A supercool socially-conscious brand I discovered and love is Ecoalf, the first fashion brand in Spain to become B Corp, and with stores in Madrid, Berlin, Barcelona, Tokyo and Turin.
As we celebrate World Ocean’s Day, I caught up with Carolina Álvarez-Ossorio, Head of Marketing and Communications at Ecoalf to find out more about what they are doing to help conserve our oceans.
Afdhel Aziz: Carolina, welcome. Please tell us a little about Ecoalf and what its philosophy is?
Carolina Álvarez-Ossorio: Thank you Afdhel, very excited to be speaking with you! Ecoalf was born in 2009 with Javier Goyeneche (president and Founder), both the name and the concept came after the birth of his sons Alfredo and Alvaro! He wanted to create a truly sustainable fashion brand and believed that the most sustainable thing to do was to stop using natural resources in a careless way to ensure those of the next generation. Recycling was a solution if we were able to make recycled products with the same quality and design as the best non-recycled.
I have to say that 10 years later our mission and vision remains intact, with more strength and clarity than ever. After years of R&D and technology we have developed over 400 fabrics using recycled plastic bottles from the bottom of the ocean and inland, recycled nylon, recycled tires, post-consumer cotton and wool, coffee grains.
At Ecoalf, the whole team is convinced that the planet is shaking and we need to act, specially working in the fashion industry which is the second most polluting in the world, we have a responsibility that goes beyond just business, we need to do what is right and feel good about it. It’s a must, not an option.
Aziz: Thank you for sharing that! What are some of the innovations and programs you’ve been proudest of so far?
Álvarez-Ossorio: Well, this is a tough since we are developing very cool collaborations. During the pandemic we faced a very difficult time, but at the same time creativity also flourished and we designed Ecoalf 1.0: the first sustainable premium line. 1.0 is unlimited when it comes to the latest innovation and represents our work over the past 10 years.
The primary material used is our Ocean Yarn. Thanks to our Upcycling the Oceans project we are collecting plastic bottles from the bottom of the ocean and giving it a second life, turning it into high quality coats and elegant accessories (made with a knitted process which avoids fabric wastage). What’s even more exciting is that we are developing a special yarn that releases 0 microfilaments back into the system, a solution to this growing problem in the textile industry.
This minimal and timeless line will carry a QR code for the consumer to understand where it comes from, how it’s made and what’s the impact behind each piece (water savings, CO2 emission savings, etc), all calculated with Bcome Technology!
This line has no limits in technology and will provide design and solutions to the industry.
Aziz: Very cool. Please tell us about what you planning to do for World Ocean’s Day?
Álvarez-Ossorio: In 2015 Javier created the Ecoalf Foundation and embarked on the most ambitious project: Upcycling the Oceans. A worldwide adventure that will help remove marine debris from the bottom of the ocean thanks to the support of the fishermen. The main goal is to recover the trash that is destroying the sea and transform it into top quality yarn to produce garments.
This pioneering initiative has 3 main objectives: to remove marine litter that is damaging the ecosystem, to give a second life to recovered waste with a circular economy view and to raise awareness on about the global issue the ocean is facing. What started with 3 fishermen in 1 port in Spain (Villajoyosa, Coast of Levante), has extended today to more than 40 ports across the Spain with the voluntary support of more than 3,000 fishermen collecting more than 700 tons of waste from the bottom of the ocean.
This revolutionary project was replicated in Thailand (on 5 islands) and is currently extending into Greece (to 20 ports) and Italy. Our mission is to collaborate with more than 10,000 fishermen and clean the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea by 2025. For the World Oceans Day, we have created a short documentary and a digital exhibition that showcases the portraits of these fishermen, giving them a voice to share what they witness on a day to day basis and raise awareness on the state of our oceans.
This Ode to Our Ocean Heroes will allow them to share their story and their plea to join the effort in tackling global plastic pollution. These 3,000 fishermen have accomplished so much, but if we all incorporate their daily decision to be part of the solution rather than the problem, we can make a deeper change. Together, we can save our oceans.
Aziz: I love this tribute. And please tell us more about your collaboration with Formula E?
Álvarez-Ossorio: I think collaborations are key to accelerate change and we need to come together with different industries and stakeholders that row in the same direction. Other industries are also eager to change, and Formula E is the perfect example of high performance and innovation to work for a cleaner future. As of this November, Ecoalf will become Rokit Venturi Racing’s Official Lifestyle Partner starting in Season 8! While the team advances in clean mobility we are developing a very cool uniform made with recycled materials that save tons of liters of water and carbon emissions. These innovative and top-quality recycled fabrics not only provide a sleek look, but promote a new, sustainable way of living. To give you an idea each button-down shirts made with recycled cotton saves 403 liters of water.
Aziz: Finally, what advice do you have for other socially conscious companies out there who want to follow your path?
Álvarez-Ossorio: Well, it’s never easy, and they probably know this, but I think it’s about people and education. It’s important to have a very clear vision and mission and to surround yourself with energetic, passionate, solution driven, ambitious and positive minds. I would also suggest to invest time in education. We need to understand why the path needs to change first, identify where the problem originates and start integrating change at the core of each business and project, educating ourselves but also and more importantly the younger generations.