IPD Surf

What IPD Surf does

IPD Surf, legally operated as IPD International, is a direct-to-consumer surf and skate-inspired apparel brand founded in 2020 and headquartered in Costa Mesa, California. The company sells graphic tees, woven shirts, boardshorts, hybrid walkshorts, fleece, jackets, and headwear — priced between $30 and $136 — through a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront, supplemented by a dealer/retail store network with a public locator. Technical infrastructure is straightforward: Shopify for commerce, YouTube for original video content (388 videos, 225K total views), an email newsletter, and the Accessibly App for ADA/WCAG-compliant accessibility features. The brand does not operate a mobile app, has no public API, and relies on standard integrations (Shopify, RichCommerce for returns).

The business model is one-time retail purchase with no subscription component; digital gift cards ($25-$200) are also sold. Distribution is bootstrapped and founder-owned — the company explicitly states it has no venture capital, no corporate boardrooms, and no market research. Customer segmentation targets surf and skate enthusiasts seeking apparel that combines functional performance (4-way stretch, recycled polyester, waterproof fabrics) with subcultural identity. A 45+ ambassador network of surfers and skaters across California, Hawaii, the US East Coast, and international markets (Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, Australia) functions as the primary growth engine. The IPD Studios sub-brand extends the company into limited-edition art collaborations, most notably the 2026 IPD Studios X YOKI drop with artist Jeff Yokoyama.

Name

IPD Surf

Legal name

IPD International

Website

https://ipdsurf.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IPD Surf is a bootstrapped, Costa Mesa-based direct-to-consumer apparel brand selling surf and skate-inspired clothing, boardshorts, and accessories through Shopify, supported by a 45+ ambassador network and a dealer retail locator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surf & Skate Apparel

NAICS

Clothing and Clothing Accessories Merchant Wholesalers (424350)

SIC

Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Swim & Surf Performance Wear (CRAAAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Apparel & Footwear Retail (Wetsuits, Rash Guards, Deck Shoes) (CRAMAIAJ)

Keywords

• Surf-inspired apparel
• Board shorts
• Graphic t-shirts
• Beach lifestyle clothing
• Walk shorts

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Retail: Direct-to-consumer sale of surf and skate-inspired apparel including boardshorts, t-shirts, shirts, fleece, jackets, hats, and walk shorts. One-time purchase model with no subscription component. Also offers digital gift cards in denominations from $25 to $200.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IPD Surf designs and sells its own line of surf and skate-inspired apparel — including board shorts, graphic t-shirts, short sleeve woven shirts, long sleeve flannels and cord shirts, fleece pullovers, jackets, and structured hats — through a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront and a dealer network. The brand also operates the IPD Studios artist collaboration program (notably the IPD Studios X YOKI collection with Jeff Yokoyama) producing limited-quantity hand-painted board shorts and art tees.

Product overview

IPD Surf is a surf-inspired apparel brand offering a diverse product portfolio centered around boardshorts, t-shirts, woven shirts, fleece, outerwear, and headwear. The product line includes core categories: Tops (graphic tees ranging from $30-$32, woven shirts at $62, and long sleeve flannel/corduroy shirts at $70), Bottoms (boardshorts from $60-$75, hybrid walkshorts from $67.99-$69.99), Outerwear (jackets from $99-$135), and Headwear ($32 hats). Key products include the best-selling Chase B100 16-inch boardshort, the 18-inch Glassy boardshort with recycled materials, and various graphic t-shirt designs. The brand also features the IPD Studios collaborative design program including the Yoki collection. Products are primarily sold through the Shopify-powered e-commerce platform with worldwide shipping and 30-day returns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IPD Studios: International Pro Design Studios - a design studio that collaborates with artists, musicians, and creators on limited quantity products. Currently running collaboration with Jeff Yokoyama under the IPD Studios X YOKI line.

Products and services

• IPD Digital Gift Card Digital gift cards available in $25, $50, $100, $150, and $200 denominations for purchasing IPD Surf apparel.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jeff Yokoyama (YOKI)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPD Studios collaboration with Jeff Yokoyama, bringing the timeless execution and physical art of the artist onto limited edition hand-painted board shorts and art tees. The collaboration combines IPD's surf/skate DNA with Yokoyama's artistic vision, producing limited quantity design studio drops.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Outerknown: Outerknown is Kelly Slater's sustainable surf apparel brand with a similar premium surfwear positioning, sustainability commitments, and direct-to-consumer model. Both brands target surf-conscious consumers willing to pay premium prices for authentic, design-forward apparel.
• Brixton: Brixton is a California-rooted headwear and apparel brand with strong surf/skate heritage, comparable product categories (hats, boardshorts, woven shirts, fleece), and a similar premium-affordable DTC positioning. Both brands emphasize cultural authenticity and California lifestyle aesthetics.
• Katin: Katin is a heritage surf apparel brand (founded 1954) that shares IPD's focus on boardshorts and surf-inspired tops, with a similar California coastal aesthetic. Both brands compete for the heritage/premium surfwear customer with classic silhouettes and surf culture roots.
• Afends: Afends is an Australian surf and streetwear brand with comparable apparel categories (boardshorts, tees, woven shirts), sustainability messaging, and a community-led DTC model. Both brands target younger surf/skate consumers with design-forward apparel at mid-tier price points.
• RVCA: RVCA is a surf-and-skate lifestyle apparel brand with similar California roots, artist-athlete collab programs (the 'Artist Network Program'), and a broad apparel line spanning boardshorts, tees, and walk shorts. Both brands compete in the same surf/skate apparel category with comparable price points and community-led marketing approaches.
• Roark: Roark is a community-driven surf and adventure apparel brand founded in California, with a similar grassroots ambassador model and storytelling-first DTC approach. Both brands target surf/skate culture enthusiasts with premium apparel at accessible price points, and both emphasize authentic cultural positioning over mass-market distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Patagonia: Patagonia is a broader outdoor brand with a significant surf apparel line (and the Florence Marine X sub-brand) that competes with IPD for environmentally-conscious surf consumers. Patagonia's scale, sustainability reputation, and retail footprint far exceed IPD's, but both target premium, purpose-driven customers.
• Quiksilver: Quiksilver is a global surf apparel incumbent with a comprehensive boardshort, tee, and outerwear line directly overlapping IPD's product categories. As a broad incumbent, Quiksilver competes on scale, retail distribution, and athlete sponsorship that small DTC brands like IPD cannot match.
• Billabong: Billabong is one of the largest global surf apparel brands, offering the same core product categories (boardshorts, tees, woven shirts, fleece, outerwear) with vastly broader distribution and brand recognition. As a broad incumbent, Billabong competes across all price tiers while IPD focuses on the premium surf niche.

Emerging players

• Florence Marine X: Florence Marine X is Patagonia-owned surf apparel brand with a similar surf-lifestyle positioning, sustainability emphasis, and product categories (boardshorts, surf shirts, tees). It represents the kind of well-capitalized niche surf brand that IPD must compete against for premium surf customer mindshare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1p8oXp3qFDx0qK13iP4h8A
• Instagraminstagram.com/ipdsurf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ipd-surf

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IPD Surf