Finnish firm The Other Danish Guy has unveiled a new range boxers and trunks made from fabric fashioned from salvaged flotsam and jetsam, including discarded fishing nets.
Company founder Tommi Lähde says his ‘Discovery Collection’ underwear range have their origin in a genuine desire to protect the marine environment.
Fishing nets – both salvaged from the ocean floor and from commercial fish farms – and other industrial plastic waste, are collected and turned into a special yarn through a process called ‘depolymerisation’, carried out by Italian firm Aquafil.
This yarn is then woven into ‘SmoothShell’ material used in The Other Danish Guy’s undies – described by the firm as a revolutionary fast-drying fabric that has an ‘outstandingly soft touch’ compared to traditional nylon.
Lähde commented: “It’s estimated there’s 640,000 tons of discarded fishing nets in the oceans.
“These fishing nets remain adrift for a substantial amount of time and are responsible for the accidental capture of whales, turtles, birds and other marine mammals.
“This problem only continues to get worse each year.
“And the world’s ‘fast-fashion’ culture is also damaging to the environment.
“According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 15.1 million tons of textile waste is generated yearly, of which 12.8 million tons were discarded.
“For us, using recycled nylon yarn made from ocean garbage was a two-fold decision.
“We want to change the world for the better, and we also discovered that this type of nylon is actually much softer and more comfortable against the skin than traditional nylon. It was a no-brainer.
“Ethical production, and buying habits, can be a counter-reaction to stupid political decisions. We want to be a brand who gives something back.
“We will make all of our future products from materials that are sustainable and eco-friendly.”
The underwear was listed on crowdfunding site Indiegogo earlier this year and seemingly raised more than double its intended target within less than two days.
The firm says the public can still contribute to the project and buy their own pair of eco-undies here https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/premium-undies-made-from-discarded-fishing-nets-fitness-design.
The Other Danish Guy Discovery Collection pants are available to buy from August this year.
