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It’s been an exciting few months for the surf industry, with plenty of big, new developments kicking off 2010. In the wake of a destructive fire that razed the Hurricane Surf Co factory in Durban on Wednesday, Hurricane have signed a deal to take ownership of the factory, manufacturing and distribution of rival accessory brand Island Style. This may come as a surprise as both core brands are homegrown, and have had a healthy competitive relationship over the past decade.
Hurricane owners, Craig and Ryan Butcher, have no intention of phasing out their former competitor. The business plan is to bolster their current company with both Hurricane and Island Style accessories under the management of their trading label, The Wet Zone.
“For now we will be using the Island Style factory to manufacture both Hurricane and Island Style accessories. We plan on working around the clock to make sure we meet our commitment to customers of both brands,” mentioned Hurricane co-owner, Craig Butcher to Zigzag earlier today. “Our plan moving forward is to resurrect a new state of the art, three floor manufacturing facility over the ruins of our old Hurricane HQ in Morrison Street.”
Enigmatic founder of the iconic Island Style brand, Warren ‘Wazza’ Wareing, says he is looking forward to some “time off”. Although he will still be involved in ongoing product development and marketing of Island Style, Zigzag reckons with Wazza on the loose, it just means less waves for everyone else out at New Pier.
‘’I’m way stoked to get into the water with the Butcher boys and feel confident in their ability to pull this off successfully’, concluded Warren about the deal.
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