Quiksilver Is Dropping Nostalgia-Infused Relaunch Line
Quiksilver’s new drop with Zalando revives an era when surf meets street and style means breaking every single rule. Harking back to the loudest, fastest, and edgiest parts of the 90s, this collection brings it back with clean graphics, heavy staples, and that no-compromise attitude that defined the brand from the start.
At the center of it all was Quiksilver—the Australian-born, California-rooted surfwear powerhouse that helped define the look, feel, and attitude of this moment, and encapsulates the visual language of the surfer state of mind. But before diving into the collection, it's worth rewinding to where it all began.
Founded in Torquay, Australia in 1969, Quiksilver emerged from the waves with boardshorts that prioritized movement and style, becoming a visual shorthand for surf culture. As the sport boomed in the 70s and 80s, Quiksilver rode alongside it, expanding beyond function to embody the free-spirited, rebellious, and sun-soaked lifestyle associated with the sport.
By the 1990s and early 2000s, surfing had splashed into the mainstream, and along with it came skateboarding, snowboarding, and a full-blown youth culture movement. Quiksilver was everywhere: on the backs of pros, in high schools across the globe, and in the pages of every cool kid's wardrobe. The logo—a stylized wave crashing over a mountain—remains one of the era's most iconic fashion symbols.
Quiksilver pioneered a look that blurred the lines between coast and city: oversized graphic tees, layered long sleeves, bucket hats, ribbed knits, cargo pants. The now-iconic “tee-over-longshirt” silhouette, for example, also owes its longevity to Quiksilver’s trailblazing approach to styling.
The surfer’s uniform—loose, layered, and effortlessly cool—became a canvas for self-expression. By the ’90s and early 2000s, its laid-back, casually chic ethos had seeped into every corner of mainstream style. It was the age of MTV, VHS skate tapes, and X Games glory. Quiksilver wasn’t just outfitting surfers anymore; it was dressing a generation of kids who wanted to feel like they could drop into anything—wave, rail, life.
In partnership with Zalando, Quiksilver is once again harnessing its heritage to define what’s next. The new collection is a revival of that iconic surf-street hybrid, bringing back all the 00s essentials: boxy tees layered over long sleeves, printed crewnecks, ribbed knits, crop tops, and, of course, the ever-essential bucket hat. Every piece carries the original logo like a badge of authenticity—because this isn’t retro for the sake of it. It’s a confident return to form.
To celebrate the collection’s arrival, Quiksilver and Zalando hosted an exclusive launch event that brought the brand’s nostalgic roots to life in the heart of Berlin. Far from a traditional showroom, this was an immersive throwback—an environment that felt like stepping into a 90s dreamscape. Think: mismatched vintage couches, old-school video game consoles, racks of fresh pieces from the collection, and boards—surf, skate, and snow—propped against walls like relics from another era.
Adding to the hype, Quiksilver riders Miles Fallon and Lungi Slabb were in the mix, while DJ Temry spun 90s hits and clever mashups that had the crowd nodding to everything from TLC to early Daft Punk, while an Aperitivo bar served curated drinks alongside pizzettas that felt straight out of a California boardwalk café.
While the heart of the collection and the event were steeped in reverent nostalgia, Quiksilver is undoubtedly taking us into a future that prioritizes time between yourself, your board, and your own rhythm.
Explore the full collection here.
