Which surf apparel company did Nike buy in 2002?

Nike bought the surf apparel company Hurley International in 2002. The acquisition expanded Nike’s presence beyond traditional athletic footwear and apparel into surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and youth lifestyle clothing.

Hurley was founded by Bob Hurley in 1979 in Costa Mesa, California. Bob Hurley had worked with surfboard design before building the Hurley brand, which became known for surfwear, swimwear, boardshorts, and action-sports products. Nike acquired the company from its founder for an undisclosed amount.

The deal was part of Nike’s broader portfolio strategy during the early 2000s. Nike had already owned brands such as Cole Haan and Bauer Hockey, and it acquired Converse in 2003. Hurley remained a Nike subsidiary for years, while operating as a distinct brand rather than simply being folded into Nike’s main label.

Nike later sold Hurley to Bluestar Alliance in 2019. That later sale can cause confusion in questions about ownership, but it does not change the answer for the 2002 acquisition: Hurley International was the surf apparel company Nike bought.