly traded?
No. ABG is a privately held company and has not pursued a public listing as of February 2026. The company has been valued at over $20 billion in private funding discussions.
Who founded Authentic Brands Group?
ABG was founded in 2007 by Jamie Salter, who serves as Chairman and CEO. Salter built the company through acquisitions of heritage consumer brands and the development of a licensing-based business model.
Where is Authentic Brands Group headquartered?
ABG is headquartered in New York City, New York.
How does Authentic Brands Group make money?
ABG earns royalties from licensees who manufacture and sell products under ABG's brand names. Licensees pay royalties calculated as a percentage of net sales. ABG does not manufacture products or hold inventory directly.
What is ABG's most recent major acquisition?
In January 2026, ABG completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Guess, the American fashion brand, valuing Guess at approximately $1.4 billion. Prior to that, in May 2025, Levi Strauss agreed to sell the Dockers brand to ABG for $311 million.
- Founded: 2007
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
Where Is Von Zipper Made / Based?
- Headquarters: San Clemente, California, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: Global licensing partners, Third-party manufacturers, International production network
Brands Owned by Authentic Brands Group
- Billabong - Australian surf lifestyle brand specializing in apparel, equipment, and accessor...
- Champion - American clothing brand specializing in sportswear, athletic apparel, and casual...
- DC Shoes - American action sports brand specializing in skateboarding and snowboarding foot...
- Element Skateboards - American skateboard company founded in 1992, manufacturing skateboard decks, app...
- Forever 21 - American fast fashion brand owned by Authentic Brands Group; the U.S. retail ope...
- Nautica - American apparel brand specializing in nautical-inspired clothing, outerwear, an...
- Quiksilver - Australian surf lifestyle brand specializing in apparel, equipment, and accessor...
- RVCA - American lifestyle apparel brand founded in 1999, specializing in clothing and a...
- Sports Illustrated - American sports media brand encompassing magazine, digital platforms, and multim...
Von Zipper Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Established eyewear brand with strong action sports recognition
- +California heritage and authentic connection to surf/skate culture
- +Diverse product categories including sunglasses, goggles, and optical
- +Backed by Authentic Brands Group's brand management expertise
- +Strong positioning in specialty eyewear and action sports markets
- +Ability to leverage athlete sponsorships and event partnerships
Considerations
- -Competition from other eyewear brands in action sports and lifestyle markets
- -Challenges in maintaining Southern California authenticity under corporate ownership
- -Market volatility in action sports and fashion eyewear trends
- -Dependency on licensing partners for product quality and consistency
- -Retail landscape changes affecting specialty eyewear retailers
- -Need to balance core action sports heritage with broader lifestyle positioning
Frequently Asked Questions About Von Zipper
Where to Buy
Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
Von Zipper on AmazonCompetitors to Von Zipper
No direct competitors found in the same category. This could be because Von Zipperoperates in a unique market segment or we're still building our competitor database.
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