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Sustainable fashion brand TOMORROW has partnered with Sea Shepherd to develop an eco-friendly clothing line. The aim is to highlight the importance of ocean conservation.
Organic and recycled
The One Ocean collection includes t-shirts and hoodies made from organic cotton and tote bags made from recycled cotton and polyester. Printed using non-toxic water-based inks, the collection is made to order. The production process is free from toxic chemicals.
The line features work from six artists – multi-faceted artist Kelly Knaga; abstract creative B.Thom Stevenson; illustrator and designer, Luca Bjørnsten; Humberto Cruz (I SCREAM COLOUR); artist and illustrator Kit Agar and interdisciplinary artist and co-op organiser, Ellen Rutt.
Raising awareness for oceans
Founded in 1977, global conservation nonprofit Sea Shepherd is dedicated to taking action against illegal fishing, plastic pollution in the oceans, and marine habitat destruction. Sea Shepherd works to achieve these goals through public education, investigation, documentation, and calls for strict treaties and laws.
In an effort to help them in their cause and raise awareness on the need for protecting the oceans, the social activism brand TOMORROW partnered with the organization for the One Ocean collection.
50% of the proceeds will be donated to Sea Shepherd and the artists the brand has collaborated with.
No such thing as sustainable fishing
In an exclusive interview with Green Queen, founder of Sea Shepherd, Captain Paul Watson said that there is no such thing as sustainable commercial fishing that is being practiced in the world. “They(fishing industries) probably believe that from their point of view, that sustainable fishing is really doing what it is doing. That the fish the corporate fishing industry is selling you, they’d like you to believe that it was caught by a few hardworking individuals out there early in the morning on their little boats, catching those fish and bringing them back to the market. But the reality is giant super-trawlers. Hundred-mile-long gillnets. Long lines, giant driftnets, nets so big that they can fill three school buses full of fish. And in just one haul, dragging and destroying the bottoms with their bare bottom trawlers. This is the reality, it is not the individuals out there and their little boat, which is what the fishing industry would like you to believe.”
He added that awareness about these issues without action is not enough. “Increased awareness was predictable and inevitable because as the situation deteriorates, more people are becoming more aware, and it’s affecting their lives personally. But that awareness doesn’t always translate into action. Unless it really touches you on a personal level. So it’s when, you know, a habitat you love has been destroyed, or your children are affected. Then suddenly, you’re going to become an activist because you don’t have any choice.”
They(fishing industries) probably believe that from their point of view, that sustainable fishing is really doing what it is doing. But the reality is giant super-trawlers. Hundred-mile-long gillnets. Long lines, giant driftnets, nets so big that they can fill three school buses full of fish. And in just one haul, dragging and destroying the bottoms with their bare bottom trawlers
Captain Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd
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The organization’s work will be featured in a new environmental documentary called Fin. Directed by Eli Roth who is behind Knock Knock and Cabin Fever, the film will explore the dark truth regarding the oceans’ sharks where 100 million sharks are slaughtered annually translating to 247,000 sharks being killed each day.
Earlier this year, Sea Shepherd was instrumental in arresting and taking over Damanzaihao – the world’s largest fish factory ship which has the capability to kill 547,000 tons of fish each year.
In 2019, Sea Shepherd received the Distinguished Service Order from the Liberian Ministry of Defense, the highest military award that the ministry gives. It honored the organization for its work in helping the Liberian Coast Guard fight ‘against, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Liberia’.
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Lead image courtesy of TOMORROW.