Thom Hill started Iron & Resin in Ventura, California in 2011, after decades working in surf retail left him frustrated with how disposable most of the industry's products had become. The brand built its early following almost entirely through Instagram, with international stockists reaching out to carry it before it had much of a wider marketing push. Its Ventura workshop, the Iron & Resin Garage, still handles repair and replacement work directly for customers rather than routing them through a warranty department.