Volcom, Billabong, Quicksilver stores closing in the US: What to know

More than 100 Volcom, Billabong, and Quicksilver stores across the U.S. are set to close after Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. 

Here’s what to know:

Volcom, Billabong and Quicksilver stores closing

What we know:

Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week in Delaware. The company, which operates several outdoor, lifestyle, and sports apparel brands and is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, blamed sustained high interest rates and inflation, as well as a shift in consumer preferences for "‘fast fashion’ and e-commerce as opposed to branded apparel and brick-and-mortar retail."

While over 100 retail locations will eventually close, licenses for the brands themselves have been transferred to another operator – meaning the clothing products will still be available. As Fast Company notes, many of these brands are already sold at other retailers, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, PacSun, and Kohl’s. 

"This filing does not impact the future of the brands, as they have already transitioned to new, well-capitalized partners who are actively investing in their growth and long-term success," a Liberated Brands spokesperson said in a statement shared with FOX Television Stations.

FILE - People walk by a Billabong store in Manhattan on Sept. 18, 2012, in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

What we don't know:

There was no immediate timeline for the closures other than "following the liquidation" of the parent company. Meanwhile, the status of the company’s nine retail locations in Hawaii was still being negotiated.

The backstory:

Billabong, Volcom and Quicksilver are all known for their millennial skate and surf-inspired apparel. These are one of many brick-and-mortar chains that have suffered amid a decrease in consumer spending post-pandemic and the rise of cheaper "fast fashion" options online. 

What they're saying:

"A volatile global economy, consumer spending changes amid a rising cost of living, and inflationary pressures have all taken a heavy toll," the Liberated Brands statement continued. 

"Despite this difficult change, we are encouraged that many of our talented associates have found new opportunities with other license holders that will carry these great brands into the future," the statement added. 

Editor's note: A previous version of this article incorrectly referred to Liberated Brands as the "parent company" of the brands. Rather, Liberated has been the license operator until recently. Authentic Brands Group is the parent company and owner of the brands.