Editor’s note: Paul Naude’s new brand Vissla was nominated for five awards. Hurley, the reigning boardshort champ, is no longer a SIMA member, and is absent from the list. The Image Awards are only open to members.
Press Release:
2014 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES ANNOUNCED;
NEW RETAIL HONOR ROLL CONCEPT INTRODUCED
Winners to be Announced February 12, 2015, at The City National Grove of Anaheim
LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (November 12, 2014) – The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is proud to announce the nominees for the 2014 SIMA Image Awards, a program that strives to identify the surf industry’s most influential and innovative companies and recognize them for their efforts to advance and grow the industry over the past year. The nominees will be honored and winners announced at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony on February 12, 2015, at The City National Grove of Anaheim.
SIMA is also introducing a new component to the SIMA Image Awards to honor specialty surf retailers: the SIMA Honor Roll. All specialty surf retail stores that have been in business for 50 or more consecutive years will be inducted onto the SIMA Honor Roll for their outstanding work and dedication to the industry. It is a way for brands to show their gratitude to these retailers and will become another exciting tradition each year. The inaugural list of inductees will be announced in the coming weeks.
“While SIMA is specifically a manufacturer’s association, a SIMA Image Awards without honoring our retail partners is like the Oscars without movies,” says SIMA President and Vans’ VP/GM North America Doug Palladini. “The SIMA Honor Roll gives us yet another way to pay homage to those who have made our industry possible through their dedication to not only our businesses, but our culture as a whole.”
In its twelfth year, the SIMA Image Awards is the only awards program that gives the surf industry the opportunity to recognize their peers for their outstanding contributions to the industry. All regular and board builder SIMA members were given the opportunity to enter their own brands or products for consideration in any qualifying categories. These entries were then reviewed and voted upon by a nominating panel of experts comprised of both surf industry manufacturers and retailers. The outcome of the nominating panel votes determined the five final nominees in each category. Winners of these categories will be determined by a final vote open to all SIMA member companies, as well as specialty retailers. The main contact at each SIMA member company can expect information today via email for final voting.
This year, the following outstanding products and brands will be recognized as the nominees in the 13 SIMA Image Awards categories (nominees listed in alphabetical order):
2014 SIMA IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEES
OVERALL AWARDS
Breakout Brand of the Year
Criteria: Recognizing the small- to mid-size men’s or women’s brand that experienced break out growth between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014. Consider surfboard, apparel, footwear, wetsuit and accessory brands that had a breakthrough year through product development and/or increased brand recognition and appeal. Nominated companies can be new or established brands, but must have annual U.S. sales of at least $1 million and no more than $20 million. Previous winners of this category are no longer eligible for five years.
Beach Riot
Catch Surf
OTIS
Roark Revival
Vissla
MEN’S AWARDS
Men’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014.
Billabong
RVCA
Vans
Vissla
Volcom
Men’s Boardshort of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the boardshort product from Spring or Fall 2014 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Jordy Freak by O’Neill
Mirage by Rip Curl
Mod-Tech by Volcom
Spinner Lo Tide by Billabong
Zulu by Vissla
Men’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the men’s apparel, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory or media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2014. Consider men’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014 (approx. the September or October issues of endemic magazines).
“Creators & Innovators” by Vissla
“Life’s Better in Boardshorts” by Billabong
“Surfing is Everything” by Rip Curl
“True to This” by Volcom
“Volume 7: Rocketship to Reykjavik” by Roark Revival
WOMEN’S AWARDS
Women’s Apparel Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014.
Billabong Women’s
O’Neill Women’s
Rip Curl
RVCA
Volcom
Women’s Swim Brand of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s swim brand that featured the most exciting designs, increased its brand appeal, and grew its business between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014.
Beach Riot
Billabong Women’s
L*Space by Monica Wise
Rip Curl
RVCA
Women’s Marketing Campaign of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the women’s apparel, swimwear, footwear, wetsuit, hardgoods, accessory and media brand that produced the most creative marketing campaign in 2014. Consider women’s brands that displayed a creative, cohesive and consistent brand message in print, digital and point-of-purchase materials. Campaign must have first appeared in consumer print publications with an on-sale date between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014 (approx. the September and October issues of endemic magazines).
“Let’s Go Anywhere” by L*Space by Monica Wise
“My Bikini” by Rip Curl
“Shave Ice” by OluKai
“Today is Perfect” by O’Neill Women’s
“True to This” by Volcom
See Page 2 for product awards
PRODUCT AWARDS
Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the accessory product from Spring or Fall 2013 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as watches, eyewear, headphones, socks and other accessories can be considered.
ED01-TIDE Digital Watch by Electric
Happy Lens by Spy
Roark Revival x Leatherman Collaboration Crater C33LX Pocket Knife by Roark Revival
Socks by Stance
SuperTide Marbelized by Nixon
Environmental Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the most exciting, appealing and/or innovative environmental surf product from Spring or Fall 2014 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014). Consider apparel, footwear, accessory, wetsuit, surfboard or any other surf-related product that was created to lessen the impact on the environment, whether through its manufacturing process, materials or usage of the product itself.
Eco-Board by Firewire
Plastic Bag Wallet by The People’s Movement
Recycler Series Boardshorts by Billabong
Upcycled Coconut Boardshorts by Vissla
Yulex Nexkin Wetsuit by Patagonia
Footwear Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the footwear product from Spring or Fall 2014 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Cochise Jogger by The People’s Movement
HOKUA by OluKai
Recliner by Volcom
Surf Siders by Vans
Yoga Sling by Sanuk
Hardgoods Accessory Product of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surf hardgood accessory product from Spring or Fall 2014 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014) that featured the most exciting innovation, design or appeal. Accessory products such as fins, leashes, boardbags, wetsuit accessories (heat vests, boots, etc.) and other hardgood accessories can be considered.
Blackstix 3.0 by Futures
DNA Flex Mould Leash by Creatures of Leisure
Drylock Boot featuring TDC Thermo Dry Celliant by Xcel
FCSII Essential Series Fin Collection by FCS
Jordy Smith Signature Traction Pad by Channel Islands Surfboards
Surfboard of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the surfboard model from Spring or Fall 2014 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Beater by Catch Surf
Blackbird by Rusty Surfboards
Pyzalien by Firewire/Pyzel
Siamese Palm Viper (SPV) by Dion Agius by SUPERbrand
The Average Joe by Channel Islands Surfboards
Wetsuit of the Year
Criteria: Awarded to the wetsuit from Spring or Fall 2014 product lines (at retail between January 1, 2014 and September 1, 2014) that featured the most exciting design, appeal or innovation.
Drylock featuring TDC Thermo Dry Celliant by Xcel
Flash Bomb by Rip Curl
Psycho Series by O’Neill Wetsuits
Xero Furnace 2mm by Billabong
Yulex Nexkin Wetsuit by Patagonia
About the Image Awards
A complete description of awards criteria, as well as a detailed explanation of the entry and voting processes can be found at www.simaimageawards.com. The winners will be announced at the SIMA Image Awards ceremony on February 12, 2015, at The City National Grove of Anaheim.
The ceremony is open to the public and tickets will go on sale in January. Thank you Surf Expo for your continued partnership as the official Premier Sponsor of the SIMA Image Awards ceremony and to RepSpark Systems for your supporting sponsorship.
About SIMA
The Surf Industry Manufacturers Association (SIMA) is the official working trade association of more than 300 surf industry suppliers. Founded in 1989, SIMA is a non-profit organization that serves to promote awareness of the surf industry and participation in the sport of surfing through public relations efforts and a variety of services, educational programs and research.
In addition, SIMA actively supports oceanic environmental efforts through its 501(c)(3) charitable environmental foundation, the SIMA Environmental Fund. In the past 24 years, SIMA’s Environmental Fund has raised nearly $7 million for environmental groups seeking to protect the world’s oceans, beaches and waves. The SIMA Humanitarian Fund, also a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, was established in 2006 to award grants to various surf or boardsport related social and humanitarian non-profit organizations whose efforts are focused on improving the quality of life, health and/or welfare of people.
