My life-long passion for water sports brought the sea's plastic problem into deep focus, and in 2016 I began to research what could be done to help alleviate that problem. Fashion is one of the largest industries in the world and the second most polluting. We are the first generation to suffer the consequences of climate change, and one of few to take active action to stop it. Setting up OCEANR was about changing the status quo of fast fashion, and introducing a new way of thinking about what we wear. OCEANR stands for Ocean Recycled, and our goal is to minimise the environmental impact fashion has on the planet; subverting the traditional economic model. We do this by making clothing from sustainable and recycled materials, with the same quality and design as its’ non-recycled counterparts.

From conversations with our founder, Tom Cotter, we like to think this journey to reclaim our oceans dates way back to his childhood, when his family would take an annual holiday to the Greek island of Lefkada. His experience there would inform his formative years - becoming an avid sportsman, a budding environmentalist and water sports obsessive.
Fast forward to sunny summers as a young adult spent in Lefkada, experiencing everything from sailing to windsurfing to kayaking and diving, his love for life on water grew stronger. At this time he began to notice something. There was so much plastic floating around, and it felt very disheartening to see the damage it was causing. This feeling stayed with him as he travelled the world’s oceans.

We pride ourselves on using as few natural resources as possible - striving to find a balance between our needs and those of our planet. We use fabrics that save water, turn plastic bottles into durable garments and prepare orders using plastic-free packaging. By using recycled Polyester (PET) we reduce water consumption by 20%, energy consumption by 50% and CO2 emissions by 60%* (*estimated data for recycled PET compared to conventional polyester). Recycled polyester can be recycled again, which is why it is a highly valued material within the circular economy. We use Organic cotton which is grown using methods that have a low environmental impact. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Although trims are just a small part of manufacturing as a whole, we work hard to ensure these are also sustainably produced. Leathers, badges, appliqués, studs, zips and prints can all now be produced using environmentally friendly means.

Certified B Corporations meet the highest stanrdard of verified social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

Certified B Corporations are for-profit businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corp is a certification administered by the non-profit B Lab, which evaluates not just a product or service, but the overall impact of the company.

This differs from other certifications because it takes on a holistic view at business, ensuring that B Corps prioritise the welfare of people and the planet. This certification is very rigorous, so that its logo truly stands for business for good.The B Corp Certification is divided into 5 impact areas: Governance, Workers, Environment, Community, and Customers. The resulting Impact Assessment is then verified through multiple external checks requiring documentation for the questions answered.