Element

Element is a U.S. skateboarding brand known for skateboards, skateboarding equipment, and apparel. It was founded in 1992 by skateboarder Johnny Schillereff. The brand’s product identity connects skateboarding with clothing and accessories designed for skate and everyday use. Element is part of the Boardriders brand portfolio, which became part of Authentic Brands Group following ABG’s acquisition of Boardriders. Its website is elementbrand.com. The supplied homepage currently displays a scheduled-maintenance notice for its U.S. site; that notice does not provide further detail about current products, availability, or company operations.

Element was founded in 1992 by skateboarder Johnny Schillereff. It developed as a skateboarding brand, with skateboards and skate-related products at the center of its identity and apparel as a prominent adjoining category. Its brand imagery and product associations draw on skateboarding culture. The brand later became part of Billabong International’s portfolio. Billabong was acquired by Boardriders in 2018, bringing Element into the Boardriders group of action-sports brands. In 2023, Authentic Brands Group completed its acquisition of Boardriders, placing Element within ABG’s portfolio. These changes altered the brand’s corporate ownership without changing its identity as a skateboarding and apparel brand. Element’s website is elementbrand.com. The supplied homepage evidence shows a notice that the U.S. website is undergoing scheduled system maintenance and invites visitors to return after the maintenance is complete. The notice confirms the site’s stated maintenance status at the time represented by the evidence, but does not establish details about the brand’s current product range, retail footprint, leadership, or operations.

• 2025

  Liberated Brands enters Chapter 11

  [2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced the closure of all Element stores operated by the company.

• 2023

  Authentic Brands Group acquired Boardriders

  Authentic Brands Group completed its acquisition of Boardriders, placing Element within ABG's portfolio.

• 2018

  Boardriders acquired Billabong

  [2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  Boardriders, Inc. acquired Element Skateboards.

• 2018

  Boardriders acquired Billabong, bringing Element into the group

  [2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  Boardriders acquired Billabong, bringing Element into the Boardriders group of action-sports brands.

• 2014

  The Branch opens in Costa Mesa

  [2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  Element created and moved to The Branch, a creative space in Costa Mesa, California.

• 1992

  Element founded

  [2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  Johnny Schillereff founded Element Skateboards in the United States as a skateboarding company.

A skateboarding-centered equipment and lifestyle brand combining complete board components with apparel, footwear, athlete-led marketing, and an international retail presence.

• Skateboards and decks

  Skateboarding products associated with Element’s core brand identity.

• Skateboarding lifestyle apparel

  Apparel

  Clothing associated with the brand’s skateboarding and lifestyle positioning. Element extends its skateboarding identity into clothing. Apparel supports the brand's lifestyle positioning and provides products for consumers beyond board equipment. The supplied reference confirms apparel as part of the range but does not enumerate garments, collections, or current lines.

• Skateboarding equipment

  Skateboard decks

  Skateboard decks are Element's central product category. The brand's deck business forms the foundation of its equipment offering and is closely connected with its professional and amateur team programs. The available source identifies decks as a principal manufactured product but does not provide specific construction details, named collections, or technical specifications.

• Skateboarding equipment

  Skate hardware and accessories

  Element manufactures or sells supporting skateboarding products including trucks, wheels, griptape, and skate wax. Together these products cover the principal hardware and maintenance needs of a skateboard setup. The reference material does not identify specific product generations or current availability.

• Skateboarding footwear

  Footwear

  Footwear is part of Element's broader product portfolio and complements its equipment and apparel businesses. The source material does not specify individual shoe models, technical features, launch dates, or whether the footwear range remains in production.

• 2025

  Closure of Element retail stores during Liberated Brands bankruptcyStrategy

  Background

  Liberated Brands operated Element retail stores and licensed the brand before seeking Chapter 11 protection.

  Action taken

  Liberated Brands announced the closure of all Element stores and began liquidation sales shortly before filing for bankruptcy protection.

  Aftermath

  The store closures materially reduced the brand's disclosed retail footprint. The available material does not establish the later ownership, licensing, or operating status of the Element brand.

  Liberated Brands reported assets and liabilities. $100 million to $500 million (Chapter 11 filing on February 2, 2025)

  Source

• 2018

  Boardriders acquires ElementM&A

  Background

  Element was operating as an established skateboarding brand with products, athlete teams, and international retail activity.

  Action taken

  Boardriders, Inc. acquired Element Skateboards and incorporated it into its action-sports business.

  Aftermath

  Element continued to be associated with operations in the United States and France, including a French store network. The available reference does not provide transaction terms or subsequent financial results.

  Source

• 2025

  Liberated Brands files for Chapter 11 and announces Element store closures[2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  Liberated Brands, which operated Element retail stores and licensed the brand, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on February 2, 2025. The company reported assets and liabilities between $100 million and $500 million and announced the closure of all Element stores, with liquidation sales beginning before the filing.

• 2018

  Boardriders acquires Element Skateboards[2]Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Element Skateboards was acquired by Boardriders, Inc., bringing the skateboarding brand into the larger action-sports group.

1. 1www.elementbrand.comelementbrand.com
2. 2Element Skateboardsen.wikipedia.org
3. 3Element acquires Gitter to get more developers on board with the open Matrix messaging protocol | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com