Killer Profits In Velcro Valley

It's about respecting the stone, about being absolutely core. The stone, according to Volcom president Richard Woolcott, 33, "represents the buzz from a good skate session or riding a 10-ft. wave at pipe. The stone represents the euphoric state of riding."

Core is core, bro, as in hard-core. Right now, in the Orange County, Calif., coastal-wear industry, the Volcom stone--a diamond-shape logo sewn onto shirts, shorts and pants--is totally core, commanding huge respect within the genre of attitude-drenched brands that cool 15-year-olds crave. "Whatever they put the stone on is gonna rock out the door," says Joe Luzzia, owner of Identity...