Billions of plastic pieces collect in swirling convergences in the ocean from all over the world which makes up about 40 percent of the world’s ocean surfaces. About 80 percent of plastic pollution enters the ocean from land. The disposal of plastic, material that we use in every facet of our lives, is slowly working its way onto the shores of our beaches without us even realizing it. The marine wildlife mistake the plastic for food and now it is being incorporated into our diet. How can we lower the impact of this growing issue?
The perfect collaboration of environmental activism, the fashion industry and a music mogul joining together and creating a way to reuse plastic from the depths of the ocean transformed into innovative denim fabric. Yes, denim made from plastic that can be made into wearable garments for the public to wear. Pharrell Williams is the face of this progressive recyclable plastic project called Raw for the Oceans. The project came from a partnership with the companies of G-Star Raw and Bionic Yarn.
Bionic Yarn uses their expertise to break down the plastic to fibers which is then spun into yarn that is later bound to cotton. G-Star Raw is a Dutch clothing brand which produces urban clothing that specializes in making raw denim. Pharrell Williams, the creative director of Bionic Yarn, serves as the collection’s co-designer. The partnership will result in G-Star integrating Bionic Yarn material into its existing product lines.
G-Star Raw has the line of apparel currently available on their website. The price mirrors the production of the materials and time used to create the garments. As the future progresses and more companies incorporate recyclable plastics into their products, items like these will come to be more affordable. Although this is just one method of reusing the ocean’s plastic, it is definitely a step in the right direction for this ever-growing problem.
