Waterlust this week unveiled a line of SpongeBob Squarepants apparel that protects the ocean and celebrates the eponymous sea character’s origin story.
The collaboration is part of Paramount Consumer Products and Nickelodeon’s global ocean conservation and sustainability initiative: SpongeBob SquarePants Operation Sea Change.
The line consists of swimwear made from recycled materials that feature the iconic artwork of Bikini Bottom and an organic cotton T-shirt printed with algae ink that shows the biologically accurate depictions of the show’s characters.
Dr. Patrick Rynne, a marine physicist and Waterlust’s founder and CEO, explains:
“This has been such an exciting project for our small business. Being able to help Paramount Consumer Products reinvent how they do business from the perspective of sustainability while also celebrating an iconic show with its deep roots in marine education, it’s exactly the kind of initiative we’re proud to be a part of.”
In a nod to Bikini Bottom history, 10% of profits from the line will be donated to the Ocean Institute (OI) in Dana Point, California, the marine education non-profit where SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg worked in the 1980’s and developed the earliest versions of the characters to help children learn about the ocean.
According to OI President and CEO Dr. Wendy Marshall:
“Funding from Waterlust will directly support field trips to OI for underserved, at-risk youth. As they visit our touch tanks and observe marine mammals while on our research vessels, they will develop their own relationship and passion for the ocean and an understanding of their role in supporting a healthy environment. These special experiences will develop the next generation of ocean defenders… and may even kickstart the next Waterlust or Hillenburg!”
For more info about the collection, go to waterlust.com.
