With over 150 industry rabble rousers and badass women entrepreneurs to choose from, honing in on T9 Movers & Makers Pitchfest semifinalists hasn’t been easy–but some standouts have already risen to the top.
FROM SHREDDING BETTYS TO SHREDDED BOTTLES
Eco fashion entrepreneurs Alexandra Menk and Melissa Gil are all about the ocean: riding its waves, soaking up its song, and preserving it so the next generation can fall in love with it too. Alex, a diver and champion paddle boarder, and Meli, a marine biologist and professional kitesurfer, have spent more hours of their lives in or on the water than they have on dry land. Take their love for surfing, add their mission of sustainability, a lot of spunk, and even more hard work, and the end result is MG Surfline, “waterwear for a plastic free ocean.”
MORE THAN JUST FASHIONABLE SWIMWEAR
MG Surfline turns would-be trash into fashion thanks to a process they call Creative Re-USE. Recycled plastic bottles are transformed into fiber or thread that is used to knit their poly fabrics. Not only is their gear made from this soft, durable recycled poly, most pieces are reversible, making for bikinis, bottoms and more that get twice as much wear. As many as 20 plastic bottles are kept out of the ocean per piece. And, via their community beach clean-up events, Alex and Meli ensure even more bottles are upcycled properly.
MG SURFLINE IS BRINGIN’ IT TO T9 PITCHFEST
Badass female entrepreneurs? Yup. Using personal experience and passion to deliver real-world tested gear to real users? You bet. Upping the ante by making their mission about something much more important than selling a cute bikini? We’re all about it (but we sure like the bikini, too).
Doing things differently isn’t a bad thing at all – just ask our current Movers & Makers. With our upcoming T9 Movers & Makers Pitchfest, we’ll be celebrating even more women and businesses who dare to disrupt norms, take chances, and are willing to wipeout hard. Stay tuned — the Pitchfest fun is just getting started.
These ladies are amazing! I use their bikinis all.. the… time!! Execelebt quality, flattering cuts, beautiful colors. <3 <3.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting both Meli and Alex and their passion and commitment are contagious. Amazing role models too as my 11 yr old daughter loves wearing her ‘kinis and telling all her friends they are made from plastic bottles!
Felicidades Meli para vos y tu socia!! Que pura vida todo lo que están haciendo por la conservación de los mares. Abrazo
Great Humans!
I had the pleasure of participating in a Mangrove/Beach clean up with MG Surfline and I am blown away by the dedication these ladies have for our oceans and water ways. They are humbled to be a nominee and a part of this incredible opportunity.
I had the pleasure of participating in a Mangrove/Beach clean up with MG Surfline and I am blown away by the dedication these ladies have for our oceans and water ways. They are humbled to be a nominee and a part of this incredible opportunity.
An inspiration to all of us. A proof that every single act counts and makes the difference. Amazing women doing what they love, protecting what they love inspiring everyone to do more for our beautiful world. Thanks!!
Leading with innovation, style and fun into the ocean and beyond. Keep up the marvelous ideas and implementation of smart fashions in form, function and sustainability!
These women are a very bright light in this world! Not only do they have a fantastic product that is so well intentioned, their commitment to their community is real and makes a difference. They will shine no matter what but acknowledgements like these only helps them shine brighter!
MG Surfline is a role model for other businesses on how to operate ethically and make your company stand for more then just the products it sells. MG Surfline has outstanding products which in themselves are enough to create a successful business, add that to a responsibly sourced textile and a call to action bigger then the product and you have created a model for other companies to follow. This is what success and responsibility look like in a global market. Thanks MG Surfline for using your success and platform to better the world for everyone.