Volcom was founded in 1991 on the belief that there is a higher level of consciousness to be found within one’s self through the internal and external journeys that board-sports, music, art and film provide. The company prides itself on making quality apparel, outerwear, footwear and accessories that not only exemplify the lifestyle, but also enhance the ability to live it. "By being the first to combine surfing, skating and snowboarding under one brand from inception a new future was forged and a generation of liberation was born. For over two decades Volcom has been TRUE TO THIS... the quest for Spiritual Intoxication." BRAND HERITAGE During the March dumps of 1991, Richard Woolcott and Tucker Hall, set off on a snowboard trip that would forever change their lives. Tucker had just been laid off from work but that wouldn’t stop him from attending his routine Tahoe trip to visit Nathan Fletcher and Mark Gabriel. After riding four days of fresh powder, Richard called work with the excuse that they were snowed in and extended his stay. For more than a week, they awoke every morning with two new feet of snow. It was their first real experience riding powder and the new obsession wouldn't stop there.

Two weeks later Richard quit his job to take some time off and snowboard. He and Tucker had also talked of starting a clothing company during the Tahoe trip but nothing was really finalised. Later that spring, the two came up with the idea of starting a riding company based around the three sports they enjoyed (snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing). With an initial $5,000 from Richard's dad, they started the process. First came the name, then came the stone and Volcom was born. The Volcom idea would incorporate a major philosophy of the times, "Youth Against Establishment". This energy was an enlightened state to support young creative thinking. Volcom was a family of people not willing to accept the suppression of the established ways. This was a time when snowboarding and skateboarding was looked down upon and the U.S. was in a recession with riots in LA and the Gulf War breaking out. Change was in the air.

For the first two years, Richard and Tucker traveled around the world on wild journeys with friends riding whatever they could. The business side of things was minimal. The headquarters were set up in Newport Beach in Richard's bedroom and all sales were run out of tucker's bedroom in Huntington Beach. The two knew nothing about how to make clothes but that didn't matter. It was all about spirit and creativity. Clothing sales for the first year were $2,600. Since those wild beginnings, the Volcom Stone has spread slowly across the world. The company has matured internally but continues to run off the same philosophy it started with. The Volcom thinking now flows through its art, music, films, athletes and clothing. CORE VALUES WE ARE A RIDING COMPANY We sponsor top skateboarders, snowboarders and surfers who are all supported by a strong marketing infrastructure. PRODUCT DRIVEN We design, produce and distribute top quality product that is innovative and exciting. LONG-TERM We always make decisions for the long term based on quality and integrity. NEW FUTURE We manage and are accountable for our impact on the environment, people and communities in which we operate. We understand that Sustainability is a cornerstone of longevity for Volcom and each department will do their part to move us forward into what we call... the New Future. BEST EMPLOYER Our employees are our greatest asset and Volcom is the number one place where people who share our values want to work. FUN, ORGANIZED AND EFFICIENT We run a tight ship and operate like a Swiss watch while striving to maintain a fun environment. We always look for ways to improve our operation. BRAND sustainibility At Volcom, they have been steadily integrating sustainability into the DNA of the company since the early days of Volcom Verde (our first eco-focused efforts in 2006), the Give Back Series and then the V.Co-logical Series. In fact, since 2012, sustainability has been an official part of our mission statement and our commitments are in line with those of Kering’s, whose leadership is getting global recognition in the sustainability-in-business space. In the past year, much of our focus has been on building our New Future roadmap, a guide that addresses our impacts, the forces behind those impacts and the means to aggressively address what we believe is the foundation of Volcom's environmental sustainability commitment. Check out all this seasons Volcom gear. For tips on your Snow Sport equipment stay in touch with us: facebook/rhythmsnowsports instagram: @rhythmsnowsports twitter: @rhythmsnowsport

Posted by Emily Dorahy on April 26, 2016