Our Story

Get Up Stand Up Surf (GSUP) was founded in Leon, Nicaragua in 2012 by Brazilian surfer and nomad Marcos Pereira.

Towards the end of a three-month trip, surfing the countries best waves, Marcos was given the opportunity to start his own surf school. With a nothing to lose attitude and only $400 to his name, Marcos invested $100 to buy the school’s very first surfboard.

Get Up Stand Up Surf was born. The name is inspired by Bob Marley’s classic, which resonates with the brand’s positive outlook and surf culture. His original idea to design a t-shirt was simply for a uniform to wear whilst giving lessons on the beach. However, after visiting a local factory to have the t-shirt made, Marcos was told he had to print a minimum of 20 shirts. They were sold within a week, and as they say, the rest, is history. A year later we opened our first surf shop in Leon, and a sister surf shop on the beach, following an invitation from Cadi, a good friend at Big Foot Beach House. Always wanting to improve on our designs and quality, we decided to move key elements of production in-house and so began the GSUP factory, with 2 employees; Marcos cutting fabrics and another sewing them. Nowadays our shirts are made 100% in-house. In keeping with our roots, we still choose to work with recycled fabrics from bigger brands; which offers its challenges, but keeps our designs unique.

Our staff are our family. We invest our profits in the betterment of their lives, insuring that they are paid well above the minimum wage. Proudly, we are the first factory in Leon to pay our employees on a monthly basis, as well as awarding bonuses. With sustainability as our key aim, we not only teach local Nicaraguans the skills they need to pursue a career in ethical fashion, but also the opportunity for them to learn English. We strive to offer our clients quality over quantity. This mindset is reflected in our original creations and the warm welcome you will receive stepping into our store or by contacting us online.

Today, you can find us all over Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Hawaii. We are proof that if you believe in your dreams and work hard to achieve it, anything is possible.

Get Up Stand Up is fair trade and fair trade is the future

Read more: 13 questions to Marcos Pereira – Owner of Get Up Stand Up Surf