Ocean Sole

Ocean Sole started when the founder saw the need to clean up Kenya's beaches and waterways in order to save marine life, while simultaneously creating jobs for people in an area that had an unemployment rate of forty percent.

The group creates safari animal sculptures using discarded flip-flops which are collected from beaches, waterways, and landfills. Endangered marine species are protected by removing such debris from the ocean. The designs are inspired by the endangered animals they protect. In 2014, Ocean Sole carvers brought eight-foot-tall giraffes and other fanciful creatures to the National Mall for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

In 2019, Ocean Sole recycled over one million flip-flops. They also employ the local community, provide hot lunches to the artisans, and run a welfare program that helps artisans educate their kids, buy property, etc. Because they need discarded flip-flops as raw material, the group has partnered with the local community to bring discarded flip-flops to their workshop in exchange for money. They have also partnered with local schools, where they teach them about recycling and environmental conservation.

Ocean Sole plans to perfect their Kenyan model so as to be able to replicate it in other suitable countries like Brazil, India and Indonesia, among others.

Ocean Sole merchandise is eco-friendly and the perfect gift that keeps giving.