Recycled Fashion

Feared Friends

While the rest of the world couldn’t see beyond their canines, this thalassophile took it upon herself to pave way towards the salvation of marine life, especially the great beast of the blue world, sharks.

By Antaraa Sabharwal

Unlike some, loquacious about saving the planet, Noor Khosla, a 24-year-old entrepreneur is among the few people who implemented and took a step towards creating a better tomorrow. Along with pursuing a master’s degree in project management from Northeastern University, Boston, Noor co-founded Shark Mate.

Recycling plastic is crucial for marine life preservation. When plastic waste isn't recycled, it often ends up in oceans, posing severe threats to marine ecosystems. Marine animals mistake plastic debris for food, leading to ingestion and entanglement, often resulting in injury or death. Additionally, plastic waste leaches harmful chemicals into the water, further endangering marine life and disrupting the entire food chain. By recycling plastic, we reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our oceans, safeguarding the habitats of countless species and ensuring a healthier marine environment for current and future generations.

Focused on being eco-friendly, Shark Mate uses recycled plastic bottles and fish nets to carefully construct rash guards. Worn for protection from the sun, sand and stinging sea creatures, rash guards are a must in a diver’s suitcase.

With sustainability being at the forefront of the process, they have built a world of fashion under the sea. With designs ranging from Rs.3,000 to Rs. 4,000, Shark Mate cater to everyone’s liking. The brand’s sole focus is zero waste. The leftover material from the diving garment is used for making tags and packaging.

Scuba diving is a multi-million-dollar business. Thousands of people are drawn towards hot-selling tropical locations every year to take a plunge into paradise. Maldives, just like everyone else is Noor’s favourite destination too where she frequently pays a visit along with her fellow diving partners, her parents. But the “paradise” everyone dreams of visiting is slowly turning into shores of plastic waste, where seashells are being replaced by used bottles and plastic bags.

Tamara Adame, a diving instructor from Mexico wrote an article for Green Peace wherein she stated, “I wanted to retire at age 30 and get a beach life, salty hair, and barefoot living. Little did I know that beaches are polluted, and that plastics have invaded our seas, our food, and even the salt in my hair in the shape of tiny plastic bits. The sand I walk on is mixed with an indescribable mix of strings, pieces, and particles of plastic that are impossible to pick, gather or clean. The image of a perfect beach life disappeared when I got involved in protecting the environment I once thought was a paradise close to heaven.”

The diving gear industry is currently dominated by big established labels. These mega-producers use materials like neoprene, a synthetic textile which non-renewable. 380 tons of waste synthetic scraps get thrown away every year by these corporations which then find a space in the already overbooked landfills. Ever since Noor’s first dive, back in 2018, she fell in love with the ocean. She said, “I started when I was 19-years-old. I instantly fell in love with the ocean and realised just how small we are, in the grand scheme of things. Diving gave me a sense of purpose, I knew I had to continue to do it. It has become my biggest passion.”

She believed that she could play a small part in bringing about a big change and decided to bring a halt to the wastage of material. Shark Mate was created to go beyond just a clothing company. “We hope to tell stories using our designs and play a part in creating a positive impact. Designed to reflect the underwater world's vibrancy and richness, our products bring fun and funky colours to the oceanside,” Khosla affirms. The magnificent critters have gained a certain notoriety as the killers living underwater. But the ocean lovers would tell you otherwise. Noor proclaimed, “The dangers about the insomniac assailants are myths. The reality is that without them, we have no ocean life, no corals, and consequently, no form of life. They have existed even before dinosaurs and are vital to sustaining life on Earth. As a certified scuba diver, I have witnessed our delicate ecosystem and oceans first-hand.”

Sharks play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of marine ecosystems. As apex predators, they regulate prey populations, preventing overpopulation of certain species and promoting biodiversity. By controlling the abundance of prey species, they indirectly contribute to the health of seagrass beds and coral reefs. Additionally, sharks remove sick or weak individuals from prey populations, enhancing overall prey fitness. Their presence also influences the behaviour of other marine organisms, preventing them from becoming complacent or overly abundant. Furthermore, sharks contribute to ecotourism, generating revenue for coastal communities and fostering conservation efforts. Overall, sharks are essential for the stability and vitality of marine life.

If the marine animals could talk, they would thank people like Noor, who go out of their way to protect the ocean. After their initial launch in India, they plan to branch their business out to different parts of the world, like California, Florida and Hawaii. Noor urges everyone to overcome the terrors of the deep blue. “With diving, there is always an initial feeling of fearing the unknown. I, myself, was very nervous for the first couple of dives, but as soon as you overcome that, you will realize how beautiful and unique marine life is.”

Model : Uditanshu Singh

Model : Rhythm K

Model : Lavanya Grover

Contributors :

Antaraa Sabharwal

Gauri Sawhney

Khushi Banerjee Chhibber

Mehak Badhwar

Meher Khanija

Pia Jain

Tanushree Goel