Clean Waves Summer 2021 drop
Clean Waves returns for Summer 2021 with all-new materials derived from reclaimed fishing nets and an exclusive limited edition by artist and activist M.I.A.
Working with our partner Corona we first launched Parley’s debut Clean Waves collection back in 2018. The limited series of prototype sunglasses was created from upcycled plastic types not normally upcycled, and sold out almost instantly. Today, things have evolved with a new focus on protecting marine life – incorporating all-new materials made from polyamide fishing nets and ropes – a key threat to life in the oceans.
The Summer 2021 drop features our flagship collaboration with British / Sri Lankan artist and activist Mathangi ‘Maya’ Arulpragasam – aka M.I.A. – who first joined the Parley movement during a Parley Ocean School session in the Maldives. Seeing these remote islands and the impact of plastic on fragile ecosystems and island communities spawned a collaboration that saw Maya working with Parley and our material innovators to develop a unique set of modular sunglasses with interchangeable ZEISS lenses on frames made from reclaimed fishing nets.
“I've always shied away from putting my name to anything that promotes a lot of consumption,” explains Maya. “People ask me to make clothes and shoes or make this and make that, but I didn't want to commit to producing a ton of stuff for the sake of it. So this is me dipping my toe into producing something ethically. These glasses are a symbol. They’re designed to be timeless; they’re not just a trendy thing for one season, they’re something meaningful.”
“Every Clean Waves collection is designed to provoke a future of creativity, collaboration and eco-innovation — with the goal of creating a world where humans live in peace with the ecosystems of nature.”
Cyrill Gutsch — Founder & CEO of Parley
GPS coordinates are linked to specific islands
Photographers Inez & Vinoodh shot the launch campaign and accompanying film with M.I.A. to promote the new collection, which is available exclusively online at cleanwaves.com, at Selfridges in London and in select Dover Street Market locations globally.
The new range also include a core ‘Archetype’ series by Parley that comes in two styles. Both come in seven colors inspired by oceans, islands and key Parley programs – ranging from Kelp and Coral to Deep Space and White Flag. 100% of net proceeds from every Clean Wave sale supports the expansion of our remote island cleanups, education and infrastructure projects. Parley’s Global Cleanup Network reached its goal of protecting 100 islands globally by 2020, and now plans to extend this goal with Clean Waves and reach 1000 islands around the world – beginning with a series of locations dotted throughout the atolls of the Maldives.
To connect consumers with the remote islands they are helping clean up, GPS coordinates are subtly engraved on every Clean Waves product. Through their purchase, consumers help protect these areas by supporting Parley projects and receive updates and exclusive content from the area. The new editions directly support cleanups on some of the most remote of the Maldives’ 1200 islands – distant atolls and archipelagos that are rich in marine diversity, but among the most vulnerable to marine plastic pollution. Lost or dumped fishing gear and marine plastic debris poses a major threat to the environment. While animals ingest plastic debris or get entangled in it, even the disposal of trash through open field incineration – a common practice on remote islands – can impact marine life and local communities.
“Plastic is everywhere – it’s a design failure that harms sea life and human health,” says Parley founder Cyrill Gustch. “While we can’t phase it out overnight, we can stop making more. Clean Waves is the urgently needed platform where creators support our movement by designing products from Ocean Plastic® – our premium material made from upcycled marine plastic debris.”
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