O’Neill Wetsuits FW 2024 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Wetsuits FW24 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: O'Neill
Interviewee: Tom Copsey, Product Manager

What is your confidence level regarding FW24 orders/preorders? Did retailers manage to clear their shelves of the former collections?
The feedback from our dealers is that our wetsuits are generally selling through, so we’re confident in receiving good Preorders for FW24. The main issue that concerns our dealers is the amount of end-of-line stock that has been dumped on the market recently. Some of our main competitors have been offering deep discounts on their current FW23 line to clear inventory, which has some buyers spooked. O’Neill has committed to keeping current lines current for as long as necessary so that our dealers can keep value in their stock, and we have received great support for this strategy.

Winter wetsuits are the second most expensive pieces of the surfer’s kit after the board itself: are high pricepoints a challenge in an inflationary context or are the surfers willing to pay for quality?
The mid-price point is always where most of our business is done. However, when the latest fabric technologies and warmth are the deciding factors sales in the higher price wetsuits are lower but still consistent. There is a lot of value in staying warm.

Will FW24 be a season of carry-overs for your brand or are you pushing new models?
There is still a lot of winter product out there from all brands so until regular stock levels are resumed it’s pointless pushing retailers to discount and discontinue product that is selling slowly in the current climate, this just devalues the brand and the wetsuit market in general. We are lucky to have recently introduced our new, TechnoButter 4 wetsuits to the market, so FW24 will mostly be carry through but will still feel fresh.

Neoprene foams can be both sustainable and high-performance nowadays. What rubber compound will you use in FW24?
We are working with both regular limestone neoprene and natural rubber.

What technologies/constructions are your outer/inner linings made of?
80% of O’Neill’s wetsuit product line now uses recycled polyester linings and jerseys laminated to the foam using solvent free glues. In addition, we dope dye our polyester yarns before knitting the fabrics, this practice ensures superior colorfastness/durability and reduces waste water compared with the traditional dyeing process. In the linings of our TechnoButter 4 wetsuits ranges, Hyperfreak Fire, Psycho Tech and Blueprint, we use a Graphene coated yarn that prolongs heat retention and keeps you warmer for longer. There are also other benefits like extra durability and a wetsuit that dries much quicker than one with a regular lining.

What are the latest updates/innovations among your women wetsuit collection?
We share all technologies and fabric innovations across all genders and ages so you will find everything from entry level products to the latest TechnoButter 4 available for women. In addition to regular color blocking we also have seasonal prints that we use across our women’s and girls’ only styles and sizes.

Repair, recycle, upcycle ? How do you handle the afterlife of your wetsuits?
For over 70 years the O’Neill family always advocate ‘repair instead of replace’ from the early days of using their factory in San Fransisco to the today’s global network of approved repair locations. O’Neill has many regional recycling initiatives from carbon black recycling to yoga mats to a remanufacturing facility where completely unusable old suits can find a new life in a new product. Even though a wetsuit may have reached the end of its useful life a zip can sometimes be reused in the repair of another, even the small things matter.

Key Products:

Hyperfreak Fire:
The Hyperfreak Fire provides the ideal happy medium between high-performance stretch and toasty comfort. The series has been constructed with TB4 neoprene. An evolution of our TB3 technology, TB4 offers even more strength, stretch and heat retention! Available in Chest and Back Zip.

WMS HYPERFREAK FIRE

Psychotech:
The Psychotech is built for the absolute harshest conditions and allows the user to surf for hours on end. It’s made with TB4 neoprene, our most advanced neoprene to date. The Psychotech series takes it up a notch with stitchless Seam Technology, Fluid Seam Weld to block out water, and TB4 Duraskin Air Firewall to trap and recirculate your body heat. Available in Chest and Back Zip.

MENS PsychoTech

Blueprint: Without sacrificing performance, the Blueprint is O’Neill’s most sustainable wetsuit so far. The Blueprint series is made from carbonised scrap rubber, recycled lining fabrics, and water-based glues. With features like TB4 neoprene, TB4X Firewall and TB4 Air Firewall, these wetsuits are guaranteed to keep you warm and comfortable as long as you want.

MENS_Blueprint