eden-magazine-issue-26-summer-2015

From bottles to boardshorts:how one British brand is transforminglitter into luxury swimwearLou Herring, Sustainability Director,Riz BoardshortsAn estimated 8 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans each year – equivalentto 3% of the world’s total plastic production. In the UK, only 50% of the 15 millionbottles consumed each day are recycled. Riz Boardshorts are working to raiseconsumer awareness of the value of recycling and to find a valuable use forplastic bottles washed up on our beaches.Riz Boardshorts is a sustainable surfandswimshort company founded bysurfers and sailors Riz Smith and AliMurrell, who grew up on the coastof Devon. After years working inthe fashion and finance industriesthey came together to combine theirpassion for the ocean with a desireto create: ‘the most beautiful andenvironmental boardshorts in theworld’. Inspired by the idea of SavilleRow for surf, the shorts have a tailoredfeel and incorporate a ‘British-Hawaiian’ print style.‘Our USP comes from fusing surf,style and sustainability,’ says Riz.‘Being a menswear designer and asurfer, I like the idea of a short thatfunctions perfectly in the ocean yethas a more refined design aesthetic.’Riz’s current season of shortsinclude an Endangered Garden printdedicated to, and supporting, the EdenProject: ‘The idea behind our printscame from giving a British twist tosomething typically tropical, bringingthe surf scene up to date. The BritishEndangered Species series has beenreally interesting and fun to do. It’sour way of telling stories and raisingawareness of the natural world aroundus.’From its inception, an essentialpart of the Riz brand has been tocreate stylish, sophisticated surfwearthat has a minimal impact on theenvironment. The shorts are madefrom 100%recycled polyester derivedfrom post-consumer plastic bottles –using 20 plastic bottles to make eachpair. Their Rizcycle scheme also allowscustomers to return their old shortswhen they are worn out in return for adiscount off their next pair; creating avirtuous 360-degree ‘Rizcycling’ loop.All the shorts returned are rehomed orrecycled by the Riz team.16