It is estimated that more than eight million tonnes of plastic, including harmful fishing nets, end up in our oceans every year. As younger generations lead the charge in demanding eco-friendly fashion and environmental first initiatives from brands, we can expect to see more recycled fashion in the future.
Consider how you can help impact these grim statistics in a positive way by bringing upcycled fashion into your wardrobe and how brands like Arise Collective that are paving the way for change.
Arise Collective joined forces with WWF-Australia to help protect and conserve Australia’s marine wildlife. One of the last commercial gill nets was removed from the Northern Great Barrier Reef and a pair of glamorous, sustainable ReefCycle sunglasses were launched. They upcycled old fishing nets from the Great Barrier Reef and cut, melted and moulded them into sustainable sunglasses now selling from $89.
Is upcycling like recycling?
Upcycling is using different products to make something new and better. For example, upcycling clothes into shopping bags!
Recycling is transforming a used product into a new version of the same thing. For example, recycling junk mail into paper to use for printing.
Some clever brands leading the charge in the fashion space include:
- Patagonia: The outdoor clothing brand leads the sustainable fashion world having started using recycled plastic bottles to make their garments back in 1993!
- Urban Outfitters: Have a sub-clothing line that revamps deadstock materials that typically end up in landfill into unique clothing pieces
- WWF-Australia x Arise Collective: The conservation organisation and eyewear brand joined forces to create upcycled sunglasses
Why consider Upcycled sunglasses this season?
Buying a pair of ReefCycle keeps commercial gill nets out of our oceans.
Help protect over 98,000 marine animals: It’s estimated that 98,000 of our precious marine life are caught by commercial gill nets on Queensland’s east coast every year. Buying a pair of ReefCycle keeps commercial gill nets out of our oceans.
Continue to remove harmful plastics from our oceans:
The more sunglasses that are sold, the more proceeds will go towards funding WWF-Australia conservation work, like advocacy for a Net-Free North.
Well, they are stylish and come in a range of options to suit everyone, even Dad.
Full choice of lens options: The upcycled glasses are available with both non-prescription and prescription lenses as well as polarized or non-polarized. Plus, choose from a range of colours including black, brown or green tinted lenses.
Shop them here now or try them on before you buy them with Vision Direct’s Virtual Try-On tool by selecting your favourite and selecting ‘selfie view’.
Reduce, reuse, upcycle!
