Let’s get Naked with Wetsuit Brands like Taiwan Sheico, USA Patagonia 2024 range manufactured in Thailand, and Bolde, the first Australian Wetsuit Brand for Women – are all treading water lightly with nature-friendly materials that are biodegradable.
When we think of the life of a wetsuit, it is usually the smell. Rubber. Well, that is my nostalgic memory when snorkeling and sailing as a kid. Today, the global wetsuit industry is diving into the oceans to eradicate carbon footprints of destruction. New Innovations are disrupting the more traditional manufacturers – which hopefully see the need to adapt or be discarded… (not to landfill we hope).
Bolde Founder, Amanda Elizabeth, a Perth-based shark biologist, has launched a bright, bold, and unapologetic wetsuit brand for women called BOLDE. Her wetsuits are made specifically for divers and snorkelers, with the current range including a jacket, springsuit and steamer. All the wetsuits are made from premium, Japanese limestone-based neoprene, a more environmentally friendly option than the traditional petroleum-based neoprene and can be paired with BOLDE’s matching mask and snorkel set, with more accessories to be released soon.
Drawing upon Sheico’s 40+ years of foaming expertise, Sheico’s Innovations is in response to the growing environmental consciousness around the world by developing eco-friendly materials like Aqua α (water-based laminating glue), sustainable fabrics, and OCENA – a Neoprene alternative of a natural rubber foam, using FSC-certified natural rubber and is completely Neoprene-free. Enriched with oyster shell powder and soybean oil, OCENA’s bio-based materials are USDA-certified. What’s more, OCENA contains recycled carbon black derived from scrap tires.
Patagonia water sports apparel brand has recently announced their new wetsuit technology of materials that “won’t just ne recycled- but reincarnated’ to be in the market in 2024.
About a decade ago, Patagonia began to replace neoprene with Yulex, the brand name for a natural rubber produced by drought resistant Hevea trees and Guayule plants grown on non-arable land. The company’s latest wetsuit line, released in September, is 85% Yulex, and rival surf brands have also started to add Yulex and other sustainable materials to their wetsuits. BolderBlack is the newest Tech, where 85% more sustainable than traditional carbon black production used for Wetsuit colouring. At end-of-life, the company will collect wetsuits, remove the zippers and extract the carbon black. The reclaimed material will then be sent to Patagonia’s manufacturer. It’s a circular solution, not just a sustainably sourced or a bio-based material.
More Wetsuit information on:
– Sheico
– Bold
Image: Bolde, Australia
