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.
This is so inspiring! I really hope this small business wins!
What the world needs more of are sustainable fashion and female entrepreneurs. MG Surfline is the best of both of these!
I am such a fan of these two lovely ladies and their brand. I’ve been wearing MG Surfline bikinis and leggings for a while and I love their fit, styles, fabric and durability. Their supply chain engagement, Creative Re-Use, beach cleanups and local environmental campaigns show how they live and breath love for the ocean and for business done right.
Those two are great water women, who accomplished something great with making this beautiful bikini out of used plastic bottles. They are one with the ocean and they try to protect it in an incredible way!
I love MG Surfline! I love not just the brand and their clothes but the amazing, passionate, sweet, hard working people behind it!
Those clothes are awesome!!!! I use all the time to paddle, to bike and I still can go out and feel marvelous!! I love it!!
As a photographer I have spent a lot of time capturing this amazing duo and it has been such a pleasure to see them take their passion for the ocean and combine it with their environmental and business knowledge. They have tapped into the future of sustainable swimwear and are intent on not only living their belief but in educating others to the importance of our planet and how we can all take can active role. The line is phenomenal as our Alex an Meli
It’s rare to find a company where ethics come first. MG Surfline truly cares about our oceans, they care about performance, about comfort and of course fashion. Keep up the great work!!
I LOVE MG surfline! Their design fits perfectly and suits my active lifestyle! The fact that they use sustainable materials and production is the icing on the cake. No other brand compares in my opinion. These two women are amazing from the inside out.
Meli and Alex are two of the most genuine people I know. I worked with Meli for many years at the Department of Environmental Protection. Her passion for the ocean and the environment is something I admire. She has become one of my best friends and I am so proud of her and this business she has created with her friend Alex. They have put themselves into this brand… their love, beauty, passion and compassion is what makes it so special.