SAVE THE SURF
tab le of CONTENTS
01 05 09 The Issue
Leading Polluters
The Objective
11
The Company
15 19 21 Inspiration
Save the Surf
Promotion Initiatives
8,000,000 Tons of plastic dumped in the ocean every year
80%
Of ocean plastic is from land-based sources
700+
Species of marine wildlife ingest this plastic
1,500,000
Marine animals die annually from plastic
1,000,000
Seabirds die annually from ingesting plastic
500-1,000
Years it takes for plastic to degrade
THE ISSUE
PLASTIC , PLASTIC EVERYWHERE
The ocean remains one of the most expansive, mysterious and diverse places on Earth. While covering 72% of the planet and supplying half of its oxygen, the ocean is our planet’s life support system – and it’s in danger. 8,000,000 metric tons of plastic leak into the world’s ocean annually. Of that mass, 269,000 float on the surface, while the remains degrade into microfibers that litter into the deep sea. Research has filled in the outlines of the life cycle regarding ocean plastics, finding them to collect in the world’s five large ocean gyres, which are large systems of spiraling currents. As the plastics start to deteriorate, they fall into deep water where the currents carry them into remote parts of the globe. As consumers, we are unconsciously threatening the entire oceanic ecosystem. Marine life is dying, biodiversity is drastically changing, our oxygen content is depleting,
eutrophication is creating enormous dead zones, and we are consuming our own pollution. It’s beginning to go full circle. Without concerted global action, there could be 1 ton of plastic for every 3 tons of fish by 2025, leading to extreme environmental, economic, and health issues. As of today, the Ocean Recovery Alliance estimates that 33% of plastic manufactured worldwide is used once, then discarded. To compound matters, 85% of the world’s plastic is not recycled. Our mismanaged waste and recycling system has become an issue of both inadequate management, and litter. In order to find solutions to this extensive issue, it will require a combination of local and global efforts. We, as consumers, must play our part by being accustomed and sensitive to social, economic, and environmental concerns. The planet is our only home, we must take care of it.
EGYPT NIGERIA
LEADING POLLUTERS
CHINA
THAILAND VIETNAM PHILIPPINES SRI LANKA MALAYSIA INDONESIA
This chart reflects the top ten ocean polluting countries by measuring the amount of plastic waste that flows into oceans annually. Out of the 192 countries that contribute to oceanic plastic waste, China and Indonesia lead. They account for more than a third of the plastic washed out to sea. Their vast contribution can be attributed to poverty, consumer habits and lack of institutional knowledge concerning waste management.
LETS
MAKE
AN
I M PA C T
THE OBJECTIVE With plastics being a significant threat to our planet, I want to re-address this global issue by bringing awareness of the danger that increasing rates of solid waste production, inefficient methods of waste collection and disposal, and lack of consumer environmental education has caused to our oceans. The “Save the Surf” swimwear collection’s goal is to highlight this topic by targeting the conscious consumer who is looking to purchase with a purpose. The collection will be used as a platform to educate consumers and raise environmental awareness of the harmful, non-sustainable disposal methods taking place. The collection will be constructed of recycled plastic collected from the oceans.
THE COMPANY
is one of, if not the most, environmentally conscious apparel company in the world. Its love of wild and beautiful places demands participation in the fight to save them, and to help reverse the steep decline in the overall environmental health of the planet. Patagonia stays true to its core values and donates its time, services, and at least 1% of its sales to hundreds of grassroots environmental groups all over the world who work to help reverse the tide. Patagonia is a leader in the outdoor apparel market. Save the Surf is an initiative to expand the design of its women’s swimwear line and add to its already environmentally committed brand. By using Patagonia’s business activity, manufacturers, and design aesthetics, the collection will be created with the athlete in mind, focusing on sustainable design approaches and utility.
Although the science has been around for years, there are only a few companies producing recycled active wear garments, none of them being active swimwear made with plastic collected from the oceans. Back in 1993, Patagonia began making recycled polyester from plastic soda bottles - the first outdoor clothing manufacturer to transform trash into fleece. Patagonia also established a way to create recycled nylon, using post-industrial waste fiber, yarn collected from a spinning factory, and reusable nylon fiber. The majority of its swimwear consists of 80% recycled nylon, yet none of the recycled materials are plastic waste from the oceans.This is where I see the opportunity to intertwine swimsuits and plastic waste from the oceans they are being worn in.
Save the Surf collection is inspired by my backpacking travels through Central America. Unique adventures lead me to incredible encounters, where I immersed myself in the spirit of unexplored territory. Environmental discoveries, wild frontiers, and memorable experiences drove this multi-cultural mood - where the Caribbean’s lush vegetation, remote beaches, surf adventures, and long tropical nights inspired this active, casual, aesthetic swimwear. The color palette is based on sandy browns, neutrals, and watery blues, highlighted by burning orange and red accents.
SAVE THE SURF
THE COLLECTION Inspired by athletes and Patagonia’s approach towards product design, the collection demonstrates a bias for simplicity and utility. This swimwear is for marine recreation, suitable for the woman looking to dive into the deepest waters, surf the roughest waves, and trust that her garment is durable enough to carry her through. Patagonia’s silhouettes are not trend based, but rather created for necessity and performance. Made from quality, sustainable materials and produced in an ethical manner, the garment’s lifecycle causes minimal harm to the environment. The swimwear is produced using Patagonia’s recycling technique, creating an ultra soft, durable, 85% recycled plastic, 15% spandex swim fabric blend. In addition, the zippers are made out of 100% recycled plastic. This collection would be manufactured at SUPERTEX S.A., the current sewing factory Patagonia collaborates with to produce swimwear. They are located in Acopi Yumbo, Colombia. Patagonia has been working with this manufacturer since 2006. They taught SUPERTEX their recycling method, and spent considerable time helping them master the technique. Converting plastic into fabric is a similar process. By simply stripping the plastic of any labels, it’s then washed, crushed, and chopped before being melted into pellets and changed into fiber. The fiber is then stretched and baled into fabric and turned into a sustainable, technical garment. In addition to being a fair labor business, and offering sustainable products, making clothing with SUPERTEX in Colombia shortens travel times and reduces fossil fuels. Working with this Colombiabased factory also affords favorable trade relationships that reduce or eliminate duty tariffs.
Save the Surf
W’s Jacinta Top
W’s Crop Oria Top
W’s Raeni Top
W’s Shona Top
XS S M L XL
XS S M L XL
XS S M L XL
XS S M L XL
Save the Surf
Save the Surf
Save the Surf
Save the Surf
W’s R1 Spring Alvita 2 4 6 8 10
W’s R1 3 in 1 Vea Wetsuit 2 4 6 8 10
Save the Surf
W’s Lesia Bottom
W’s Dorsey Bottom
W’s Leta Bottom
W’s Ayida Pant
XS S M L XL
XS S M L XL
XS S M L XL
XS S M L XL
PROMOTION INITIATIVES Patagonia features global environmental initiatives on The New Localism blog linked to its website. This blog invites consumers to join Patagonia in making a difference and taking a stand in saving the environment. The Save the Surf collection and story will be featured on the blog to draw awareness to the purpose of the collection while educating consumers. The swimwear will also be promoted through Liz Clark’s social media as a way to link customers, fans and other environmental activists to the aspiration behind the collection, intending to encourage and inspire them to take action in making a change.
MEET CAPTAIN LIZ CLARK
Liz Clark is currently sailing around the world solo as the captain of her own 40-foot sailboat named Swell. Her dream began at ten years of age when her family completed a 5,000-mile, 6-month cruise in Mexico on their sailboat. This experience of culture, freedom, and the beauty of the sea opened her mind to the endless horizons and influenced who she is today. When she’s not surfing perfect reef passes in the South Pacific, she’s working to raise environmental awareness through writing and photography. As an athlete, Liz won the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) College Women’s National Surfing Championship in 2001. Although she enjoyed the competitive level, she was more inclined in chasing “nature saturated” exploratory surf experiences. This is where she collaborated her degree in Environmental Studies and love for the ocean into one. Her voyage serves as her lifestyle, passion, and search for better ways for humanity to inhabit our planet. Not only has Swell allowed her to drastically reduce her daily impact on the earth, it’s taught her to use less, need less, and want less. Her current journey into the Pacific is not only for the waves, but to find opportunities for personal growth, to work on local environmental projects, make presentations on pollution and conservation issues in schools, and to continue writing and documenting her voyage hoping to inspire others to live out their dreams. Liz Clark is the ideal environmentalist to advertise this renewable swimwear collection. Pairing her lifestyle and Patagonia’s efforts to support environmental causes around the world encourages others to be involved and impacted by the purpose of this collection. By highlighting two pioneers of adventure and environmentalism, the efforts to reduce ocean plastic waste can be greatly intensified.
PATAGONIA IS SAVINGTHE SURF ONE SWIMSUIT AT A TIME.
Clark, Liz. “A Better World: What We CAN Do.” Swell Voyage RSS. N.p., 25 Sept. 2014. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. <http://swellvoyage.com/inspiration/a-better-world-what-we-can-do/>. Fox, Chloe. “Teeki Yoga Pants Are Made Entirely From Recycled Water Bottles.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. <http://www.huffingtonpost. com/2013/09/25/teeki-yoga-pants_n_3991951.html>. “Recycled Nylon.” Patagonia. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. <http://www.patagonia.com/us/patagonia. go?assetid=37606>. “Patagonia Footprint Chronicles.” Patagonia. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Nov. 2015. <http://www.patagonia. com/eu/enGB/patagonia.go?assetid=70852>. Turgeon, Andrew. “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” National Geographic Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. <http://education.nationalgeographic.com/encyclopedia/great-pacific-garbage-patch/>. “Which Countries Create the Most Ocean Trash?” WSJ. Wall Street Journal, n.d. Web. 31 Oct. 2015. <http://www.wsj.com/articles/which-countries-create-the-most-ocean-trash-1423767676>.
SWIMWEAR CAPSTONE COLLECTION SP RING/ SUMMER 2017 RYANNE F R AZIER POR TF OLIO