Sustainable South Australian fashion line Le Periple to sell new swimwear made from ocean waste

ABANDONED fishing nets and plastic bottles recovered from the ocean are being used in a new fashionable line of swimwear designed by two South Australian women. VOTE NOW: Would you wear recycled waste products?

Ivana Milosevic (left) and Lisa Chakiris (Ninos) (right) with model Marianne Melito. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

ABANDONED fishing nets and plastic bottles recovered from the ocean are being used in a new fashionable line of swimwear designed by two South Australian women.

Ivana Milosevic, a multi-site manager for global accessories brand Swarovski, and Lisa Ninos (Chakiris), assistant principal at One Tree Hill Primary School, told The Advertiser they had spent months finding the right fabric suppliers and manufacturer for their Le Périple brand.

“We are both passionate about sustainability as well as high-end fashion,” said Ms Milosevic.

“This was about finding that gap in the market that we know exists and build a brand based on what’s close to our heart.”

French for ‘the journey’, Le Périple’s first 14 swimsuits for women featuring a mix of textures, trims, frills and finishes will be launched in September and showcased at a local fashion event in October.

The fabric, which has been tested as a durable breathable chlorine-proof product with high UV protection, is sourced from two recycling-focused international suppliers, Italy’s Carvico and US-based Repreve.

Carvico and Reprieve supply fabrics made from recycled material for a number of brands around the world.

Carvico has worked with Healthy Seas to recover 375 tonnes of abandoned or ghost fishing nets between 2013 and 2017 which are mixed with carpet fluff, tulle, etc., to make Econyl, nylon-like material.

Reprieve has recycled 10 billion plastic bottles to make fibre used by some of the world’s leading athletic and fashion brands.

The designs are manufactured under contract in Indonesia.

“It’s one step at a time, but we really hope we can make our range an easy, reasonably priced eco-friendly choice for most,” Ms Milosevic said.

“Overtime the plan is to grow the range into other women’s apparel.”