Get sweet deals on iconic surf wear at Billabong factory shops throughout South Africa
Billabong is an international corporation based in Australia that is one of the most well-known surfing brands in the world.
Primarily a clothing retailer, the company specialises in the design, manufacture, and sale of a range of surf-styled apparel and accessories, as well as snowboarding and skateboarding items that are sold under different brand names (such as Element, and RVCA, among others) in the same stores.
The name of the brand is derived from the Wiradjuri (a native Australian tribe) word ‘bilabaŋ’ which, roughly translated, refers to a creek that runs only during the rainy season.
Billabong’s rise to international prominence on the retail market began in 1973, when surfer and surfboard shaper Gordon Merchant began to apply his creative talents to surf fashion.
Pioneers in surf wear and accessories
The first Billabong products were classic boardshorts made in Merchant’s own home, which he cut and stitched by hand before taking them to the local surf shop on Australia’s Gold Coast. The garments’ fashionable designs and superior quality generated a great deal of interest in the brand in a relatively short period of time.
The enhanced functionality and durability of the shorts also proved popular among the dedicated surfing community.
