Campbell began producing high-performance surf wetsuits in 2005 using a limestone-based synthetic rubber he pioneered with the Japanese Yamamoto Corp. He says rubber made with limestone carbonate offers significantly better thermal regulation and flexibility than conventional petroleum-based rubber. His latest wetsuits integrate the Yamamoto material with NASA’s ultralight aerogels. The Liber jacket, also called the Ninja jacket, is used by Navy SEALs.
Now he’s founder, CEO, and creative director of CKTH—which stands for “Can’t Knock the Hustle,” the famous song on Jay-Z’s first album. Campbell says athletes and artists use the phrase to describe their work ethic.
An English major, he relishes finding unusual ways to promote his products. The San Diego native arranged a video shoot on a runway in Otay Mesa, California, near the Mexican border, as an homage to the iconic surf and skydiving scene in the classic cops-and-robbers movie Point Break.
Richard Efem ’03, a doctor and former football and track teammate, has served as a sounding board. “John is able to hold firmly to a vision—a true north—while still seeking advice, incorporating different perspectives, and allowing the work to evolve.”
