United By Blue

Sustainable outdoor lifestyle brand United By Blue was launched out of a desire to make a real, tangible impact on the oceans and the team pledges to remove a pound of trash from the oceans and waterways for every product sold. Their apparel, bags, and accessories are designed with responsibility and durability at their core.

Brian Linton grew up in Singapore and travelled worldwide before building a conscious outdoor apparel brand in 2010 that with every purchase is removing one pound of trash from American waterways. In fact, the first cleanup on April 2010 removed six hundred and thirty one pounds of trash from the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia… on the same week the brand sold its first T-shirt. What inspired Brian? While overseas, he learned firsthand about aquatic ecosystems and the affect ocean plastics and pollution have on them. That passion eventually transformed into United By Blue which offers high quality apparel and accessories for people who love the outdoors.

“Every day, 38,356,164 pounds of trash are dumped into our oceans. It’s this overwhelming statistic that drives our mission: for every product purchased, we clean a pound of trash. Through the support of our in-house Cleanups Department, community volunteers, and partners across the world, we’re cleaning up shorelines one piece of garbage at a time" is the brand statement on their official website.

Since, United By Blue has expanded from a collection of organic cotton T-shirts to a line of responsible apparel, bags and accessories for people who care about the outdoors. The team handcrafts all products in GOTS-certified factories with sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester and bison fiber. The vision is to create products that last, because the best way to be a conscious consumer is to consume less and the collections can be found in United By Blue, Philadelphia and NYC.

“The business model that United By Blue is built on provides both the capital and the time (through dedicated employees) to organize and host beach and waterway cleanups at scale. So the challenge is not in the cleanups, it’s in the business. We have to run a successful, profitable business in order for United By Blue to have a long term positive impact on the environment—without the success of our product, we don’t have the time or money to execute on our environmental goals,” Founder CEO Brian Linton told The Good Trade.

In 2012, the brand diversified its product line with the introduction of the organic waxed Lakeland Laptop Bag. In September 2013, United By Blue's flagship Coffeehouse and Clothier opened in Old City, Philadelphia and the following month marked the hundredth cleanup which removed about eleven thousand pounds of trash from Trinity River, Dallas. The following year, the brand expanded with store-in-store concept State and Union in Kennett Square, PA and a second Coffeehouse and Clothier opened on Philadelphia's Walnut Street.

2015-16 was a landmark period. The brand further expanded its product line of tees, tanks, board shorts, dresses and bags, shipped to three hundred and fifty retailers across the US, Canada and Japan. And, picked up 250,000 pounds of trash from waterways in Wilmington, DE. In January 2016, The Ultimate American Jacket by United By Blue won Outside Magazine's Gear of the Show for its B100 Bison insulation. Later that year,  the fourth retail store opened in Nolita, New York. 

“The growth of our two international cleanup operations in Indonesia and the Philippines allowed us to conduct ongoing trash collections with the help of our partners, Sungai Watch and Plastic Bank. They’ve become a huge asset to our mission and have proven to be key in mitigating tons of trash from reaching the ocean, supporting local community members, and contributing impactful data to conversations around plastic pollution," states United By Blue 2021 Impact Report. “Lastly, this year we officially made it to the 4 million pound milestone of all-time trash collected!”

The brand currently has a forty-five member team across its headquarters, three retail stores and a warehouse, a team that firmly believes business not only has the ability to be a part of environmental solutions but a moral responsibility to address them. And the brand is doing a great job of just that on its social media accounts as well by building a community to address environmental concerns and be a part of the solution.

"Responsible, durable goods to get you outside." This sentence underlines the mission of fashion brand United By Blue. 

The mission that United By Blue is built on is that the success of their ready to wear collections provide the capital to organise and host beach and waterway cleanups at scale. So the challenge is not in the cleanups, it’s in the business. The core team has to run a successful, profitable business in order for United By Blue to have a long term positive impact on the environment—without the success of the product portfolio, the ethical fashion brand doesn’t have the money to execute its environmental goals.

Embedded in United by Blue's essence is the commitment to doing the dirty work. From the moment the core team sold their first t-shirt, they organised a community cleanup, setting the foundation for what the sustainable fashion brand stands for today. Years later, they remain on the front lines, hauling old tires, gathering plastic bottles, and picking up the bits of styrofoam that blight our shorelines. This hands-on approach exemplifies the fashion brand’s dedication to environmental stewardship and demonstrates that action speaks louder than words.

The fashion brand’s vision extends beyond just cleaning up—it aims to eliminate the need for such efforts altogether. By prioritizing sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing practices, United By Blue is not just cleaning up after others but leading the way toward a future where the business of fashion operates with environmental responsibility. This commitment to better business practices serves as a blueprint for others in the fashion industry, showcasing that sustainability is not just possible but essential.

Community building is another pillar of the fashion brand's vision, fostered through regular waterway cleanups and outreach efforts. The sustainable fashion brand is determined to spread the idea that if one business can make a difference, so can one person. By rallying individuals to join their cause, they’re creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond their apparel and accessories, inspiring other brands to take action and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable world.

United By Blue offers a curated line of menswear and womenswear, featuring tops, bottoms, and outerwear that combine style with sustainability. Each piece in their collections is designed with both function and fashion in mind, ensuring that customers can look good while making environmentally conscious choices. From cozy sweaters and durable jackets to pants and shorts, the apparel is crafted from sustainable materials, reflecting the fashion brand's commitment to minimising environmental impact without compromising on quality or design.

In addition to apparel, United By Blue also boasts a comprehensive collection of bags and accessories that cater to different needs. Their collection include backpacks, duffles, and totes, all of which are designed for durability and practical use. The fashion brand's accessories line extends to pouches, slings, hats, gloves, and socks, each made with the same dedication to sustainability and ethical manufacturing. These products are not just accessories but essential companions for those who value both functionality and eco-consciousness in their everyday lives.