The Critical Slide Society
Retail Apparel and FashionNew South Wales, Australia2-10 Employees
The Critical Slide Society, or TCSS, is a small Bondi-based retail label founded in 2009 by surfers Jim Mitchell and Sam Coombes. It operates within the retail apparel and fashion space, emphasizing boardshorts and design-led pieces developed through collaborations with artists, photographers, designers, filmmakers, and surfers around the world. The brand promotes an alternative surf culture centered on the simple enjoyment of an engaged surfing life, and its boardshort designs have earned recognition with awards in consecutive years. TCSS has pursued collaborations with other surf-focused brands, including Birdwell California in 2024 and BeachGrit in 2023, reflecting a collaborative approach to product and brand development. In April 2026, White Room International acquired TCSS, while the company continues to distribute its products through a network of respected retailers globally.