Quiksilver S/S 22 Wetsuits Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Wetsuits S/S 22 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Quiksilver
Interviewee: Simon Charlesworth, Global Head of Marketing for Surf category

The surge in the wetty category overwhelmed even some of the biggest players of the market. How did you cope with the demand in SS21?
Its really tough in short, we have had to carefully manage what we can fulfil to our customers in the fairest method possible.

Can you please give an overview of your different ranges (performance, constructions, prices) for SS22?
In quarter 3 of 2021, we cleaned up our segmentation of the past two four main segments that were designed behind consumer mindset and surfing purpose.
Highline – our top of the range suit designed for ultimate performance, its lightweight with incredibly flexible neoprene and has our Warm Flight Eco Lining across the entire interior of the wetsuit.
Everyday Sessions – as the name suggest it is a go to suit to service a broad consumer base. It features technology in our Warm flight Eco lining, zoned across the body. We take this segment into LTD editions with a smooth skin retro version and an LTD Mikey wright suit with his signature flame graphics. Everyday Sessions holds a broad range of variants from hooded full suits to spring suits and jackets. We have spent lots of time making this suit fit and feature everything you need to surf regularly and nothing you don’t need.
Marathon Sessions – developed to service the colder waters with a Warm Flight Infa red liner and liquid seal seams. It’s a tight assortment and a very warm suit. It holds the same pattern lines as the Everyday sessions.
Prologue – our entry suit for hire at surf schools and consumers finding surfing for the first time.

Which are your key innovations for SS22? (materials, constructions, styles…)
Our main innovation comes from extensive research developing the liners under our cross brand Warmflight banner: Warmflight Infra Red and Warmflight Eco Velvet. Time has been invested in pile height, warmth retention and insulation to mirror the vision of the wetsuits they are used on.

Quiksilver S/S 22 Wetsuit

Bold colors and graphics seem to be a thing of the past among the Spring-Summer wetsuit offer. Is the period more prone to fine details, textures and low profile prints?
It’s an area we think the consumer is coming back round to, we are exploring bolder graphics and some 80’s panel influence with color on some suits.

Sustainability is key in the wetsuit category: which materials/process did you implement in SS22?
We are proud to be leveraging the latest sustainability considerations like much of the industry trying to create a more responsible footprint.
We work with the factory to reuse neoprene scraps, use recycled Nylon in all our liners, laminate with water-based glues to enable deconstruction for recycling and use Limestone based Neoprene. It’s a big focus and we are continuously looking at all aspects to be more responsible. From 2022 all our wetsuits will come on a hanger using plastic from marine plastic and we are minimizing hang tags and warranties pointing people online for this information.

Key Products:

4/3 EVERYDAY SESSIONS CZ

ALL SESSIONS, ALL SEASONS, THE WETSUIT YOU CAN TRUST. Flexibility where you need it. Durability where it counts. STRETCHFLIGHT ECO recycled nylon neoprene is designed to give you the best of both. An exceptionally comfortable, water-repellent recycled nylon thermo-lined interior to reduce weight and drying time. GBS stitched/glued seams that only partially penetrate the neoprene, reducing water ingress and increasing durability. Also available in 3/2mm & 5/4/3mm.

3/2 EVERYDAY SESSIONS MIKEY WRIGHT CZ

Mikey Wright’s suit. High tech. Low def. Quiksilver’s Mongrel Tongue collection is made up of quality products for fierce spirits. Tested and approved by the Mongrel. Flexibility where you need it. Durability where it counts. STRETCHFLIGHT ECO neoprene made from recycled nylon is designed to give you the best of both. Recycled nylon thermo lining on critical body areas. It is exceptionally comfortable, water repellent to reduce weight and drying time. GBS stitched/glued seams that only partially penetrate the neoprene, reducing water entry and increasing durability. Also available in 4/3mm.

Quiksilver S/S 22 Wetsuit

5/4/3 MARATHON SESSIONS CZ

The warmer you are, the longer you can surf. The M-Sessions is the reliable combination for marathon sessions on the coldest days of the year. Flexibility where you need it. Durability where it counts. STRETCHFLIGHT ECO neoprene is designed to give you the best of both. A WARMFLIGHT ECO INFRARED thermal liner made from recycled nylon. The warmest liner built with Infrared technology that traps and reuses body heat from the surface of the material, allowing you to surf longer in colder waters. Sewn/glued GBS seams that only partially penetrate the neoprene, reducing water ingress and increasing durability + LFS (a liquid stretch seal on the GBS seams that prevents leaks without compromising flexibility. Also available in 3/2mm & 4/3mm.