Impact-led, luxury adventure travel specialist, Explorations Company, is delighted to announce its partnership with luxury British swimwear brand, LOVE BRAND & Co., and the creation of a special capsule collection of limited-edition swim shorts designed to raise awareness about manta rays in the Seychelles.
The exclusive ‘Which Way To The Tropics’ collection, inspired by the majestic manta ray and sparkling turquoise hues of the Indian Ocean, will feature two bespoke designs by Founder and CEO of LOVE BRAND & Co., Oliver Tomalin. The collection aims to raise awareness of the need to protect our oceans, whilst supporting marine conservation and research efforts in the Seychelles and the vital work being undertaken as part of the Seychelles Manta Ray Project (SMRP).
Manta ray populations have suffered drastic declines around the world over the past 75 years as a result of by-catch and targeted fishing practices. As mantas grow and reproduce slowly, the impact of these unsustainable pressures on global populations has put them at risk of extinction. In the Seychelles, mantas are not currently impacted by such targeted fishing efforts, largely due to the remote and isolated nature of their aggregations. Their resident populations in the Outer Islands of the Seychelles archipelago therefore represent an exciting opportunity to understand more about this enigmatic megafauna species, and to develop effective conservation strategies to protect them from future threats both regionally and across the Indian Ocean.
The SMRP was established in 2013 by the Save Our Seas Foundation and The Manta Trust and, in partnership with The Alphonse Foundation, has now identified 470+ individual manta rays over the past decade using photographs of the unique pattern of spots present on the belly of each manta. Research efforts by the SMRP to better understand the population size, movement patterns, and connectivity of manta rays across the Seychelles have also included satellite and acoustic tagging studies, and investigations into the feeding ecology at aggregation sites, all of which have served to highlight important habitats for the species in the archipelago, including behaviours unique to different atolls. Through the promotion of its research efforts alongside sustainable ecotourism, the SMRP is expanding its understanding of the biology and conservation needs of mantas in order to protect them through developing informed, local area-based management and national policy such as Marine Protected Areas. Guests visiting the Seychelles with Explorations Company are encouraged to experience (and play a part in) the crucial work being carried out here, participating in weekly manta surveys, swimming with mantas and better understanding the behaviours of these magnificent, charismatic creatures.
Oliver Tomalin, Founder and CEO of LOVE BRAND & Co. comments:
“We are delighted to partner with the impact-led luxury travel brand, Explorations Company. With a shared love of luxury travel and shared values and respect for the natural world, our collaborative print ‘Which Way To The Tropics’ highlights the ongoing need to protect our oceans, and the breath-taking world within them. We are happy to support the brilliant conservation and research efforts of the Seychelles Manta Ray Project alongside our friends at Explorations Company, through this collaboration.”
Nicola Shepherd, Founder of Explorations Company comments:
“Conscious travel that allows one to make a direct contribution to the region is at the core of what we do at Explorations Company. We’re committed to protecting our planet and therefore it’s a joy to join forces with a like-minded, responsible brand like LOVE BRAND & Co. to help raise awareness of the brilliant work currently being undertaken as part of the Seychelles Manta Ray Project.
Not only do we love this capsule collection, we hope future clients will (love and) get to wear it when they travel with us to magical destinations like the Seychelles, where we offer the opportunity to be involved in such projects, making a positive contribution all whilst enjoying oneself on holiday.”
As part of Explorations Company’s commitment to philanthropic travel and in support of the critical work undertaken by the foundation and sister projects, for each trip booked to the Seychelles through Explorations Company, the firm will donate 2.5% of the trip value (over the next 12 months) to the Alphonse Foundation for the Seychelles Manta Ray Project. Likewise, LOVE BRAND & Co. has pledged to donate a minimum of £1,000 this year.
‘Which Way To The Tropics’ capsule collection includes men’s and children’s swim shorts with two designs: print and embroidery. The collection will be available across Love Brand & Co boutiques from 10 July 2024 and available to purchase online from 12 July 2024. Men’s shorts from £150 and children’s from £90; www.lovebrand.com
