Oxbow
Lafuma · France
Oxbow is a French surf and board sports apparel brand founded in 1985 in Pont-Audemer and now based in Mérignac. It makes clothing and sporting equipment rooted in surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, snowboarding and skiing.
| Founded | 1985, Pont-Audemer |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Mérignac, France |
| Group | Lafuma (affiliate since 2005) |
| Sports | Surf, windsurf, kitesurf, snowboard, ski |
| Website | oxbowshop.com |
What is Oxbow?
Oxbow is a French surfwear brand that grew out of the board sports culture of the 1980s. The company was founded in 1985 in Pont-Audemer, Normandy, and is today headquartered in Mérignac near Bordeaux, close to the Atlantic surf coast. Since 2005 it has been an affiliate of the French outdoor group Lafuma.
History
From the start, Oxbow positioned itself around action sports rather than fashion alone. In 1992 it restarted the World Longboard Championship, giving longboard surfing a renewed international stage. The brand also runs Back to Powder, a winter event that brings together leading skiers and snowboarders, and it has sponsored athletes including big wave surfer Laird Hamilton and windsurfer Jason Polakow.
Products and positioning
Oxbow designs apparel and sporting equipment across five disciplines:
- Surfing
- Windsurfing
- Kitesurfing
- Snowboarding
- Skiing
The collections cover menswear and womenswear with a casual, coastal look, alongside accessories linked to its sporting heritage.
Why it matters
Oxbow is one of the established European surf labels, and its long involvement in competitive longboarding and winter sports events shows how board sports brands use athlete sponsorship and events to build credibility with their core audience while selling lifestyle apparel to a wider market.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Oxbow from?
Oxbow is a French brand founded in 1985 in Pont-Audemer. Its headquarters are in Mérignac, near Bordeaux.
Who owns Oxbow?
Oxbow has been an affiliate of the French outdoor group Lafuma since 2005.