Plastic and fishing nets do not belong in the sea. Parley for the Oceans fishes these out of the ocean and processes what would otherwise only harm the environment into so-called Parley Ocean Plastic. This is the second time that Dior has made use of this and produced new fabrics that are used in its beachwear collection. Carelessly discarded items are turned into cool shirts, shorts, hats and other items that are a hit on the beach and underwater. dior.com and parley.tv
Images: Dior
The story of Parley for the Oceans
Parley for the Oceans is a non-profit environmental organization that works to protect the oceans. It was founded in 2012 by Cyrill Gutsch, a designer who had previously worked for companies such as Lufthansa, BMW and Adidas. He was inspired to start Parley by a meeting with Paul Watson, the founder of Sea Shepherd.
Parley for the Oceans brings together creatives, thinkers and leaders from different sectors to raise awareness of the beauty and fragility of the oceans and work on projects that can end their destruction. The organization works with brands, governments and environmental groups and takes an approach guided by creativity, collaboration and eco-innovation.
The mission of Parley for the Oceans
The mission of Parley for the Oceans is to transform man-made materials and systems to work in harmony with nature’s ecosystem, and to inspire and empower more people for the environmental cause. The organization focuses on three interconnected ocean crises: plastic pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss.
To tackle these challenges, Parley for the Oceans has developed a strategy called AIR, which stands for Avoid, Intercept and Redesign the sources of plastic pollution. Among other things, the AIR strategy has resulted in Adidas eliminating single-use plastic in its offices and Porter Magazine offering plastic-free subscriptions until 2019.
Partnerships
Parley for the Oceans has also partnered with G-Star Raw, Stella McCartney and others to make products from recycled plastic. In 2020, Parley announced a 50 million dollar partnership with the South Asia Co-operative Environment Program and the World Bank to eliminate plastic pollution in waters in South Asia. The organization has also invested in the Air Company, a company that converts carbon dioxide into ethanol and uses it to produce vodka, perfume and hand sanitizer.
Awards
Parley for the Oceans has received several awards for its innovation, including the Special Recognition Award at the Fashion Awards 2018. The organization invites everyone to join the movement for the oceans and play their part in the solutions.
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