Creative Futures - Repurposing Wetsuits

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Posted by Stephanie Wragg on August 30, 2017

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Neoprene and Wetsuit Research

History During the 1920s the increasing demand for natural rubber led to higher and higher prices, sparking a search for an equivalent synthetic rubber. It was during 1930 that a chemist in DuPont's fundamental research group created neoprene. DuPont discontinued the Duprene trade name in 1937 in favour of the generic term "neoprene". It wasn’t until the 50’s people started experimenting with the concept of using a layer of ‘rubber’ to insulate them from the water . But at that time neoprene was weak, tore easily and was hard to put on. The lamination of fabric to neoprene in the 1960s resolved this problem and led to the modern wetsuits we use today. It was Hugh Bradner a physicist from the University of California. Berkeley figured out that a layer of water between your skin and the neoprene of the wetsuit could actually keep you warm. The air pockets in the Neoprene material holds the water, which is quickly warmed by body temperature then continues to stay warm due ...

Surf Shops Survey Summary

Survey summary: Participants: Real surf- Wellington Blitz surf- Gisborne Ultimate surf and skate- Auckland Do your wetsuits have a shelf life? And if so what do you do with wetsuits that do not get sold? -turnover of wetsuits is quite quick - Wetsuits that do not get sold within the ‘catalogue year’, get placed on discount until they are sold. It is unlikely a wetsuit will be in their shop for more than 2 full seasons, because of the way they manage them. -Wetsuits don’t have a shelf life, but they become old styles as brands update materials and design etc. -Wetsuits are an expensive item to stock, so they manage their stock levels very closely What are the habits of your buyers? Do they buy new wetsuits every season? -Habits of buyers vary due to their requirements of the wetsuit -those who use their wetsuits regularly tend to buy a new wetsuit every year -Those who use their wetsuits only in the weekends usually get 3 years out of their wetsuit -Mo...

Neoprene Upcycling- Existing Initiatives

Néocombine http://www.neocombine.com/homepage “Made from wetsuits from the 80s and 90s, these accessories have a spirit that new objects don’t have. They remind us of summer and are light as ocean air.” · The brand’s mission is to give a second life to neoprene. · They recycle old 80s and 90s wetsuits to manufacture hand made accessories -- bracelets and key rings. · Neoprene is screen printed and then sewn by hand. · Founded in 2009. · Located in Bordeaux, France. · Wetsuits gathered from surf schools and surfers. · Sold as promotional products for clients/souvenirs · Individual bracelets from €3 - €12 ($4.70 - $18.70 NZD) Green Guru https://www.greengurugear...

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