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Orca

Company type	Private
Industry	Sports Apparel
Founded	1995
Headquarters	Auckland, New Zealand
Key people	Scott Unsworth, Founder, CEO
Products	Wetsuits, Triathlon apparel, General sports apparel
Number of employees	25 staff
Website	orca.com

Orca is an international company of New Zealand origins dedicated to designing, producing, and selling sporting goods products for water sports such as triathlon, open water, surfing, freediving, and swimrun.

It is a company committed to protecting the environment, particularly in support of the oceans.

History

Orca is an iconic brand in the world of triathlon and other water sports. It was founded in 1995 by Scott Unsworth, a professional triathlete from New Zealand who, after an injury, decided to revolutionize the wetsuit market. He began by designing "the fastest wetsuit on the market," giving birth to the Predator wetsuit in the early 1990s.

Buoyed by the initial success, Unsworth began selling his suits from the back of his car to friends and acquaintances in New Zealand, quickly gaining recognition in the athletic community.

By the late 1990s, Orca had established itself as a world leader in triathlon. At the 2000 Olympic Games, two-thirds of the competing triathletes wore Orca wetsuits, cementing its reputation as the brand of choice for elite athletes. In addition, in 2004, Orca was the official clothing supplier to the New Zealand Olympic team.

In 2008, the renowned bike brand Orbea acquired the distribution rights to Orca and moved its headquarters to the Basque Country, a region with deep roots in triathlon and water sports.

With more than 25 years as a market leader in triathlon wetsuits, Orca naturally evolved into other water sports such as open water swimming. In 2021, the brand added other disciplines such as freediving, and a year later, in 2022, with almost three decades of experience in the wetsuit and watersports industry, Orca entered the world of surfing.

Sustainability

For years, Orca has been dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact by adopting sustainable practices. The company's mission is clear: to eliminate plastics from the oceans and promote a future where marine life thrives. To achieve this, Orca focuses on innovation in materials and processes, using recycled and renewable resources and emphasizing the durability of its products.

The company has taken on a number of initiatives to reduce its environmental impact throughout the life of its products. These include eliminating all single-use plastics four years ago and replacing them with more sustainable options in its packaging, which is the first triathlon brand to do so.

Its connection to the ocean transcends a passion for water sports, and is reflected in a deep commitment to sustainability and marine conservation.

Products

Orca's first wetsuit, the Predator, has been one of the brand's most recognized products. Over the years, Orca has developed and launched high-performance wetsuits for various disciplines such as triathlon, open water, surfing, freediving, and swimrun. Although neoprene is the core of its business, it also designs clothing and accessories for these sports.

Orca has a research and development team dedicated to achieving the highest quality standards, which is evident in the durability of its products.

Sponsorships

Orca is committed to long-term sponsorships and relationships with athletes such as Sebastian Kienle, who has been professionally associated with the brand for many years and is still a part of the brand today.

In addition, Orca supports several elite triathletes, including New Zealand pro Hayden Wilde, Australia's Ashleigh Gentle, as well as Paula Findlay and Eric Lagerstrom. It also has a partnership agreement with the BMC Pro Triathlon Team.

Notes

• Clothing companies of New Zealand
• Clothing companies established in 1993
• Clothing brands
• Swimwear brands
• Swimwear manufacturers