In 1952 Jack O’Neill opened his first surf shop in a garage on the Great Highway in San Francisco. Jack shaped surf boards and sold vests he would glue together from neoprene. As the vest business was growing, Jack decided to make a strong move into the wetsuit business.
The shop became more and more popular, talented surfer/shaper Phil Edwards flew in to help out. As board sold, so did wetsuits. Surfing became more popular as surfers could stay in the colder temperature water longer and improve their skills.
Meanwhile across the states divers, water-skiers and windsurfers were wearing wetsuits and business was booming. By the 1980’s O’Neill was dominating the wetsuit industry across the world. Now the O’Neill brand produces many products including: wetsuits, surfboards, board bags, swim suits, clothing and shoes.