Body Glove

Bill and Bob Meistrell co-founded Body Glove in 1953 in Redondo Beach, California, after borrowing $1,800 from their mother to buy a third of the local Dive N' Surf shop. Bill went to Bedford, Virginia and discovered neoprene (then used in refrigerator insulation), enabling the first practical wetsuit. The brand name was coined in 1966 from Bill's description that the wetsuits "fit like a glove." Bill Meistrell died in 2006; Bob Meistrell died in 2013. Marquee Brands acquired a 75% stake from Body Glove International on November 2, 2016 (Marquee's third acquisition); the Meistrell family retains a 25% interest. Marquee's first Active and Outdoor sector acquisition.

Both founders are deceased. Family retains a minority stake but operating control sits with a brand licensing firm. Wetsuit innovation was the brand's original product DNA; current product mix spans phone cases and apparel through licensee networks.