Press Release
Refined essentials for life in and around the ocean, shaped by 11x World Champion Kelly Slater and brought to life in a new commercial directed by Taylor Steele. Built with responsible material – from NetPlus® recycled fishing nets to Regenerative Organic Certified® cotton.
Carlsbad, CA | April 21, 2026 – Outerknown, the California-based apparel brand celebrated for redefining sustainable style and crafting timeless wardrobe staples from responsibly sourced materials, announces today the launch of “The Kelly Collection.”
Launching April 21, the collection is a direct reflection of 11x World Champion Kelly Slater – shaped by his experience, refined through years of global travel with everything he needs in one bag, and built around what he actually reaches for in and out of the water. Every piece has been developed with his input, dialing in performance, feel, and function at the highest level – prioritizing versatility, durability, and purpose over excess, and distilling it all into a tightly curated set of essential pieces made responsibly.
At the core are his signature Apex Evolution Trunks, engineered with NetPlus recycled nylon for durability, performance, and reduced environmental impact, alongside a new Apex Evolution Hooded Rashguard designed for extended time in the water with built-in UPF protection. The result is a tight purpose-driven lineup of essentials – gear Kelly trusts, designed to perform when it matters most.
The collection also includes UPF-protective tees and polos, everyday pants, and updated versions of Kelly’s favorite Outerknown organic and Regenerative Organic Certified cotton classics – all refined through his lens of performance, versatility, and timeless style.
I’ve spent a lot of my life traveling around the world with everything I need in one bag,” says Slater “So, when I pack, I expect more. More versatility, more durability; more purpose. That’s the philosophy behind this collection: not a lineup of endless options, but a refined system of elevated essentials, built in the most responsible way possible.”
To mark the launch, acclaimed surf filmmaker Taylor Steele directed a short commercial celebrating the collection. “After years of building this collection with Kelly, we turned to Taylor Steele to tell the story in the way he does best. He truly captures Kelly Slater’s current rhythm—chasing his many passions, spending meaningful time with friends and family, and staying present while appreciating the beauty around him,” said John Moore, Co-Founder and Chief Creative at Outerknown. “There was OKKS-Pess Release really no one else we would have trusted to tell this story. Taylor has documented Kelly’s journey like no other, and you feel that depth in every frame.”
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About Outerknown
Founded in 2015 by pro surfer Kelly Slater and creative director John Moore, Outerknown’s mission is to craft elevated, lasting wardrobe staples, empower the people making them, protect natural resources, and inspire industry change through transparency and an unwavering commitment to responsible sourcing practices.
