ABOUT US

OUR STORY

INNOVATION THROUGH EXPLORATION

The story of Van Zandt Apparel is really a story about its founder, Jason Van Zandt.

A southern California native and veritable waterman, Jason was raised on a healthy diet of dredging waves, oceanic pursuits and extreme sports. His life revolved around the sea. And as a barefooted grommet, its waves and peaks were a playground, a source of adventure and the place that birthed his love for exploration.

Newport Wedge was his backyard and bodysurfing there was a daily routine. His school literally backed onto the beach, and when conditions permitted, he would skip class to surf the schoolyard break with a tight knit crew. All the while wearing a pair of trunks from sunup till sundown that would often wear out over a short period of time during his land and sea endeavors.

As he grew older, Jason was naturally drawn into the orbit of the southern California surf industry. His father had an office directly above the original surf industry big hitters in Costa Mesa, which both influenced his perception of what quality craftsmanship entails and gave him an education in the finer points of design.

He also continued to feed his appetite for fun and adventure by branching out to try new disciplines. This led him to stand up paddle boarding on whitewater rapids, climbing the rugged peaks of Colorado and reeling in marlin off the coast of Mexico… things he still does to this day.

Despite living such a diverse life though, one thing has remained the same in Jason’s 45 plus years of maritime and terrestrial pastimes – the idea that clothing can and should be easy to wear, but hard to wear out. And that every stitch and seam should be crafted with the utmost attention to detail so that a single pair of trunks really can do it all.

OUR PRODUCTS

Producing trunks that embody our belief in innovation through exploration is what Van Zandt Apparel is all about. But that’s easier said than done. To ensure that your trunks can take you from peak to peak and everywhere in between, we design and craft them right here in the USA using experienced artisans and top-grade materials. We then subject them to over 4 years of intense R&D in different ocean, alpine and river environments.

The result? Trunks that you can trust. Complete with superior features, true-to-fit sizes and a tasteful aesthetic so you can transition between land and sea with maximum ease. Because the right pair of trunks shouldn’t feel like a compromise, nor should your clothing be produced in a far-flung factory.

All aspects of our trunks are scrutinized, from design to detailing and right up to their eventual release. We also don’t rush production just to meet deadlines or rely on overseas manufacturing channels, which means you get bottoms that stand up to the rigors of an active lifestyle and last for a lifetime, not months.

OUR MISSION

Van Zandt Apparel isn’t here to change the world, but we do want to change the way you move through it. For this reason, our mission is to take our founder’s passion for long lasting, hard wearing, detail-oriented quality and apply it to all products from both our current and future collections.

This includes producing classic above the knee trunks and apparel for both waterman and outdoorsman that meet our own high standards for homegrown craftsmanship, whilst also remaining open minded in the pursuit of new innovations.

Van Zandt Apparel also promises to make decisions with responsible manufacturing, environmental sustainability and individual freedom of expression in mind. After all, our products are more than just a fleeting fad – they’re a timeless companion in your pursuit for daily adventure.