In the first commercial launch for Kelsun Fibre, Keel Labs™, a next-generation materials company, is releasing their first limited-edition run of seaweed-based fibre apparel with California Based Brand Outerknown. The Outerknown iconic Blanket Shirt will now be made from the Kelsun™ seaweed-based This launch marks the first-ever commercially available garment made with Kelsun.
Outerknown, founded by pro surfer Kelly Slater and creative director John Moore, is known for creating elevated, lasting wardrobe staples in the highest quality and most responsibly sourced materials. As the first apparel brand founded on a total commitment to sustainability, Outerknown’s current line is crafted with 99% preferred fibres – including organic, Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™), recycled or regenerated fibres, and bio-based fibres.
Sustainable materials company Keel Labs™ created Kelsun as a plug-and-play replacement for conventional fibres used in the textile industry. Harnessing the renewable power of the ocean’s resources, Kelsun is made with an abundant biopolymer found in seaweed, resulting in a fibre that is 100% bio-based and biodegradable in wastewater. Seaweed is one of the most regenerative organisms on the planet; it absorbs carbon dioxide in the ocean, similar to trees on land.
Outerknown has inspired change in the industry through transparency in its processes and a commitment to the welfare of everyone they work with, from the farmer to the customer. Never driven by trends, Outerknown has led as a pioneer in the industry, pursuing alternative fiber options at every opportunity.
Outerknown’s new men’s Blanket Shirt made with a blend of organic cotton and Kelsun yarn looks, feels, and performs like the original version (which will remain in the line) that’s made with organic and ROC™ cotton. Outerknown’s goal is to continue to grow this partnership through future products and collaborations.
In an industry producing 21 billion tons of textile waste annually, Kelsun is an alternative to conventional, resource-intensive materials, like conventional cotton, on which fashion and textiles have long relied. Keel Labs sources seaweed that’s harvested under strict sustainability guidelines, complying with local harvesting calendars and quantities. A biopolymer is then extracted and separated from the seaweed, forming the basis of Kelsun fibres.
Outerknown co-founder Kelly Slater says:
“The Blanket Shirt was one of the first products in our line, and it remains one of my favorite pieces,” … “From the beginning, it was important to me to design and build a shirt that was high quality, made from sustainable materials, but felt vintage soft. We could feel the universal love for the Blanket Shirt from the start, and it has remained unchanged ever since, with a perfect fit, soft organic cotton and natural corozo buttons. It’s been ten years since we made the first one, and we are proud to be partnering with Keel Labs on the next generation of this shirt with a version made from Kelsun, a 100% bio-based fibre derived from seaweed. Working with suppliers that share our love for the ocean is a great fit for Outerknown. I’m excited to see this grow.”
Keel Labs co-founder and CEO Tessa Callaghan says:
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Outerknown with the first commercial launch of Kelsun fibre. At Keel Labs, we are deeply committed to our mission of harnessing the potential of our oceans to create better products for people and the planet alike. Working alongside a brand like Outerknown, that shares our dedication to creating a better world, and our steadfast love of the sea to bring our products to life couldn’t be more fitting. This is a pivotal moment, not just for Keel Labs, but for the industry as a whole, standing as a marker for what lies ahead when conviction, action and collaboration combine. This garment is the first (though not last) of its kind, and we can’t wait to continue sharing the evolution and expansion of our partnership.”
ABOUT OUTERKNOWN
Founded in 2015 by pro surfer Kelly Slater and creative director John Moore, Outerknown’s mission is to craft elevated, lasting wardrobe staples, empower the people making them, protect natural resources, and inspire industry change through transparency and an unwavering commitment to responsible sourcing practices.
ABOUT KEEL LABS™
Keel Labs™ is a sustainable materials company addressing the highly polluting systems of textile production with aquaculture-based technologies. Many of the most widely used fabrics today are petroleum-based, and thus are reliant on fossil fuels. Even natural legacy fibres use immense amounts of water and pesticides in cultivation, and some even use toxic chemicals in their production process.
Driven by the exploration of novel, regenerative resources, Keel Labs is broadening our vision for the potential of the ocean to accelerate our planet’s development towards a more sustainable future through the development of climate-focused material solutions. For more information, visit keellabs.com or reach out to hello@keellabs.com.
ABOUT KELSUN™
Seaweed fabric, or Kelsun™, is a bio-based material like yarn in texture, with a significantly lower environmental footprint than conventional fibres. The manufacturers of Kelsun™, Keel Labs, use an abundant biopolymer called alginate found in seaweed to create our luxury and environmentally friendly fibre. By starting the process in the ocean, they remove the competition for arable land and the additives associated with it like harmful pesticides and fertilizers. This fibre can have many uses across apparel and interiors etc. Kelsun™ is soft, smooth, and incredibly comfortable. It has the look and feel of natural fibers that consumers know, with a significantly lower environmental footprint. It can be used seamlessly into existing yarn and textile production infrastructure. This groundbreaking new material has already been used by designers such as Stella McCartney and Mr. Bailey.
HOW IS SEAWEED MADE INTO FABRIC?
The collected seaweed goes through an extraction process that isolates the biopolymer, which is then combined with proprietary additives and water to form a solution. Next, polymer chains link up to form thousands of fine filaments which are stretched, rinsed and applied with finish before being dried and spun into spools of our Kelsun™.
WHY IS SEAWEED A SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL?
Up to 500,000 tonnes of microplastics from textiles enter global marine environments annually, harming people, animals and ecosystems. Conventional cotton production uses 2.5% of the world’s arable land, but accounts for 16% of all pesticide use – these toxic chemicals put farmers’ health at risk. Just as trees do on land, kelp absorbs carbon dioxide in the ocean to survive – this means seaweed is one of the most regenerative organisms on our planet. It exists by harnessing the renewable power of our ocean’s resources alone. Keel Labs’ process of harvesting seaweed is grounded in the use and creation of clean, non-toxic inputs and outputs, meaning their footprint is minimized while the positive impact on our planet is maximized.
Using 100% less pesticides and 70x less water, Kelsun™️ makes a valid case for a cotton alternative. Highly compostable, the process takes just 61 days in total, it also improves the health of our ecosystems and leverages seaweed as a raw material.
THE FOUNDERS
KEELLABS was founded by Tessa Callaghan and Aleks Gosiewski as design students, seeking a way to tackle the issue of textile waste in the fashion industry. They decided to create a solution to the fundamental root of the issue: the materials. With the belief that they could transform material science in collaboration with nature and the community, KEEL LABS was born. KEEL LABS, begun as AlgiKnit in 2017, officially became Keel Labs™ in 2022.
Aleksandra Gosiewski
Aleksandra Gosiewski is the Co-Founder & COO of Keel Labs. With a background in fashion design and economics, Aleks is driving the development of Keel Labs’ business and R&D operations to scale the production of Kelsun, the company’s flagship product. As a systems thinker, Aleks connects the dots between supply chain logistics, financial planning, and business development. Aleks is a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, a testament to her unique and pioneering perspective on the intersection of science and design.
Tessa Callaghan
Tessa Callaghan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Keel Labs. With a background in design and innovation, Tessa is leading the global expansion and adoption of Keel Labs’ flagship product, Kelsun, a fiber made from a biopolymer of seaweed. Working across the value chain, Tessa connects and aligns partners, brands, and manufacturers to achieve their sustainability goals and transform the textile ecosystem. As a Forbes 30 Under 30 member, Tessa is a thought leader in her space, bridging disparate fields to create innovative solutions at a global scale.
Learn More: https://www.keellabs.com
