Blowfish Malibu

Blowfish Malibu is a Los Angeles based footwear brand that designs casual shoes for women and kids, with a look and feel rooted in Southern California. The line covers sandals, sneakers, boots and flats, with an emphasis on comfort, accessible price points and a relaxed Malibu aesthetic. Product reaches shoppers primarily through a wide network of wholesale partners and the brand’s own e‑commerce site rather than through a dedicated chain of branded stores.

The company was founded in 2005 by footwear veterans Don Weiss and Steve Hoyt, who had previously worked together at Rocket Dog. They set out to create a value driven alternative with a clear West Coast point of view. Early growth came through U.S. department stores and specialty accounts, followed by expansion into Canada, the United Kingdom and parts of Western Europe as distributors and major retailers added the line. A notable milestone in the late 2010s was the shift from a women’s casual focus into kids’ styles and select vegan collections, which broadened the assortment and gave retailers more ways to build a full family and lifestyle offering around the brand.

Today Blowfish Malibu operates as part of Malibu Shoes, LLC, a California company that develops, markets and distributes the brand globally. As of October 2024, Blowfish Malibu product is sold across the United States, Canada, the U.K., Western Europe and select additional international markets through family footwear chains, department stores, off‑price banners, independent boutiques and online marketplaces. The brand maintains its corporate and design presence in the greater Los Angeles area and relies on a combination of in‑house teams, sales representatives and distributors to service regional and international accounts.

Over roughly the last five years, Blowfish Malibu has leaned into its role as a wholesale and digital brand rather than pursuing standalone stores. The company has steadily expanded its footprint by adding new retail partners, deepening placement with existing chains and investing in seasonal collections, collaborations and category extensions that keep the line fresh on multi‑brand shelves. At the same time it has grown its direct‑to‑consumer e‑commerce and social‑commerce activity, which supports brand awareness in markets where wholesale partners are active.

For landlords, brokers and developers, Blowfish Malibu is most relevant through the retailers that carry its product. The brand helps anchor the women’s and kids’ footwear offering inside large family shoe chains, department stores, off‑price concepts and fashion retailers that occupy neighborhood, community and power centers. As those multi‑brand tenants open new locations, remodel or expand assortments, Blowfish Malibu product can contribute to traffic and sales without the brand itself needing dedicated brick‑and‑mortar space. The company’s current growth posture points to continued wholesale and online expansion as of October 2024, with any real estate impact occurring indirectly through the ongoing rollout and upgrade plans of its key retail partners.