The visionary founder of Australian surfwear brand Quiksilver has died at his home in Torquay, southwest of Melbourne, after a brief battle with cancer.
Surfing legends have paid tribute to Alan Green, 77, including 11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater who took to Instagram on Thursday amid the news.
‘Love you, Greeny. You were one of a kind and a great friend and mentor for so many. I’ll miss you forever,’ he said.
The roots of Quiksilver stretch back to a garage behind a Torquay pub in 1969 when Mr Green and Rip Curl founders Brian Singer and Doug Warbrick began making wetsuits.
Mr Green then went on to establish the company – which initially focused on revolutionary boardshorts with a velcro fly and higher in the back ‘yoke waist’ – with the help of his friend John Law .
The iconic shorts, which was designed for comfort and performance, quickly became popular among surfers worldwide.
The company took Australia by storm and then went international, cracking the lucrative US market in the 1970s.
Mr Green is survived by his wife Barbara and three children, including his daughter Roxy which Quiksilver’s sister brand for women was named after.
Alan Green, (pictured) the co-founder of Australian surfwear brand Quiksilver, has died at his home in Torquay, southwest of Melbourne, after a brief battle with cancer
Quiksilver took Australia by storm and then went international, cracking the lucrative US market (pictured, pro surfer Wade Carmichael of Australia is eliminated from the 2019 Quiksilver Pro France)
The company’s expansion into the United States was facilitated by licencing deals managed by surfing legend Jeff Hakman and the company’s former CEO Bob McKnight.
Quiksilver also entered other international markets including in Europe and Asia by the 1980s.
Mr Green had a particular knack for recognising talented surfers and formed defining artistic collaborations with several stars including American Lisa Andersen and Aussie legends Tom Caroll and Stephanie Gilmore.
Kelly Slater signed with the clothing label as an 18-year-old and rode and remained with the brand until he was 42.
11-time World Surf League champion Kelly Slater (pictured) took to Instagram on Thursday to pay tribute to Mr Green
Mr Green’s wife anointed the name of the company after she came across the name while reading a novel.
The name ‘Quiksilver’ is understood to encompass feelings of fluidity, elusiveness and change.
The visionary title aptly describes the ethos of the brand.
Mr Green’s daughter Roxy served as the inspiration behind the name of the company’s sister brand in 1990.
