KMD Brands

KMD Brands is a New Zealand-based international group focused on outdoor apparel and equipment, surf lifestyle, and technical footwear. Its principal brands are Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz. The group combines Kathmandu's outdoor clothing and adventure-equipment heritage with Rip Curl's global surf identity and Oboz's hiking and trail-running footwear specialization. The business originated with Kathmandu, founded in 1987 by John Pawson and Jan Cameron after they sold the ALP Sports Clothing label. Kathmandu initially established retail operations in Australia while manufacturing much of its early range in New Zealand. It later rebuilt its New Zealand retail presence, including through the 1992 purchase of Alps Sports from receivers. The company developed a multi-market specialty-retail model centered on clothing, packs, tents, sleeping products and other equipment for travel, hiking and outdoor recreation. Ownership changed in 2006, when private-equity firm Quadrant Private Equity acquired Kathmandu for NZ$275 million. Kathmandu subsequently became publicly listed in November 2009 on both the Australian and New Zealand stock exchanges. The group expanded beyond its original outdoor brand through acquisitions. It announced the purchase of Oboz in 2018, adding a Bozeman, Montana-based designer of hiking and trail-running footwear. In 2019, Kathmandu announced the acquisition of all of Australian surf company Rip Curl for A$350 million. Rip Curl, founded in 1969 at Bells Beach and headquartered in Torquay, Victoria, brought a much broader international surfwear, wetsuit, accessories and surf-event platform. Kathmandu Holdings was rebranded KMD Brands in March 2022, reflecting the group structure and the importance of its three operating brands. KMD Brands operates through owned and partner retail, e-commerce and wholesale channels across several regions. Kathmandu serves consumers seeking functional and increasingly sustainability-oriented outdoor products; Rip Curl operates across surf apparel, wetsuits, boardshorts, accessories and surf culture; and Oboz focuses on performance footwear for hiking and trail use. Sustainability and social responsibility are central to the group's stated positioning. Kathmandu became a Certified B Corporation in 2019, and Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz were recertified as part of the group in 2023. KMD Brands says its environmental, social and governance strategy is informed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and integrated into business activities and reporting. The group has also received recognition for ESG work in the outdoor and lifestyle apparel sector. The brands retain distinct identities while sharing group-level resources and an international platform. Rip Curl sponsors and supports professional and grassroots surfing, including the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach and the GromSearch junior series. Kathmandu has maintained strong associations with New Zealand outdoor culture, including its role as an apparel partner of the New Zealand Team and sponsorship of the Coast to Coast race. KMD Brands remains an active, publicly traded brand group, although its history also includes public criticism over its decision to retain New Zealand COVID-19 wage subsidies after reporting a profitable year.

KMD Brands developed from Kathmandu, a New Zealand outdoor business founded in 1987 by John Pawson and Jan Cameron after the sale of the ALP Sports Clothing label. The founders established initial retail outlets in Australia, while much of the early product range was manufactured in New Zealand. Bernard Wicht, who had owned Alpine Accoutrements and had manufactured for ALP Sports, continued to manufacture for Kathmandu. He also worked with Penny Hazard to establish the Bivouac outdoor-retail chain in New Zealand. By the early 1990s, Kathmandu had built a meaningful Australian presence in cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra. In 1992 it re-entered the New Zealand retail market by purchasing Alps Sports from receivers. Bernard Wicht subsequently joined Pawson and Cameron as a third shareholder. This period helped establish Kathmandu as a cross-Tasman outdoor specialist rather than solely a New Zealand apparel label. The business sold clothing and equipment for hiking, camping, travel and other outdoor activities, with a growing emphasis on technical function. The company's ownership structure changed in 2006 when Quadrant Private Equity acquired Kathmandu for NZ$275 million. Kathmandu later returned to public markets, becoming listed on both the Australian Securities Exchange and New Zealand Exchange in November 2009. The public-company phase supported the development of a broader international retail and brand platform. The wider outdoor-brand landscape connected to the business also included brands such as Fairydown and Macpac, although those were not ultimately the foundation of the later KMD Brands portfolio. Expansion accelerated through acquisitions. In March 2018, Kathmandu announced the purchase of Oboz, a footwear company based in Bozeman, Montana. Oboz designs footwear for hiking and trail running, complementing Kathmandu's apparel and equipment categories with a specialized technical-shoe offering. In October 2019, Kathmandu announced the purchase of all of Rip Curl for A$350 million. Rip Curl was founded in 1969 at Bells Beach and is headquartered in Torquay, Victoria. Its business includes surf clothing, wetsuits, accessories and a strong association with professional surfing and surf culture. The transaction transformed Kathmandu from a primarily outdoor-apparel group into a multi-brand international outdoor, surf and lifestyle company. In March 2022, Kathmandu Holdings changed its name to KMD Brands. The rebrand acknowledged that Kathmandu was now one of three central operating brands rather than the name of the entire commercial portfolio. KMD Brands continued to operate as a dual-listed group with Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz retaining their distinct market identities, product expertise and consumer communities. Sustainability has become an important part of the group's corporate narrative. Kathmandu achieved Certified B Corporation status in 2019. In 2023, Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz were recertified as part of the group. KMD Brands states that its ESG strategy considers the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is intended to underpin business activities and reporting. The group was also recognized by Australian industry publication Ragtrader in fiscal 2025 for ESG leadership in the outdoor and lifestyle apparel sector. The operating brands maintain visible connections to sport and outdoor participation. Rip Curl founded and title-sponsors the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, a long-running professional surfing event and World Surf League Championship Tour fixture. It has also supported events such as the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, Rip Curl Cup Padang Padang and the global GromSearch junior series. Kathmandu has held naming rights for New Zealand's Coast to Coast race since 2017 and has produced the Eco Traveller series with National Geographic, focused on lower-impact travel and sustainable tourism. It is also the Official Apparel Partner of the New Zealand Team, including apparel developed for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. KMD Brands has also faced criticism. During the COVID-19 downturn, the New Zealand government provided wage subsidies to employers, and the group received NZ$6.2 million for employees in New Zealand. After later reporting a NZ$31.5 million profit, management declined to repay the funds. The decision drew condemnation across New Zealand's political spectrum and became a prominent example in debate over the design and use of the wage-subsidy program. Despite this controversy, KMD Brands remains an active publicly listed group built around international outdoor, surf and footwear brands.

• 2023

  Portfolio receives B Corporation recertification

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz are recertified as Certified B Corporations within the group.

• 2022

  Group adopts KMD Brands name

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Kathmandu Holdings is rebranded KMD Brands.

• 2019

  Rip Curl acquisition announced

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Kathmandu announces the A$350 million acquisition of 100 percent of Rip Curl.

• 2018

  Oboz joins the group

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Kathmandu announces its acquisition of Oboz, a Bozeman-based hiking and trail-running footwear brand.

• 2009

  Kathmandu becomes dual-listed

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Kathmandu lists on both the Australian Securities Exchange and New Zealand Exchange.

• 2006

  Quadrant Private Equity acquires Kathmandu

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Quadrant Private Equity buys Kathmandu for NZ$275 million.

• 1992

  Kathmandu returns to New Zealand retail

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Kathmandu purchases Alps Sports from receivers and rebuilds its New Zealand retail presence.

• 1987

  Kathmandu is founded

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  John Pawson and Jan Cameron establish Kathmandu after selling the ALP Sports Clothing label.

• 1969

  Rip Curl is founded at Bells Beach

  [1]KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org

  Rip Curl is founded at Bells Beach in Victoria, Australia, establishing the surf brand that later becomes part of KMD Brands.

A portfolio of purpose-led outdoor, surf and sports brands combining technical performance, lifestyle appeal and sustainability-oriented business practices.

• Outdoor apparel and equipment · 1987

  Kathmandu

  Kathmandu is the group's New Zealand-origin outdoor brand. It offers technical and lifestyle clothing, footwear, packs, tents, sleeping products, travel goods and other equipment for hiking, camping, travel and general outdoor use. The brand emphasizes functional design, durability and sustainability-oriented product development, drawing on New Zealand alpine and outdoor conditions.

• Surf apparel and equipment · 1969

  Rip Curl

  Rip Curl is an Australian surf brand founded at Bells Beach in 1969. Its range includes wetsuits, surf apparel, boardshorts, swimwear, accessories and related lifestyle products. The brand's identity is closely tied to surfing, professional competition, surf travel and youth development, supported by events such as the Rip Curl Pro and GromSearch.

• Hiking and trail-running footwear

  Oboz

  Oboz is a footwear brand based in Bozeman, Montana, specializing in shoes and boots for hiking and trail running. It provides the KMD Brands portfolio with a dedicated technical-footwear capability and a product identity centered on outdoor terrain, comfort, support and performance.

• 2020

  COVID-19 wage subsidy controversy

  KMD Brands, then operating as Kathmandu Holdings, received NZ$6.2 million in New Zealand wage subsidies during the COVID-19 downturn. After reporting a NZ$31.5 million profit, management declined to repay the money. The decision was criticized by politicians from both major parties and became part of wider debate about perceived waste and misuse of the wage-subsidy scheme.

  Source

Read more

• 2017Coast to Coast naming-rights partnership

  New Zealand

  Kathmandu began holding naming rights for New Zealand's Coast to Coast race, linking the brand to a prominent multisport endurance event and the country's outdoor participation culture.

  Source
• Eco Traveller

  International

  Kathmandu developed Eco Traveller with National Geographic. Hosted by Nick Saxon, the series focuses on environmentally conscious travel and sustainable tourism.

  Source
• Rip Curl Pro

  Australia · International

  Rip Curl is founder and title sponsor of the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, a long-running professional surfing competition and World Surf League Championship Tour event.

  Source
• Rip Curl GromSearch

  International

  Rip Curl supports the GromSearch series, a global junior surfing competition intended to develop young surfers and connect the brand with the next generation of surf participants.

  Source
• New Zealand Team apparel partnership

  New Zealand · International

  Kathmandu serves as Official Apparel Partner of the New Zealand Team. The apparel is designed and tested in New Zealand alpine and winter environments for training, village and ceremonial use, including the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

  Source

• 2022

  Rebrand from Kathmandu Holdings to KMD BrandsStrategy

  Background

  The group had expanded substantially beyond Kathmandu through the Oboz and Rip Curl acquisitions.

  Action taken

  Kathmandu Holdings changed its corporate name to KMD Brands.

  Aftermath

  The new name positioned Kathmandu, Rip Curl and Oboz as distinct brands within a unified international group.

  Source

• 2020

  Decision to retain wage subsidiesOther

  Background

  KMD Brands received government wage support during the economic disruption caused by COVID-19 and later reported a profitable year.

  Action taken

  Management chose not to repay the NZ$6.2 million received under the New Zealand wage-subsidy program.

  Aftermath

  The decision produced sustained public and political criticism and was cited in arguments that the subsidy program had enabled waste or abuse.

  New Zealand wage subsidies received. NZ$6.2 million (2020)

  Source

• 2019

  Acquisition of Rip CurlM&A

  Background

  Kathmandu aimed to create a larger international outdoor and lifestyle group by adding a globally recognized surf brand.

  Action taken

  Kathmandu announced the acquisition of 100 percent of Rip Curl for A$350 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added surfwear, wetsuits, accessories and event-led surf marketing to the group's outdoor business.

  Acquisition price. A$350 million (2019 announcement)

  Source

• 2018

  Acquisition of ObozM&A

  Background

  Kathmandu sought to broaden its outdoor portfolio beyond apparel and equipment with a specialist technical-footwear brand.

  Action taken

  The company announced the purchase of Oboz, based in Bozeman, Montana.

  Aftermath

  Oboz became one of the three core brands in the later KMD Brands portfolio.

  Source

1. 1KMD Brandsen.wikipedia.org