Surf – Reduce Reuse Recycle – let’s do this!

I really think that as lovers of all things water, be it surfing, paddling, kayaking or windsurfing. In part it is our duty to raise awareness about the plastic pollution in the ocean. The time has come when it is finally much easier to do this. I would much rather invest in a surf leash that is made from recycled plastics than contribute to more waste. Wouldn’t you? Wave Tribe makes such a leash and we are lucky enough to test it in the waters and are already so impressed! Another amazing plus is Wave Tribe gives you a one year guarantee on the leash. I don’t know any leash brand that does that.

surf leash made from recycled plastics
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Honestly there is no reason any surfer should still be using wax with petroleum in it when we have an eco friendly option. This wax is made from organic beeswax and coconut oil. Simply the better choice. So let us protect our waters and support brands such as these.

Surf wax made from bees wax, non toxic
Here at Wave Tribe, we do our part by making it our mission to keep oceans safe from toxic surfing. We do this by creating stylish and eco-friendly surfing gear and products so that you don’t have to worry about harming the ocean while enjoying the benefits of surfing. – Wave Tribe

I often find myself wondering how we can do more. There are some really simple steps to being a more conscious surfer. We can always do a beach clean up after a good session. Or simply tell other surfers about brands like Wave Tribe, you can help us create that wave. Come be a part of our tribe.

We took it upon ourself to find an old second hand board… And paid very little for it. We figured that if it didn’t have the chance to go back in the water at least we would hang it on our wall as decoration. Well Iñaki worked hard on it, sanding it down several times and fixing the dings and dents (thank you Ding King for letting him use your space), we weren’t sure how it would hold up. Now just a few weeks after fixing it, not only did we find out that it was worth quite a bit of money, but I have been catching waves with it like crazy. Pretty much every time I take it out someone offers to buy it.

It is not for sale, it was a gift to me. I hope one day our son will get to use it, the hours of love and dedication that went in to it do not have a price in my eyes. It is by far one of the greatest birthday gifts I have ever been given.

The whole point of sharing this story however, even though there are some really nice Eco friendly surfboards surfacing on the market, and I am sure we will enjoy trying them at some point. There is something really magical about taking someone else’s trash and turning into your very own treasure.

To finish off this beauty of a board we were so excited to add our sustainable leash by Wave Tribe. So what can I say other than we are stoked and yes we’ve both been using the board now.

Have you refurbished something recently that you would like to inspire us with? We are always eager to hear your stories!

Thanks for reading and hopefully we will see you in the waves sooner rather than later.

Sustainably yours,

Eco Couple

P.S Thanks to Silversurfer72 we have just found out that this is a Skippy Slater model Takayama board!

If you liked this article check out our other article on sustainable surf apparel.

Takayama Surfboard refurbished, reused, and loved

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Best sustainable brands of summer 2020

I had so much fun discovering these fun, eco-friendly, super fashionable sustainable brands of summer 2020. We are so impressed with how many brands are making eco-friendly, sustainable choices in their businesses. We thank you so much for making these amazing products and sharing them with the world. Always keeping our environment in mind.

For the Dreamers

wearing a bikini made from recycled fishing nets one of my top sustainable brands of summer 2020
¨FOR THE DREAMERS is proud to be a brand built from the ground up with sustainability at its heart. Our swimwear is made from regenerated nylon fiber from fishnets and other nylon waste found in the sea. Not only does this eco-friendly swimwear help reduce waste and landfill, but it also helps save the lives of animals we share the oceans with.¨
 

It is such a pleasure for us to share these very special brands that we have come across after many hours of research and truly finding companies that are aligned with our values as well as being, trendy fashionable and for me (one of the most important features) comfortable! This particular swimsuit brand For the Dreamers is the most luxurious bikini I have ever owned, it is so soft and silky yet sturdy enough for me to go surfing in it. I am obsessed, and it is reversible which I love even more. Honestly I have my eye on the on a few more from this brand because I am so impressed with the fabrics and not to mention the super classy packaging. I feel like I am wearing sexy lingerie but really its a bikini!

This is all the same bikini worn different ways and I still have not even gotten around to trying the different ways of wearing the straps. We truly hope you get to experience the luxury of owning one of these suits and at the same time feel good about purchasing from a brand that is fully sustainable and eco-friendly.

Maria Malo

Wearing an organic red dress by www.mariamalo.com

I have been a huge fan of this brand for years now, and I am not going to lie my wardrobe is probably about 30% Maria Malo, not only because I love the fabrics, designs and comfort of her timeless pieces, but also because I love the woman behind this brand and everything she stands for. Just like her collections, she is a woman with passions, sensibilities, embracing life fully and along with that she really can outfit you for any occasion. Weddings, beach parties, the Cannes film festival or simply an epic surf session, she has it all. Her love for nature and the ocean reflects in her brand and that is one of the many reasons why I love her. If you are ever in Bali go check out her amazing new flagship store.

I have not traveled to a beach without these shorts since I discovered them (I need more 🙂
Dress by Maria Malo and stroller made from recycled bottles Bumble Ride for more on the stroller see HERE

Swell Vision

Light weight, classy and sustainably made with bamboo, you can barely feel you are even wearing glasses. They are polarized and look just as good on him than they do on her, if I may say so myself 🙂 What we most love about this brand is their dedication to our future generations, Swell Vision is a sponsor for the Green School in Bali, supporting our future green change-makers. So we highly recommend them for their products as well as their support to our green community.

With each product sold we are working together to leave this place better than we found it, by creating and promoting a sustainable consumer culture. Thank you for standing with Swell and voting with your dollar to make a positive impact on the future of our planet. – Swell Vision

We recommend people to wear polarized sunglasses because they protect the eyes from U/V Rays. So next time you are shopping for glasses find the sustainable way and feel good about what you paid.

Mirame Swim

Mirame is a direct translation from Spanish.  It is a command statement that means “Look at Me.”  Melinda chose this name because it is confident, powerful, and sexy.  When a woman walks down the beach wearing a Mirame suit, people won’t be able to help but look.
 

We discovered Mirame Swim very recently but they have already earned a place in our hearts. The collection is super original and she also uses fabrics that she rescues from ending up in a landfill. I spend so much time in the sun that I really like a little coverage, especially if I am at the beach in the middle of the day.

I love the feel of this piece and I have to be honest, every single time I have worn it someone on the beach asks me where I got it! Which we love, because that leads us into the conversation of supporting brands such as these. What is really great about these suits, is that you can also throw on a cute skirt or shorts and you are ready for a fancy dinner! Especially with some of her very fancy swim tops, check her site to see what we are talking about.

So wether you are sipping on a glass of white wine at the cote d´azure or jumping in the ocean for a quick session, Mirame has the right suit for you!

Soloeyewear

Solo eyewear is also on our list, with amazing polarized lenses that make the world look a whole lot nicer when you look through them. They work with repurposed wood, repurposed bamboo and Cellulose Acetate (Cellulose acetate is an eco-friendly material made from cellulose obtained from wood produced in sustainably managed forests . After disposal, it returns to nature through the activity of water and microorganisms.)

At SOLO Eyewear, we create environmentally responsible sunglasses that restore vision for people in need. We strongly believe in living a life of adventure and inspiring individuals to change the world – Solo eyewear

So as you can see they are not only doing the right thing but they are giving back to the world, helping people in need. Can you imagine a world where we all did that? We can make that happen by supporting these amazing brands that are truly making a difference, and casting our vote where we spend our money.

I really want to remind people how important each and every one of our actions is, and the impact it has. We have been researching the sustainable world for almost a decade now and it is so wonderful to see all these amazing brands, and the people behind them, supporting each other and the mission to give back to our earth! Thank you!!!! For if you are reading this you are a part of my soul family… thank you for taking the time to research for the better option.

Solo has also developed a pair of glasses that protects your eyes from blue rays, with a clip on sunglasses part. They have also shared with us a secret new product and we very much look forward to sharing it with you as soon as they are ready!

Barzee Swim

These beautiful beach towels speak for themselves. The story behind why Barzee was created is also really touching, thank you for sharing your story with us Barzee.

I am a mom and going to the beach with a toddler can be a bit of a mission. I was not aware that there were towels in the world, that dried quickly, don’t collect sand and are light to carry. Sound like a dream come true? These towels really do all that, and aesthetically they are absolutely beautiful. You can use them at the beach, by the pool or even as cozy blanket when the sun starts setting.

Atlantis new favourite sentence is ¨Breast in towel Mommy¨ that means he wants to be wrapped up in the Barzee and breastfeed on the beach! So I guess my Barzee was just stolen from me. I am alright with that, we will be sure to get a few more so we don’t have to fight about them. Not only is the story of Barzee a beautiful one but 15% of ALL profits go to providing clean drinking water and restoring eyesight in developing countries.

After using these towels for the last few weeks and learning more about the mission of this brand we 100% approve and recommend you try a Barzee towel.

Here at Barzee, in Nicholas’ memory,  we are committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of the less fortunate. After careful consideration, we have partnered with several highly rated, accountable and transparent charities with proven records in developing countries.- Barzee

 

Wool and Prince and Wool and

These photos are not retouched! I know I know the water is a really nice color, but seriously how about the T-shirt! Iñaki absolutely loves it, he is even teaching yoga in it! This brand was a really fun find for us, as you can imagine living on an island you really don’t think about wearing merino wool.

To our surprise Merino wool is actually great, its quick drying, temperature regulating, breathable and odor resistant. So to top it off you don’t have to wash it that much, an all in all super find for our capsule wardrobes. It feels super soft to the touch and has a certain weight in it which I really like in a t-shirt. I have been looking for the right black tank top, the one you can wear to any occasion. This one is extra convenient because you can wear it back to front and change the neck line. They also carry it in off white and I think that is a good place to start using less clothing.

So I have to say the pockets are the best part of this dress but I am also excited to take it with me to colder climates. I could see myself in Berlin on a winter day in tights, a scarf and a big oversized jacket slurping on a hot chocolate too! We are really grateful about the merino wool discovery and are already looking for Atlantis to get onboard the island wool crew! Less washing, less resources, and better options.

Somebody said to me today ¨I am buying all these products and I feel really good about my purchases- Thank you!¨that made my day because that is our mission here at @ecocouple to make people feel good about when they do need to purchase something and to raise awareness about how things are made, how, and where it goes when we are done with it. We also always encourage second hand purchases, and swapping with friends.

A small way we can really help all these brands is by following them, each other, on social media channels, liking and commenting on their products, sharing it with friends. This way we will always expand our eco conscious family a little more. If you liked this post you also may really love ¨Support sustainable brands on Hawaii¨

Thank you for reading.

Sustainably yours,

Eco Couple

Best 5 looks with a Sustainable Capsule Wardrobe

We all love a good Spring Cleaning every now and then. I really love the concept of a sustainable ¨Capsule Wardrobe.¨ The term was coined by Susie Faux in the 1970’s A Capsule wardrobe consists of a collection of essential items that do not go out of style, that you can mix and match in many different ways. Saving you time, figuring out what to wear, and most importantly money. We are focusing on how to move towards the sustainable Capsule Wardrobe, for me this is a dream come true!

sustainable capsule wardrobe jeans and black reversible tshirt

I will be featuring pictures from Pic Style out of the UK in this article and also take a look at Vetta Capsule if you are interested in some great basics. I must say we have very much have fallen in love Pic Style….. so many ways to wear these amazing pieces. 8 pieces = more than 50 outfits… how cool is that! Here are a few!

In the meantime let’s talk about how to evolve your very own wardrobe into something more manageable and hopefully more ethically conscious. I once heard a fun tip to start misting out the closet….If you turn all your hangers the other way around….and in one year check on what you have not worn….that is a really nice way of moving on from some of your clothing items.

Always sharing these items with friends or donating them to a good cause. As they say ¨one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.¨ I am very lucky in that respect as I have several friends that know me well enough and call me to come take a look when they are cleaning out their wardrobe!

The minimalist approach can seem overwhelming when it comes to clothes, but you would be surprised if you actually wrote down what you wore every day you would notice that you often repeat the clothes you really love and neglect a far larger percentage of what you own. So why not start donating the things you do’t wear and simplify your wardrobe.

Some companies have made this easier by creating a Capsule Wardrobe and helping you with ideas of how to wear them…they are especially great when you can wear them inside out or back to front to create new looks. We had the opportunity to do a lovely photoshoot with a few of PicStyle pieces…. I made a point to take these pictures with my sister who is twenty years younger than me, to show how ageless and timeless these pieces truly are. I hope you like them!

I am thrilled to say that there are so many exciting brands that are gearing towards this kind of wardrobe and that is what we thrive on over here @ecocouple For some more fun pieces take a browse through one of our recent posts ¨Favourite Sustainable Brands 2020¨

We would love to hear about your capsule wardrobe!

Love,

Sanny

Eco-Friendly Bedding

If you stop and think about the fact that you spend almost a whole third of your life in Bed ….Do you not deserve to be lying in what is the best bed and bedding ever?

We believe it is essential to sleep with comfortable and healthy, organic bedding and our always on the lookout for brands that are aligned with nature! Lana Care has introduced us to a fibre we knew nothing about. Kapok (Ceiba) fabric, it is super cozy and it’s function is very innovative. Kapok fiber is harvested from the fluffy fiber surrounding the seeds of the tropical kapok tree. One of the things I personally like is that the Ceiba plant is like horses hair, hollow on the inside, which makes it breathable. It wicks moisture away throughout the night. Which is incredibly important as we all sweat at night. It is also referred to as the lightest fibre in the world. It is extra fluffy and comfy.

We are thrilled with Kapok (Ceiba) through and want to thank our friends over at Lana Care for sending us the lovely duvet…. It feels like silk!

“Sleep is the best meditation” – Dalai Lama

We encourage you, if you cannot currently buy a new organic mattress atleast invest in an organic topper and enjoy some extra special cozy bedding for an extra special nights rest, every night! Good night!

 

Awesome Eco-Friendly Acupressure Mat by Spoonk

Accupresse Mat by Spoonk

Years ago…I met someone that changed my life… he worked with Marma Therapy and an accupressure mat, I had just had a horrible accident and was having difficulty healing my torn hamstring. I was explained that I needed to get the blood flowing in that area….and voila.. I was introduced to my first acupressure mat. I used it to put pressure on the area and get the circulation moving. I then discovered how wonderful I felt by simply walking on it every morning for a few minutes. I remember distinctly breaking out in a a sweat the first time I walked for about three minutes…I felt activated and alive my injury healed very soon after.

Years later on my trip to Maui, we had rented a house from a friend of ours, she had the Spoonk mat, I remembered my old mat that I eventually lost on my travels. When looking into the company I found that this was the new and improved version….made from hemp and ABS plastic….

Photo from Spoonkspace

this was right up my alley. I had to contact with the company right away. Well what can I say…we hit it off!!! Not only do they have mat in all sizes….they also carry A magnetic roller that just feels amazing when you roll it down your back! Use it before yoga or before throwing on a pair of heels!

Acupressure mat
Picture from SpoonkSpace
I have recently started using it also for better sleep by lying on it before going to bed...which is imperative at this point of my life...being a new mother and all. What I most love is what I mentioned earlier...to lightly tread on the Mat first thing in the morning. I can feel it activating every part of me.  When you first start out you may want to wear light socks. 

Update: I have been using the mat for over a year now, and honestly I love it so much, even if I feel a headache coming on, I roll it up and place it under my neck, and the headache just goes away! I truly recommend this product!

Get yours here SPOONKSPACE and use code ECOCOUPLE for a discount …….. and they ship WORLDWIDE!

Eco Couple uses affiliate links. If you make a purchase using a link we may receive a commission. Such revenue helps keep this website running, helps us pay our growing core team and allows us to keep the content free for readers and keeps us on our mission to inspire conscious consumerism.

Spoonk