Brad Manuel’s surfwear range is better by design

INSPIRED by his love of the environment and experiences as a semi-professional surfer, Brad Manuel designed a range of sustainable swimwear.

Some of the Not Sponsored sustainable swimwear and beach items in Brad Manuel's range.

INSPIRED by his love of the environment and experiences as a semi-professional surfer, Brad Manuel designed a range of sustainable swimwear that stays on in the surf.

As he puts it, he was getting sick of seeing “dude’s plumber’s cracks” and the idea to create a pair of boardshorts that didn’t fall down was born.

“It started with an idea to make better bikinis and boardies that stayed on in the surf without having to be tied so tight it cut off the circulation,” Brad said.

Brad Manuel with some of the Not Sponsored sustainable swimwear and beach items.

After creating the idea for Not Sponsored, he went to work designing eco-friendly boardshorts that stay in place, using Silicone Hold It Technology (an acronym that summarised Brad’s feelings about baggy boardies).

“The name ‘Not Sponsored’ actually came from a conversation I had in the surf when I was testing one of the first pairs of shorts in Mexico with a pro surfer,” he said.

“When he asked who I was sponsored by, I said ‘I’m not sponsored’ and the name was born.”

Some of the Not Sponsored sustainable swimwear and beach items in Brad Manuel's range.

Not Sponsored now stocks a variety of sustainable, practical clothing and swimwear, including bikinis, T-shirts, hats, hoodies and sand-resistant, rapid-drying towels.

Brad is passionate about ocean conservation and the Not Sponsored range is made from eco-friendly materials.

“I’m a surfer and I spend a lot of time in the ocean and I’ve seen so much pollution out there,” he said.

Brad decided to make the boardshorts and bikinis with material made from recycled plastic bottles, and several bottles can go into making one pair of shorts.

Some of the Not Sponsored sustainable swimwear and beach items in Brad Manuel's range.

“As soon as I sourced our super-soft, four-way-stretch, recycled fabric for the boardies, I was sold,” he said.

“We are stoked with the fact it equates to about eight bottles per pair of shorts that don’t end up in our ocean or landfill.

“We can all make a difference with our environment.”

Brad has been selling his swimwear and clothing online and at markets across the Sunshine Coast, and can usually be found at the Cotton Tree Markets on Sunday mornings.

“We are getting support from a lot of locals for our gear and are wrapped that they love how the gear feels but also that they are taking an interest in helping our environment from right here at home on The Sunshine Coast,” he said.

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