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Creating Art from 1,000 Tons of Flip-Flops


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Creating Art from 1,000 Tons of Flip-Flops

Rhinos, Elephants and Warthogs! Oh My!

“We know that what we’re doing is not all that’s required, but Ocean Sole is doing whatever we can do to serve the environment.”Joe Mwakiremba, International Sales Manager, Ocean Sole

Have you heard of Ocean Sole yet? Well hang onto your flip-flops because this company is doing amazing work.

Similar to Norwex Movement partner The Washed Ashore Project, Ocean Sole is focused on turning beach trash into attention-getting works of art—but with a small difference.

Kenya-based Ocean Sole collects only one kind of beach debris for its masterpieces: they harvest washed-up flip-flops—some 400,000 of them a year—to create elephants, giraffes, rhinos and other animals of the African savannah, as well as household items. The items they make are then sold to customers around the world.

Why Flip-Flops?

Check out this video for a glimpse behind the scenes and to learn why flip-flops are the perfect material for this enterprising company that believes in “trade, not aid.”

This Company Turns Piles of Old Flip-Flops Into Art

Flip flops are ubiquitous, cheap and they’re washing up on beaches everywhere. For one Kenyan company, that spelled business opportunity.

Posted by AJ+ on Saturday, August 26, 2017

Did You

  • In addition to collecting and processing over 1,000 tons of flip-flops since 2005, Ocean Sole has a foundation that funds other recycling and environmental awareness projects.
  • Kenya has the fifth highest unemployment rate in the world, about 40% of the population is unemployed. In Nairobi alone, Ocean Sole has brought work to about 100 people, and the company is still growing.
  • By using flip-flops as the base material for carvings that are popular among tourists, the logging of tropical timber in Kenya has been reduced.

comment_2Have you ever purchased art that supported a cause? We’d love to hear about it! Just drop us a line in the comment section below.

Resources:

Would you purchase artwork made from discarded flip-flops?

View Results
 
Yes:
 
85%
No:
 
15%
Total Votes:
176
View Poll

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Gingi Freeman
Gingi Freeman
6 years ago

Oh wow, I would LOVE to buy something like this! How innovative! <3

Heather Wiese
Heather Wiese
6 years ago

How are these items recycled once the artwork is to be replaced?