Sealand Gear
I discovered Sealand a bit by chance during a trip to Cape Town in South Africa thanks to a nice meeting at my youth hostel: a brand ambassador who explained their history, their values and the quality of their products. He was so enthusiastic that I went to the Sealand store the next day just before taking the plane! This allowed me to see with my own eyes that Sealand and Zebra were on the same wavelength! At first I wanted to resell only European brands (we agree, in terms of ecological footprint it's better) but I was keen to support their approach and to make you discover this brand! Also it was like bringing back a souvenir of this beautiful trip !
Their history, their values:
Cape Town and its beautiful mountains that plunge into the ocean, this is where Mike Schlebach and Jasper Eales founded Sealand inspired by their surroundings . Beautiful designs, combinations of recycled textures, intelligent selection of materials, product functionality and sustainability are at the heart of their approach. In the Sealand family, we find creative minds, big wave surfers, innovative eccentrics, skilled craftsmen, and some of the most beautiful smiles the African continent has to offer. Sealand was founded on two core principles: firstly, to do good for the environment and secondly to do good for the Cape Town community .
As a company operating in South Africa, Sealand is fully committed to social and economic development . The founders explain: “While employment is vital for individuals and communities, it is equally important that employees earn enough money. There is a clear difference between a minimum wage and a living wage. In many countries, especially in the third world, the minimum wage does not allow people to live well. We have taken the decision to pay our employees what we believe they deserve. This is roughly double the current wage compared to those in similar positions in Cape Town. We have also put in place incentive programs that allow employees to earn additional income. We are confident that at the end of each month, Sealanders leave with a living wage.”
We have always tried to establish an environment that creates meaningful relationships that go beyond just being colleagues. What stands out about our studio team is that they love working at Sealand because we are like family . It may sound cliché, but we firmly believe it to be true. We are fortunate to work with people of different ages, cultures, and religions, and we constantly strive to make Sealand a shared home for all.
To support our commitment, in all our bags we proudly include the first name of the person who made it . This brings a touch of craftsmanship to our products, but not only that. This personal stamp in each bag represents our continuous effort to accept our social responsibility and improve the lives of our employees. It allows our artisans to fully own what they make and to be proud that people around the world know who they are and what they do.
Recycled / upcycled materials used by Sealand :
However, there are two big problems with using post-consumer waste. Firstly, it is very difficult to know what, when and how much of it you are going to get back. Secondly, these materials tend to get very dirty. No matter how much you wash them, the sails tend to get stains and marks that sometimes don’t come out. This had its charm and added character to a bag, showing where it came from and the life it had had. But as Sealand started to expand into e-commerce and international sales, it became much harder to tell that story.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to using post-consumer waste that is less well-known: waste that is thrown away before it can even be used. When a product or textile is deemed unfit or below a certain standard to achieve its intended purpose, it is considered Class B. For example, a textile may be damaged, wrinkled or marked, or the color may be slightly different than intended, or there was too little material left to be used... Whatever the reason, this fabric may remain in warehouses until it is eventually sent to landfill or incinerated.
The sails that Sealand now uses are either B grade or offcuts from the larger sail maker. This is a material designed to withstand the most extreme weather conditions, making it a bag with high durability and low water absorption. Other B grade materials are Ripstop nylon and SunnX canvas. Both are strong and robust textiles designed for the outdoors . However, if you look inside a Sealand bag, you will often see a lining made from used advertising banners, a unique imprint on each item.
Diverting waste from landfill is one of Sealand’s main pillars. They partner with textile mills and manufacturers who produce high-quality materials suitable for the outdoors, so even when they can’t be turned into sails, tents or umbrellas, they can still make great bags! This is called Upcycling , you can find a full article on the subject here .
None of this would be possible without the trusting relationships between Sealand and its suppliers. “We take great care to maintain and develop them. They help us make high-quality products and we make sure their waste doesn’t end up in a landfill.”
This is how you can get a Sealand product that looks brand new even though it is recycled and made from waste ! Sealand also still use sails and old billboard fabrics, but they are part of their “ Old but Gold ” range that you can find in their physical store: a guarantee of unique pieces!
So if you are planning a trip to Cape Town , don't hesitate to visit them and say hello from Zebra !