Billabong Partners With Coral Gardeners to Launch New Collection That Supports Reef Restoration
Billabong, the globally recognized lifestyle brand, has partnered with Coral Gardeners, an international organization dedicated to ocean conservation, to launch a new collaborative collection. The joint effort aims to raise awareness around Coral Gardeners’ mission to “save the reef.”
Respect for the ocean and its community is at the heart of Billabong and Coral Gardeners’ collective values. The collection, which celebrates the connection between people and the ocean, will donate a portion of proceeds to Coral Gardeners’ ongoing efforts.
The organization was founded in 2017 by a small group of ocean kids in Mo’orea (French Polynesia), who witnessed the rapid degradation of the coral reefs around them and decided to take action. Seven years later, the organization has grown into a global collective of gardeners, scientists, engineers and creators committed to saving the reefs and creating a worldwide movement. With more than 100,000 corals planted in French Polynesia and Fiji, their goal is to scale up reef restoration and plant one million climate-resilient corals around the world.
“We are stoked to partner with Billabong and have their support in scaling our reef restoration efforts and spreading awareness about the reef worldwide through this collection. As surfers and ocean lovers, it is our responsibility to protect our playground and think big for the future of our blue planet,” said Titouan Bernicot, CEO and Founder of Coral Gardeners.
The new collection pays homage to the South Pacific tiki prints and sea symbols of the past, featuring an array of styles and silhouettes. The women’s line includes bikinis, surf suits, off-duty beach sets, tees and fleece in moody tropicals, creating an après ocean vibe. The men's collection offers board shorts, South Pacific-inspired tees, long-sleeves, button-ups, outerwear, and more. The collection's pieces have been designed keeping in mind the ocean's conservation and the restoration of its coral reefs, which are essential for surfing.
As a part of this collaboration, Billabong athletes Aelan Vaast and Brodi Sale spent a week propagating coral with Coral Gardeners’ team members in Mo’orea, gaining hands-on experience and witnessing firsthand what Coral Gardeners is all about.
“The ocean plays an integral part of our lives as surfers, and we have a responsibility to protect it and the coral reefs that make surfing possible,” said Brad Lancaster, Global Head of Men’s Product at Liberated Brands. “Our collaboration with Coral Gardeners is a step towards raising awareness about the importance of ocean conservation and coral restoration within the surf community and beyond.”
The collection will be available at billabong.com, Nordstrom and specialty retailers across the U.S., Australia and Fiji with prices ranging from $14.95 - $59.95 USD. With this collaboration, Billabong intends to contribute to the cause of ocean conservation and inspire the surf community to join hands in protecting the planet's blue spaces.
ABOUT BILLABONG
Established in 1973 in Australia by visionary surfboard shaper Gordon Merchant, Billabong shares that magic feeling of wave riding with the world. This feeling comes to life in many forms; from award-winning board shorts and swimwear to a legacy of game-changing experiences in the ocean, on the mountains and beyond. Billabong is available in more than 100 countries worldwide and remains dedicated to making the wave riding experience unforgettable.
ABOUT CORAL GARDENERS
Coral Gardeners started in 2017 in Mo’orea (French Polynesia) after a small group of young surfers, freedivers and fisherman witnessed the rapid degradation of their home reef and decided to take action. Today, Coral Gardeners has grown into a global movement determined to revolutionize ocean conservation and save coral reefs. To do so, they are working on three main areas of action: active reef restoration efforts, community awareness, and innovation and science development with their in-house CG Labs.
