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A start-up sustainable fashion brand from Swansea, which has been featured in London Fashion Week, is now eyeing expansion across Wales. Barefoot Tech sells accessories such as backpacks, cross body bags and purses, made from old, unused wetsuits destined for landfill.

The fashion label was set up by Ffion McCormick Edwards, 23, during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Her products have been featured in London Fashion Week 2021 and recently won the Sustainability Through Innovation Award at the National Environmental Awards 2022.

Ms Edwards uses 80% or more reclaimed neoprene wetsuit materials for her products, which she sources from surf schools, wake parks and outdoor activity centres around Wales.

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The wetsuits become accessories including backpacks and cross body bags with retail prices ranging between £30 to £71, notepads with a detachable waterproof case priced at £22 and purses from £8.

Since launching the business, Ms Edwards has had over 200 orders for her accessories so far and is now plans to expand her product range. She also is keen to open repair stalls where customers can have old wetsuits, swimwear and accessories repaired, in an effort to keep the sustainable cycle ongoing.

The young entrepreneur launched Barefoot Tech in November 2020 during lockdown after initially planning the business as her final major project while studying Fashion Design at Bournemouth University.

She launched the business with support from Big Ideas Wales, and received a Business Wales Start-Up Barriers Grant of up to £2,000 which allowed her to register as a sole-trader and set up her own workshop in Swansea full-time.