Today, Eleven-Time World Surfing Champion and entrepreneur Kelly Slater announces the launch of his new sustainable and performance-based footwear brand KLLY, available for purchase in the US and Canada at KLLY.com.Â
The first product in the KLLY line is available in the aptly named color New Moon.
Discovering a niche opportunity in the footwear industry, Slater developed a sandal that can stand up to the rigors of daily wear and outdoor adventures and at the same time, helps to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry. The first product in the KLLY line is a flip-flop sandal, influenced by Slater’s renowned surfing career with additional styles planned for later this year. The shoe is made from recycled material and uses BLOOM technology, which is derived from algae and provides a high level of cushioning, durability, responsiveness and water resistance.
“I’ve spent a majority of my career chasing the perfect wave and in that time I’ve also been acutely aware of the impact that our actions have on the planet,” said Kelly Slater. “With KLLY, I wanted to create a performance-driven sandal that not only reflects my passion for surfing and the ocean’s influence on my life, but also embodies my commitment to protecting it.”
The KLLY sandal is designed for maximum comfort and durability. Created with eco-friendly materials, the design inspiration comes from the relationship between the moon and ocean. The top sole mirrors the moon’s surface while the bottom represents turtle scales. As a surfer and environmental advocate, Slater has always been captivated by the way the moon’s gravitational pull generates tides in the ocean, connecting the moon, the surf, and its sea creatures. Turtles have a particular connection to the moon, with 13 large scales that represent the 13 moons in each year and 28 smaller scales that represent the moon’s monthly cycle. The KLLY sandal is a tribute to these coexisting forces.
The first product in the KLLY line is available in the aptly named color New Moon, a black color with details resembling the surface of the moon, and launches the day before the new moon.
As a purpose-driven entrepreneur, Slater has a deep commitment to everything he does. With his newest footwear company, he aims to continue to set an example for others in the industry to follow, encouraging them to adopt more sustainable practices and create products with the planet in mind.
KLLY retails for $89 and is exclusively available online for purchase in the US and Canada. For more information and to sign up for updates, visit KLLY.com and follow them on Instagram at @kllyfootwear.
About Kelly Slater
Revered as one of the most iconic sports figures in the world, Kelly Slater has changed the landscape of surfing. He holds nearly every major record in the sport, including his 11 World Titles and 55 career victories, in addition to being the youngest and oldest World Champion in men’s history.
Over his 30+ year career, Kelly has questioned the ethics and sustainability around the products and clothing he was using in and outside of competitions. This inspired him to build a business and investment platform around sustainability and wellness. In 2014, Kelly launched Outerknown, a sustainable clothing brand that goes by the mantra ‘For People and Planet’ as well as Firewire Surfboards, the most sustainable surfboard platform in the world. He also developed Slater Designs to showcase designs he created with legendary surfboard shapers as well as his latest addition to the product line, Endorfins, which are high performance surfboard fins made with sustainable materials.Â
In 2015, Kelly revealed Kelly Slater Wave Company (KSWC), aka Surf Ranch, to the world with a viral video, which has been viewed over 400M times, showing the perfect man-made wave in Lemoore, California. The KSWC technology currently produces the highest performance artificial waves in the world.
Kelly’s newest business venture, KLLY footwear, is his first foray into the sustainable footwear industry and launches on May 18, 2023. The first product in the KLLY line is a high performance, sustainable sandal that is influenced by Slater’s renowned surfing career with additional styles planned for later this year.
Kelly is not just a world champion surfer, he’s an accomplished business owner, advocate for sustainability and champion for the environment. Outside of Kelly’s own business platform, he has worked with a myriad of international brands and raised millions of dollars for causes with charitable organizations close to his heart including Omaze, Oceana, Surfrider, Surfers Not Street Children, Sea Shepherd, Greenpeace and various other international groups.
