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- Outerknown, a clothing brand co-founded by pro-surfer Kelly Slater, makes effortless and casual beach styles rooted in sustainability and transparency.
- Over 90% of Outerknown's products are made from organic, recycled, or regenerated materials. The company's manufacturing partners also follow strict guidelines of safety and working conditions.
- We've tried a total of 15 men's and women's styles from the brand over the past two years. Below, you'll find pictures of how we styled our picks and what to consider before ordering.
- Outerknown should be top of mind for anyone who cares about the environment and is looking for surf lifestyle-inspired essentials.
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Professional surfer Kelly Slater has spent most of his life smashing the competition and winning a record 11 World Titles. But there's another venture tied to his love for surf that has also been occupying his time.
In 2014, he left his sponsorship from surfwear giant Quiksilver to start his own surf brand, Outerknown.
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The principles that define Outerknown
Slater, a longtime advocate for sustainable living, wanted to create a lifestyle brand for everyone that was rooted in good design and sustainable production. He partnered with designer John Moore to make this idea a reality. Moore says, "We're surfers who grew up with surf brands, but we grew out of logos. And we want to wear clothing that's made better and looks better."
That means using sustainable materials (over 90% of Outerknown's products are made from organic, recycled, or regenerated materials) as well as using transparent and responsible manufacturing partners, who follow strict guidelines of safety and working conditions by the Fair Labor Association (FLA), Bluesign, and Fair Trade.
This commitment to sustainability and transparency means you're going to pay more than usual for the clothing. Men's shirts, for example, range from $78 to $148.
Slater points out to Business Insider, however, that "conscious development takes time and investment. There are added costs in creating quality product made to last, in finding and partnering with the right factories that value worker well-being, and in sourcing and leveraging materials that cause less harm."
"At the end of the day, we're looking at the long run and what's best 'For People and Planet.' We're putting in the work to build a truly sustainable model rather than zeroing in on short-term trends or financials," he says.
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The vibe of its clothes
Casual, effortless beach style defines Outerknown. As you shop its men's and women's styles, you can practically feel the cool and salty breeze run through your hair. They're casual and low-maintenance, but they don't look sloppy or haphazard.
Bestsellers from the brand include the cozy, heavyweight Blanket Shirt ($148, made from 100% organic cotton) and the simple, sleek Neptune Tank Dress ($98, made from hemp and Tencel Lyocell). Other offerings include sweaters, pants, and jumpsuits. They're soft, comfortable, and importantly, durable.
Senior reporter Owen Burke says: "Having spent a good deal of my life in and amongst the surfing community, it's hard not to want to love Outerknown from the start. Doing my best to be an objective reporter, I've scrutinously worn Outerknown for over six months, and I've run the brand's shirts and pants through my treacherously cheap washing machine countless times. So far, I haven't even turned up so much as a loose thread."
Over the last year, we've tried a range of Outerknown's men's and women's clothing (15 styles in total). Read on for our thoughts below, plus pictures of how we wore each item.
Shop all sustainable clothing at Outerknown.
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