As seen in: The huffington Post, ABC Radio, The Sunshine Coast Daily, Summersite, Life and Style Magazine, My Weekly Preview, The fashion angle
Who Is OCEANZEN
OceanZen bikini was inspired through a raw and sincere passion for the ocean, but more importantly was inspired through discovering how polluted our oceans are. I’ve been involved with some incredible research projects along with working in the environmental industry for the last 7 years, exclusively with humpback whales and marine conservation education.
Through my experience, I learned of the effects humans were having on the ocean. Research shows that only 1 in 5 plastic bottles actually get recycled after single use and every second approximately 1,500 plastic bottles end up either in the ocean or in waste landfills. Our oceans are becoming heavily impacted from marine debris, which often consists of single- use plastic; plastic bottles, plastic bags, plastic straws, all of which can potentially take up to 1000 years to break down.
These items are few of many items reffered to as Marine Debris which can sadly entangle, injure or kill marine life.
SCARY STATS ABOUT OUR OCEAN:- 300,000 marine mammals such as dolphins and porpoises die each year from entanglement of fishing nets
- Over 1 million sea birds are killed each year from plastic ingestion
- 35 billion plastic water bottles are thrown away every year in the USA
- 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
I am a passionate, ocean conservationist and Environmental Scientist and launched OceanZen 3 years ago. OceanZen is a sustainable swimwear label that uses recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets (recycled nylon) from the ocean which supports a cleaner, healthier sea, whilst also raising awareness for current marine projects and environmental issues.
Photo taken by Steph in the Galapagos Islands of a baby sea lion playing with fishing nets
Why do we need funding?
Every purchase you make helps support a cleaner ocean by using a fabric that recycles discarded oceanic waste into a sustainable fabric.
I launched OceanZen is 2014 whilst studying full-time at uni and juggling two environmental industry related jobs from wanting a voice for sustainability. Here I am, 3 year’s later and growing organically through my message to protect our oceans.
Below are some photos of our current sustainable swimwear collection :)
(FYI this is not a real starfish)
Example of the eco-water bottle in design phase 1.
$40,000 Tipping Point Goal
WE WANT TO MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT: As we grow and begin to ship across international waters into countries only dreamed, we need to produce more stock. The sustainable fabric is more expensive to produce due to the recycling system of repurposing recycled fishing nets and plastic bottles, and therefore we can only afford limited quantities. With every bikini purchase, our customers are reminded with a strong message of how they can help save the ocean and we want to keep doing GOOD for our oceans, by having more girls rocking our sustainable bikini's.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: The brand is small and completely self- funded, however has caught the attention of an incredible entrepreneurial program held by RICHARD BRANSON! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to join Richard Branson for a week of business coaching and intensive training with 30 other entrepreneur business owners from around the world. This is a rare opportunity to learn, leverage and grow OceanZen into a global network and help positively impact our environment and oceans on a larger scale, with the opportunity to pitch to potential investors!
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: We envision OceanZen to be more than bikinis! We would love to design and create more sustainable products that can positively impact our environment. We are in the design phase of launching our sustainable eco-water bottle to encourage our customers to say no to single-use plastic bottles, and would love to launch this product in October. Globally, 80 BILLION plastic water bottles are produced annually with 80% of those ending in landfill or the oceans, which then potentially take anywhere from 500-1000 years to break down.
Where your moola will go!
When we raise $40,000, we will be able to:
- Get our next sustainable collection off the ground.
- Produce our sustainable eco-water bottle.
- Get OceanZen founder/Environmental Scientist Steph over to Richard Branson’s Entrepreneurial Program.
ING DIRECT will donate $15,000 only IF the tipping point of $40,000 is reached!
We are reaching for the stars and working really hard to reach our......
$60,000 Stretch Goal
Our ultimate goal is to help save the ocean, in as many ways as possible, as fast as we can.
- Will cover our ‘8 ways to save the ocean’ film included in some of our pledge rewards, which will help educate viewers how they can make small changes to their lifestyle that will make a BIG difference to the environment.
- Our dream is to align with a marine conservation organisation in a partnership and collaborate with an event and product to raise awareness on a global scale. We want the world to know about the threats our oceans face and help be the change!
- Contribute to branching out our sustainable swimwear styles into more variety for ALL ages.. Yup we want to bring out a matching mums and bubs range!
- MIAMI SWIM WEEK! The largest and most internationally recognised swim show in the world, we would love to rock the catwalk in our sustainable bikinis, drawing attention to the global issue of marine debris. We want to strut that catwalk representing our message for sustainability with the strongest voice and DISRUPT THE FASHION INDUSTRY!!! Our stretch goal won't completely fund Miami swim week, however it would set us up through the application process and event foundations.
- If we reach our tipping point we will donate 10% of profits to a non-profit, marine conservation organisation that aligns with our values for a cleaner ocean.
If we sadly don’t reach our tipping point target goal of $40,000 then all funds raised will go towards the next swimwear collection as a priority. As a goal we will continue to work towards our other envisions products.
WHY SHOULD YOU SUPPORT OCEANZEN BIKINI?
* We are sustainable! We are saving the ocean, one bikini at a time!! Every bikini piece is made from a recycled yarn with fishing nets, plastic bottles, carpet fluff etc. That’s less rubbish in the ocean!! (Imagine if everything we wore was recreated from something old)??!!
* Our dye is eco-friendly. Toxic dyes are not only bad for us, but also leach into the environment!! We can’t have that!!
* We don’t use plastic packaging. Plastic is not fantastic! We pack all of our bikinis to ship to our customers in sustainable, recycled cardboard pillow boxes. We are not a fan of branded single use plastic that will literally be used for a few seconds!! Nuh uh!
* Our business supports a seamstress family in Bali that would otherwise not have work.
From my travels around the world to third world countries, I have seen poverty and I believe that money needs to be shared in this world. How will the poor become rich if we choose not to support those in need? The family follows strict ethical business practices and is paid beyond fair trade prices, and in AUD! Our business supports the livelihood of this beautiful family and in addition we are actively supporting the community.
* We are changing the world! We are inspiring change and encouraging consumers to think about waste. It’s the best feeling in the world when we hear customers say they are saying no to plastic bags now!! By raising awareness for sustainability we are inspiring communities to make small changes to their lifestyle which make a BIG difference!
* We are scientists! Not only are our bikinis made from recycled oceanic waste, but we are scientists and conservationists creating REAL change! We aren't just a bikini label, we are a credible, game changing, rule breaking, ocean saving brand.
WANT TO JOIN OUR JOURNEY?
I will be completely humbled by any donation, and apart from feeling awesome knowing you have contributed to help saving our oceans, we also have some awesome exclusive rewards on offer to say THANK YOU!
You can join our journey by:
- Sharing our campaign with your friends and community through facebook, Instagram, email, word of mouth or any creative outlet or platform you have.
- Support OceanZen by making a donation and helping us to 'startsomegood'.
Help us help save the ocean, one bikini at a time!
DO YOU LOVE OUR MESSAGE FOR THE OCEAN? Join our community of ocean lovers!!
Website: www.oceanzenbikini.com
Instagram: @oceanzen_bikini
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceanzenbikini/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/oceanzenbikini
