The Prada Re-Nylon Revolution Continues with a New Collection for Sea Beyond
It is accompanied by a third series of educational films in collaboration with National Geographic CreativeWorks.
Did you know there’s a whole world of sounds underwater? Little clicks from crustaceans and whistles from marine mammals, used for communication and echolocation. These, together with the environmental acoustics, were gentle and harmonic for millennia, until Man arrived with his machines. All of a sudden, within 50 years, the ocean became a cacophony of mechanical noises, with some activities like seismic surveys for oil and gas producing sonic surges capable of devastating aquatic life.
Such fascinating facts about ocean conservation are explored in the latest instalment of docu-shorts by Prada and National Geographic CreativeWorks, as part of the brand’s Sea Beyond educational program in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Other episodes spotlight issues like ghost fishing, whale shark preservation and kelp reforestation, with all of them leading back to Prada Re-Nylon.
Launched in 2019, the Prada Re-Nylon initiative serves as the brand’s commitment to creating covetable products without using new resources. This is done through regenerated nylon sourced from plastic waste from oceans and landfills, such as discarded fishing nets (or “ghost nets”) that wash ashore. It is a lofty and noble goal, one that Prada achieved by the end of 2021 by converting all of their virgin nylon into Re-Nylon.
The other part of the equation is to simply reduce consumption, which in turn lessens marine litter as well as the search for oil (to produce plastics) through seismic surveys. To that end, the timeless style and durability of Re-Nylon products, coupled with the elevation of nylon to luxury status within Prada, means that these pieces surely stand the test of time.
Besides the always-popular backpack, duffle and shoulder bag styles (the technical material lends itself exceptionally well to portable carriers), the Re-Nylon collection has expanded to include apparel like quilted jackets, bombers and shirts, as well as accessories like bucket hats and ties. You can basically build an entire outfit out of Re-Nylon, one that as functional as it is sophisticated. Additionally, one per cent of Re-Nylon proceed will go to Sea Beyond to fund the next wave of narrative projects to further ocean literacy.
