Tropicfeel, a startup, aims to advocate for sustainable fashion and tourism by emphasizing the use of versatile products such as sneakers, clothing and its newly introduced Shell backpack, discouraging the accumulation of items in the closet. The creation of this sustainable clothing aims to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry.
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about sustainable fashion at the hands of Tropicfeel and what advantages it has.
Tropicfeel birth story
A trip to Thailand with friends, a backpack full of four pairs of sneakers, and a moment of realization. These were the elements that drove Alberto Espídos to transform the trajectory of his life, moving from the corporate world of equity crowdfunding to becoming a social entrepreneur.
While working at Crowdcube, Europe's leading online business investment company, the young Catalan embarked on a vacation to Southeast Asia, which turned out to be a truly life-changing experience. However, upon arriving at Maya Bay, the stunning setting for the film The Beach, he quickly discovered that the picturesque paradise portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio and his traveling companions was far from reality.
In 2018, the Thai government was forced to close this area due to the detrimental impact of tourism on its flora and fauna, confirming a previous case of overcrowding. According to this passionate traveler, who Prioritizes responsibility and sustainability, traveling can be a challenging experience that significantly influences ecosystems, local economies and the environment, leaving a lasting impact.
During his expedition through Asia, Espídos put four pairs of sports shoes in his backpack. After completing a grueling hundred-kilometer hike, two pairs were deemed unfit for further use and were quickly discarded.
In 2017, an entrepreneur embarked on a mission to develop adaptable footwear made from durable, eco-friendly materials. This effort aimed to merge the imperative of environmental stewardship with the creation of fashion rooted in the principles of slow fashion. The goal was to design shoes that could minimize the amount of footwear purchased and packed during the trip.
These shoes were not intended solely for tourism, but also needed to integrate seamlessly into the wearers' daily lives, ensuring that technical products did not languish unused in their closets. The visionary behind this brand, known as Tropicfeel, turned this dream into reality.
Tropicfeel born from crowdfunding
Based on his extensive experience and understanding of equity crowdfunding, he decided to present his brand through a crowdfunding campaign. Predicting outcomes in the online fundraising space can be challenging due to the lack of historical data and the uncertainty surrounding people's reactions to a new product. However, Their campaign achieved an unprecedented feat on Kickstarter, a leading platform for crowdfunding creative projects.
In a notable achievement, his initial Monsoon design garnered the most funding for a shoe on the platform. He also received unparalleled support in the Spanish campaign and ranked 65th out of more than 400.000 funded projects. This success translated into a turnover of two million. In just 60 days, they exceeded expectations by producing more than 35.000 pairs of sneakers.
The next sneaker model, Canyon, replicated this achievement and secured 73rd place in the platform's campaign ranking. It became the second most funded shoe and the second most popular Spanish Kickstarter campaign.
According to Espídos, crowdfunding not only helped us connect with loyal customers who truly appreciated and understood our product, proposition and brand, but also allowed us to adopt a more responsible business model compared to the fast fashion industry.
The feat and objective of Tropicfeel
The Tropicfeel team aims to revolutionize consumer habits by focusing on travelers and using a product like shoes as a catalyst for change. Their concern lies in the fast fashion industry, which produces approximately 50 seasons per year and leads to a whirlwind of consumerism. Companies involved in this industry make numerous purchases, stock their inventory, and if their projections fail, it all ends up in landfills.
The concept of on-demand purchasing as a business model allows for a more responsible approach to the sale of goods. By adjusting production to meet demand, this system effectively reduces waste and minimizes the environmental impact associated with overproduction and excess inventory. This approach ensures that values and products are perfectly aligned.
To align with the goal of creating a more environmentally friendly sales system, it became necessary to develop a product that would revolutionize the fashion industry's approach to materials and production.
At Tropicfeel, 70% of the materials used in its products are made from a combination of plastic and recycled materials. Thanks to your efforts, More than 300.000 discarded bottles have been reused, giving them a second chance to be useful.
In addition, they guarantee that their suppliers provide them with complete transparency regarding the supply and production of materials. They also partner with an organization that helps monitor sustainability practices. The collection and analysis of this information is crucial so that they can evaluate and quantify the ecological consequences of their operations.
Thinking Mu, a brand well versed in ethical fashion, was brought in to support their latest foray into clothing. In addition to this, they have successfully developed a sustainable fashion collection called Stand Up, which uses hemp and organic cotton materials.
Sustainable and timeless fashion
Tropicfeel's purpose of inspiring responsible travelers is reflected in its small but essential collection of durable and timeless clothing. According to the company, hemp is an ecological fiber with minimal environmental impact. Unlike other crops, it does not depend on synthetic fertilizers for its cultivation. Besides, Its texture is reminiscent of linen, which makes it compatible with other natural fibers such as cotton or bamboo. As a result, fabrics made from hemp blends are exceptionally durable.
Furthermore, the growth of hemp involves the absorption of CO2 through the process of photosynthesis, resulting in a negative carbon footprint and contributing to the preservation of the environment. The experiment yielded double benefits.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about Tropicfeel and sustainable fashion.