Summer Rapp pursuing new creative interests

Summer Rapp, the former Vice President of Design for Quiksilver Women and most recently Creative Director at Roxy, has left the company.

Summer said in an interview she resigned in early January and her last day was Feb. 2.

She has joined her husband Stever’s design firm add-black, which previously focused on men’s design services, and is already working on some women’s projects.

Add-black’s client roster for men includes brands such as Adidas, Burton, Disney and Skullcandy.

Summer’s ultimate goal is to lay the foundation to start a brand this year, and she needed a more flexible schedule to work on making that dream a reality, she said.

Summer was in charge of design for Quiksilver Women when it launched, and she said it was exciting to create a more forward, contemporary line.

While the line enjoyed success in the contemporary market, it was not growing as much in the surf market, so the direction of the line changed, she said. The new team is doing a great job as well, she said, it’s just a different direction.

Summer was then brought in to improve Roxy, which was not a good fit for her creatively, she said, as her interests lie more in the contemporary market.

Meanwhile at Roxy, SVP of Design and Merchandising Susan Branch leads a full design team that includes vice presidents of design for each major Roxy category, said Quiksilver VP of Investor Relations Bruce Thomas.

Roxy is actively looking to fill Summer’s Creative Director position, Thomas said, and understands Summer’s desire to pursue interests that are more of a fit creatively.

Quiksilver Women has been renamed QSW and is designed by outside designer John Moore, who is also designing the new Quiksilver Girls line, which ships its first goods this week.