Body Glove
| 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 Daley Meistrell, Web Director Kenna Meistrell, Admin Director |
Number of employees | 10 |
| Parent | Dive N Surf Corporation (Private company) |
| Website | Body Glove |
About
Body Glove International, LLC 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 Booneville, 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 LA Country 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 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:
- Jamie O'Brien
- Anthony Walsh
- Tatiana Weston-Webb
- Alex Gray
- Cheyne Magnusson
Past athletes have included *Nate Yeomans *Gabe Kling *Mike Losness *Holly Beck *Bruce Irons
The company's pro wakeboarders include:
- Harley Clifford
- Bob Soven
- Rusty Malinoski
- Noah Flegel
- Keenan Flegel
- Taylor Dorey