Sealand Gear

Sealand is a Cape Town-based brand known for its stylish bags made from upcycled and recycled materials. The brand transforms waste such as sails and advertising banners into durable items made to last a lifetime. Sealand also produces apparel made from organic cotton, hemp, and recycled materials. They are committed to responsible production processes, fair labour and high-impact support for environmental and social NPOs. Their commitment to transparency is exemplified in their annual Responsibility Report.

Features

Resources and materials

Works with print and retail partners like Hirt & Carter, City Logistics, Digital Express, Pepkor and Mr Price to intercept waste textiles
Partners provide materials like upcycled sails, advertising banners, and B-grade reject materials
Has a sustainability code of conduct and a sustainable procurement guide

Making and manufacturing

Operates a small production site on Campus with 21 employees cutting and sewing
Employees a total of 63 people directly and supports multiple local businesses where possible
Products are outsourced to carefully selected partners that align with Sealand’s environmental and employment values
Each bag carries a label that identifies its maker by name
Majority of employees are women and/or people of colour
Pays a living wage to all employees

Social and cultural

Donates 1% of revenue to the Sentinel Ocean Alliance and other environmental partners through the 1% for the Planet initiative
Runs a conscious gifting programme
Engages in community-driven projects such as beach clean-ups, boxing bag donations and river cleans