Body Glove

Body Glove International, LLC
Industry Sporting Goods, Water Sports
Founded 1953
Founders Bill Meistrell and Bob Meistrell
Headquarters Redondo Beach, California, U.S.A.
Key people
 Jenna Meistrell, Brand Director
Nick Meistrell, Mktg Director
Kenna Meistrell, Admin Director
Daley Meistrell, Web Director
Number of employees
 10
Parent Dive N Surf Corporation (Private company)
Website Body Glove

About

Body Glove IP Holdings LP is a surf/dive/wake/ outdoor water sports brand started in the United States. Body Glove was founded in 1953 by twin brothers Bill and Bob Meistrell. The brothers are often credited for inventing the first practical wetsuit in the early 1950s in the back of their Redondo Beach, California surf shop, Dive N' Surf. From those wetsuits Body Glove branched out into other product categories: they now make wetsuits, swimsuits, clothing, shoes, life vests, sunglasses, wakeboards, towables, backpacks, phone cases and snorkeling equipment.

History

Body Glove was started by identical twins Bill and Bob Meistrell in Redondo Beach, CA. They were raised in Boonville, Missouri and moved to Manhattan Beach, CA in 1944. There were always interested in the water and even crafted a rudimentary scuba helmet out of an oil can, tar, glass and a bicycle pump so that they could explore their family farm. When they moved to Manhattan Beach they became interested in surfing and became Los Angeles County Lifeguards. Bill and Bob borrowed $1800 from their mother and each bought one third of the local sports shop called Dive N' Surf, owned then by surfboard shaper Hap Jacobs and dive entrepreneur Bev Morgan. In 1953, Bill Meistrell went to Bedford, Virginia where he found the insulation used in the back of refrigerators, neoprene, and the first practical wetsuit was born. The Meistrells designed and tailored their own brand of wetsuits. In the beginning the wetsuits were named the Dive N Surf Thermocline. The Meistrells did not think this was a great name so they hired a marketing consultant, Duke Boyd. Duke asked about the characteristics of the suits and Billy said, "They fit like a glove," so Duke came up with the name Body Glove.

Body Glove's corporate headquarters is currently in Redondo Beach, CA.

Sponsorship

The company's pro surfers include:

Past athletes include: Jamie O'Brien, Anthony Walsh, Nate Yeomans, Gabe Kling, Mike Losness, Holly Beck, Bruce Irons

The company's pro wakeboarders include:

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