Ethical Yacht Wear X METSTRADE: Industry Leaders Switch To Sustainable

This month the iconic annual?METSTRADE?and its Superyacht Forum event returned to Amsterdam, taking place on?18-19 November. The event, themed 'Think Ahead,' brought together a vast array of industry professionals for networking, discussion and thought-provoking debates about the current and future landscape of the yachting sector.?

Throughout the event, sustainability took center stage. One common theme that resulted from discussions was the fact that sustainability goes beyond just building yachts with a lower environmental impact, but as an industry, we need to adopt a holistic approach with practical solutions. As a company presenting a practical solution to make a positive difference, we were proud to see such sentiment and changes coming out of an important industry event.

A Powerful Message

Alongside the event itself, this year, Ethical Yacht Wear was chosen as the apparel supplier. We provided 150 sustainably and ethically made long-sleeved polos for the team members' uniforms during the Superyacht Forum. For us, this marked a significant shift, with major maritime events like METSTRADE now choosing eco-conscious uniforms to represent their brand.?

We were proud to supply this uniform, and the fact that it sent a powerful message about the sector's increasing commitment to sustainability truly resonated with our values.

Choosing Sustainability

The chosen polos were more than just comfortable, professional, and stylish attire for event organizers like METSTRADE. Unlike conventional cotton, Better Cotton production empowers farmers to be more efficient with water, care for soil health, and respect biodiversity. The BCI's index's mission is to "help cotton communities survive and thrive while protecting and restoring the environment".

The uniform supplied this year to the Superyacht Forum is also certified Oeko-Tex?. This guarantees that the apparel is free from harmful chemicals and substances, minimizing impact on the environment and ensuring the safety and comfort of both consumers and the people who make the clothing. Lastly, and equally important, the clothing was made in conjunction with the Fair Wear membership - an organization that works to improve conditions for the people making our clothing.?

By selecting our uniforms, the Superyacht Forum made a tangible impact that extended far beyond the event itself. According to the United Nations, the textile industry is the second largest polluting industries worldwide, right behind oil. Being one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions, global water pollution, containing some of the poorest labour conditions globally. Meanwhile sustainably produced cotton monitors water, energy and harmful substance usage, soil health, workers rights, biodiversity, and land usage.??

This single order alone, therefore, made a massive difference to the event's overall impact credentials, demonstrating how business decisions can and will create meaningful change and progress.

A Growing Movement?

Last year, we started to see this shift in the industry as we were heavily involved in sustainability initiatives across the superyacht show circuit, participating in workshops, events, and seminars to discuss industry-wide solutions. We partnered up with shows like the Dubai International Boat Show, Palm Beach International Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, and Palma International Boat Show to work on driving the sustainability movement forward.

Having been active in the superyacht sustainability conversation and efforts for the past decade, we have witnessed a significant evolution. What began with a small group of passionate individuals, small businesses, and crew members advocating for positive change has now grown into a broader movement, with major industry players increasingly prioritizing environmental responsibility. Players such as METSTRADE have now increasingly recognized that the choice of staff and team uniforms reflect the business's core values, and with these embracing sustainable apparel, we are excited to see how the domino effect will ripple throughout the sector.?

This was more than just a uniform supply agreement for us; it's a milestone in the industry's ongoing journey towards environmental responsibility. We look forward to future collaborations with the industry leaders as we push forward toward a better future for yachting.

To learn more about our journey, our values, and our products, visit our?website or reach out to us directly at [email protected].

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey!