I was lucky enough to get down to the Byron Bay Surf Festival on the weekend, and it was full of good vibes. It started with lashing rain, and ended with beautiful sunshine.
The Byron Bay Surf Festival was founded in 2010 to celebrate surfing culture, including art and lifestyle, with the Byron Bay community.
The core theme of the festival is to also be a platform to educate others on sustainability and the environment. The event is waste free and a 1% For The Planet member.
To showcase and support the surf culture that we love and live, to grow and evolve, and ultimately, to move towards a more sustainable industry and lifestyle.
The best part of a festival is meeting new people and brands in real life, speaking to the makers and finding out the stories behind the products. Below are my brand highlights.
Atomsea
I’ve actually been a big fan of these wetsuits for a while – wetsuits made for girls that surf. The apparel is practical and attractive, without inflicting harm. The idea behind the brand is celebrating female surfing and lifestyle, without compromising on quality and design. The ladies working on the stall were also incredibly lovely and helpful, which is always a bonus when trying on swimsuits.
There was a t-shirt available that had a design with ‘Live life with Porpoise’ ❤
Feel Good Inc
My pale skin was taking a beating from the sun, when I stumbled across this sunscreen stall. Thanks to the recent press on ‘reef safe’ sunscreen, the general consensus is to aim for zinc based sunscreens. I slathered myself with the tester for the day and now I’m going to buy it online – it was really good. The sunscreen is toxin free; zinc based and contains no preservative. The sunscreen is also water-resistant for 4 hours, SPF50+ and reasonably priced! The team behind the brand includes a surfer, a doctor and a builder!
Good Surf Wax
These guys have just launched & I’m looking forward to see how far they go! Surf wax goes into the water and therefore should be ocean friendly! This brand uses organic beeswax, tree sap and coconut to produce sustainable surf wax.
Stone & Wood
I’m not encouraging drinking, but if I was…I would be encouraging a brand that cares about the environment. Alcohol is a big industry and therefore should be socially responsible, which is what Stone & Wood is doing as a certified B-Corp. Stone & Wood sell handcrafted beer, made locally in Byron Bay. The brewery was set up by three boys in 2008 to ‘get back to basics’ with four ingredients. The company also has an environmental program set up, to minimise the brewery’s footprint.
“We acknowledge the reliance we have on our Earth to enable us to produce good beer so it is our responsibility to tread a path towards sustainability through our Green Feet program.” Stone & Wood website.
Images: brands own
Featured image: The Weekend Edition
