NEW YORK — Junior swim and surfwear company Aaron Chang has a new operating structure, and has tapped activewear industry veteran Norm Zwail as president.
The San Diego surf and outdoor firm is no longer licensing its name to 2J Group, a division of investment group Petters Group Worldwide. Chang has formed a partnership with Petters and will make the products in-house under a new corporate entity, Aaron Chang International, said Zwail. Petters owns the majority stake in the company in partnership with Chang, he noted.
“I have known Aaron for a few years, and have always admired his work,” Zwail said. “We feel there is a lot of potential to grow the brand.”
In his new post, Zwail will oversee all the company’s operations, including domestic and international sales and marketing, e-commerce, licensing, manufacturing, production and global sourcing.
Zwail, former president of Marika Group, said he wants to expand the company into activewear and add a “surf Zen” line that would marry surfwear and yoga attire. Zwail declined to give the company’s sales, but said Aaron Chang is aiming to notch up wholesale volume to $6 million next year. He said he is looking into expanding the company into new categories via licensing.
Chang, a well-known surf and action sports photographer who started the company about 10 years ago, has the title of chief creative officer at Aaron Chang International. The brand is best known for its junior swimwear and for swim items with imprints of Chang’s photos. It sells to department stores including Macy’s, as well as specialty shops such as Ron Jon Surf Shops. Top and bottom swimsuit sets retail for about $70.
At Marika, Zwail oversaw brands including Marika, Icontmg, Shiva Shakti and the Balance Collection. Zwail co-founded Marika in 1982, and left in 1995 to pursue other interests. The company was eventually sold to an investor group led by Don Schumacher. Zwail returned as president in 2001, and has overseen expansion in recent years as the firm added brands and began selling to retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Macy’s West. He stepped down from that post last spring.