EXHIBIT 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT Shareholders and Board of Directors Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc.: We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No. 33-19804, 33-19805, 33-35309, 33-50680, 33-52073, 33-54899 and 33- 61285) on Form S-8 of Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. of our reports dated November 8, 1996, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 27, 1996 and September 29, 1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows and related schedule for each of the years in the three-year period ended September 27, 1996 which reports appear or are incorporated by reference in the 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K of Johnson Worldwide Associates, Inc. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Milwaukee, Wisconsin December 12, 1996