When it comes to fashion, we’ve seen some pretty weird stuff. We actually thought we’d just about seen it all, until we heard about a new swimwear line made of material created from plastic water bottles.
Mike and Alex Faherty are twins from New York City who launched their eco-friendly beach and bathing suit company, Faherty Brand, just over a month ago. Since its release, they have received press from The Today Show, E! News, GQ, The New York Times, Men’s Health, Vogue, and Elle, just to name a few.
“The inspiration behind the brand is the beach. We are two guys who live for our time at the beach and we wanted to kind of create this brand for people who [feel the same way],” Alex Faherty says.
The brothers play different but equal roles in the company. Mike is in charge of the design process. He acquired his designing skills at Ralph Lauren where he worked for seven years, learning which materials were best for high quality production. Alex handles the business marketing and sales side of the business.
The designs for the swimwear are inspired by prints the brothers have seen during their travels to Indonesia, Japan, and Sri Lanka. Alex describes the swimwear as a mix between fashion and function; they look great, feel great, and they are comfortable to swim and be active in.
Plus, of course, they’re environmentally friendly. Faherty Brand’s signature recycled-plastic-bottle fabric is essentially polyester, the same material that standard swimsuits are made with (without the recycling element). The catch is that Faherty Brand designs use about two-thirds less energy and almost 90 percent less water in their production than do swimsuits made with non-recycled polyester. And as far as the Fahertys are concerned, this is just the begininng. “I think there is going to continue to be a big movement toward making clothing that is better for the environment,” Alex says.
In July the brothers will launch a line of soft organic cotton T-shirts for men and women, and they hope to have a whole collection by next year. “The quality is as good as anything out there, but at the heart and soul of it is this laid back beach lifestyle that we live for,” Alex says. To purchase this trendy new product, go to their website at fahertybrand.com. If you want to see the styles in person, head to the Alley on June 7 from 5-8 p.m. for the Faherty Brand launch event.
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