Sustainable Design: Sealand Gear

WORDS Steve Smith

Inspired by actual waves and making idiomatic ones, eco-brand Sealand Gear is making a splash on the local and international urban adventure scene.

Driven by sustainability and environmental awareness, Cape Town-based brand Sealand Gear produces a range of bags handmade from upcycled yacht sails, Bedouin stretch tents, advertising banners, recycled plastic bottles and other durable materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill and take years – or even centuries – to biodegrade.

Founders Mike Schelbach and Jasper Eales are both passionate surfers who have translated their love for adventure into a growing business that in 2019 enjoyed a watershed year. The young brand expanded from its kiosk at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, to launch its first “experience store” at nearby Dock Road Junction, as well as getting stocked on international online stores Mr Porter, Matches Fashion, END Clothing and Liberty London.

“With our local online store getting more and more orders from New York, Colorado and California, our major initiative is to build a direct online business in the US. We’re also working with sustainable fashion store It’s All Good Folk where, along with a few like-minded brands, we’ll be part of a store-in-store set-up located in the new Thomas Heatherwick-designed Coal Drops Yard in London’s Kings Cross.”

Exciting things are happening locally too, including the release of the seasonal collection ranges previously only available on the global online stores mentioned earlier, a tote bag with sneaker brand Vans, and an eco-sneaker collab that we’ll tell you more about in June.

For more information and to shop online, visit sealandgear.com.

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