Do we like them?

Do we like Rip Curl?

Surf and snow clothing, wetsuits and gear brand, founded in Torquay, Victoria, Australia.

Our score: 5 out of 10. Mixed. It's a well-loved surf name, but it had a North Korea supply-chain scandal and gets weak ethical ratings. We'd hold off until we see better supply-chain proof.

Rip Curl is a surf brand from Torquay, Australia. Kathmandu announced in 2019 that it would buy it outright for A$350m. The group was renamed KMD Brands in 2022, and Rip Curl is now its big surf arm.

The big drama came in 2016. A Fairfax Media investigation found that some of the 2015 winter range was made at a factory near Pyongyang in North Korea, though the labels said 'Made in China'. Rip Curl blamed its contractor and said it never authorised that work. It offered customers a refund or replacement.

Oxfam Australia's then-CEO said the case showed serious issues with Rip Curl's standards. She urged the company to overhaul how it sources garments and to be more open with customers. Good On You's 2021 rating called both its environmental and people practices 'Not Good Enough'.

Lately the news has been about the business side. The Rip Curl brand CEO resigned in late 2024, and Nike veteran Ashley Reade took over in 2025. A US firm called Stokehouse suggested spinning Rip Curl off, and KMD rejected it. The score is a middling 5.