A Devon entrepreneur has launched an eco-conscious fashion brand to tackle recycling in the fashion industry.
Former journalist and founder of Astley Media, now Program, Marc Astley launched the Ottery St Mary-based brand SeaSurf in June 2023. The beachwear brand creates its garments from 100% organic cotton in factories powered by renewable energy. They are all printed in the 海角视频 using eco-friendly water-based ink and can be returned to the brand and recycled into new items.
Sea E O, Mr Astley founded the brand with his partner Laura Bond after their children began to ask questions about the impact the clothes they threw away had on the planet.
Mr Astley said: “We found it really hard to find a brand that met all of our needs and so we launched our own but the move was really inspired by our four children. They began asking us what happened to their clothes when they had finished with them, what they were made from and why they often turned up in plastic bags.
Read more: Former Topshop and Versace execs' sustainable fashion brand seeks South West premises
“The more we thought about it, the more we began to think we needed to be a part of the solution and not the problem.”
The family found that less 1% of the world's clothes are currently recycled and the fashion industry is ranked fourth in terms of negative environmental impact, below housing, transport, and food.
Since launching, SeaSurf has saved 23,036g of plastic; it eliminated 2,287g from using plastic free packaging, which is equivalent to 1,101 plastic bottles. The brand has also recovered and diverted 1,750g of organic material from landfill, preventing 36,150g of CO2 emissions and saved 22 thousand litres of water.
Most Read
SeaSurf in an online store shipping internationally. Mr Astley told BusinessLive that he will be hosting a pop up store in Sidmouth at the end of August with a view to hosting more across the region.
David Haze, who was recently named Ocean Activist of the Year by Surfers Against Sewage at its Plastic Free awards, has joined forces with Ottery St Mary-based SeaSurf. The 38-year-old, from Dorset, who is a nine-times world record stand up paddleboarder, has pledged to help the fledgling business in its war against waste.
Mr Haze said: “It’s a great honour to be SeaSurf’s first ambassador. I share the same vision as Marc and I’m looking forward to being part of it all and growing with them on their journey.”
The brand’s launch range features hoodies, shorts and t-shirts for men, women and children.
Like this story? Why not sign up to get the latest South West business news straight to your inbox.