Quiksilver, Billabong and Volcom US Stores to Close After Liberated Brands Files for Bankruptcy

Liberated Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection over the weekend and is looking to shutter its U.S. retail stores where it sold brands like Quiksilver, Billabong, and Volcom. The company said in a Monday press release that it filed for bankruptcy to "implement an orderly monetization and disposition of its businesses." It submitted a motion to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware for the closure of about 124 stores as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. Liberated held the licenses for Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA and some other Authentic Brands-owned brands since late 2023, adding to the one it already had for Volcom.

Total Retail's Take: Like many other specialty apparel retailers, Liberated Brands cited "macroeconomic issues, including a rapid and dramatic rise in interest rates, persistent inflation, supply chain delays, a decline in customer demand well below the historical trendline, shifting consumer preferences, and substantial fixed costs" for its financial predicament. The company is planning to liquidate merchandise at its existing stores before shuttering them for good. However, this will not be the end for the brands themselves. Authentic Brands is working with Liberated Brands to transition key licenses to trusted operators within its network, meaning consumers will still be able to find apparel from brands such as Quiksilver, Billabong, Roxy, RVCA, among others.