GUL WETSUITS S/S 2025 PREVIEW
Retail Buyers Guide: Wetsuits S/S 2025 Retail Buyers Guide
Brand: Gul
Interviewee: Jack Knowles – Sales Manager
(This Retail Buyer’s Guide is focused on spring/summer wetsuits – 3/2mm fullsuit, springsuit, short sleeve/leg, jackets, etc.)
There has never been so many participants out there in the water, however the retailers wetsuit hangers still display some 2023 SKUs: How was the 2024 market and order levels?
It’s been challenging because there’s been so much stock in the market and retailers have quite rightly held back on pre-orders, safe in the knowledge they can get the stock on daily business if they need it.
The production life cycle of a wetsuit is 2 to 3 years generally. Beyond mere carry overs, how should we extend that life cycle of the product, avoiding aggressive discounts and bettering the environmental impact?
In future, we will look to have a ‘continuity’ range and a bi-annual ‘seasonal’ range. We will back the continuity styles with more stock and run it for several years until technology or fashion etc dictate that we need to update it. We’ll keep the purchase orders of the Seasonal styles to a minimum to avoid having too much aged stock when we introduce a new version a couple of years down the road. This will enable retailers to have a reliable supply of super commercial, core lines and then more engaging, marketable indent ranges to show off.
The 3/2 fullsuit is the piece de resistance of the spring-summer range, what are the latest developments within your collection (men, women, youth)?
We have decided to hold our new developments back until FW25 in order to preserve the value of our current stock holding and not put more discounted stock into an already saturated market place. Looking forward to FW 2025 we have really exciting new range to introduce and Natural Rubber will run through it, from top to bottom!
Among the various summer silhouettes (springsuit, short/leg fullsuit, long/short john, jacket) which are bestselling (men, women, youth)? And what do you offer in these segements?
We’re always pleasantly surprised by the success of our longjohns, longjanes and jackets etc. I believe it’s the popularity of paddle boarding and kayaking that has driven the market for more versatile products and we struggle to keep them in stock. I would say traditional shorties have dropped off a bit whilst Steamers remain strong across the various models.
Which neoprene options did you use for SS25?
Due to the challenges in the market we’re carrying over our range from last year through SS25 but we will move to Natural Rubber in FW25
Unlike the trend in winter wetsuit, does the backzip entry system still account for big numbers in 2025?
Yes, I would say so. I think backzip are perceived as being more easy to put on and also more versatile because you can wear them ‘top down’ if needed which works nicely with paddle sports. Chest zip summer suits are growing in popularity but backzip is still king.
Key Products:
Response FX:
Women’s Response FX:
Junior Response FX:
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