One of the exhibitors at Ocean Talks 2024 is Love Brand & Co, a men's swimwear B-Corp which has made partnering with wildlife charities the heart of its mission. Ahead of the event, founder Oliver Tomalin talks to BOAT about the inspiration behind his brand.
What is Love Brand & Co, and what do you do?
We specialise in men's and boy's swim shorts, linen shirts and polos - perfect for stylish superyacht owners, crew and guests! Our pieces are inspired by our love of The Bahamas, but this isn’t just luxury beachwear - the ‘love’ in Love Brand is about caring for the planet, and everything we manufacture is done with this in mind. Since day one, we have also given a percentage of our revenues to charity, supporting a different endangered species with each new collection.
What’s special about your manufacturing processes?
We are a certified B-Corp company and proudly use the best natural and organic or recycled fabrics in our collections. We work with family-run factories in Europe and India, championing craftsmanship and using eco-conscious manufacturing techniques to be more mindful of our impact on the planet, reducing our carbon footprint, water and waste. Our swimming trunks, for example, are made in Spain from 100 per cent recycled single-use plastic and printed by sublimation, a printing process that uses no water and results in minimum waste.
How did you come up with the idea of partnering with wildlife charities, and how do you decide which ones to help?
In 2010, there was a charity initiative in London, raising awareness for critically endangered elephants. The fact that wild Asian elephants could be extinct in my lifestyle, struck a chord and I decided to dedicate my new brand to help.
We have donated to the same charity, Elephant Family, from day one and for over a decade since. We have also supported a number of other incredible charities helping all sorts of environmental causes. From sharks, dolphins, rays and turtles to coral reefs, forests and seagrass meadows to tiny beetles and geckos, to elephants, tigers and rhinos.
The way we select our projects is mainly done in conjunction with our partner Conservation Collective, and we often support small, local grass-roots projects that need funding in the given moment. Other charities also find us directly through our website.
Which collection will you be exhibiting at Ocean Talks?
Our Riviera collection. It’s inspired by the sun-drenched Mediterranean, with prints featuring bees, sea flowers, angel fish and more. Perfect for your next summer trip!