Meet the artisans who hand assemble 4ocean bracelets
Meet the artisans
who hand assemble
4ocean bracelets
Meet the artisans who hand assemble 4ocean bracelets
Meet the artisans
who hand assemble
4ocean bracelets
EMPOWERMENT
Changing the world for the better
Ocean plastic has a human impact. Plastic pollution contributes to declining fish populations, which in turn drives poverty in coastal communities whose economies and quality of life depend on the health of their local fisheries.
By recovering ocean plastic and transforming it into new products, 4ocean is laying the groundwork for a sustainable circular economy that not only supports our global ocean cleanup operation, but also empowers local community members in high-impact areas like Bali, Indonesia.
OPPORTUNITIES
Women comprise 80% of our artisanal workforce
In Bali, women tend to assume the role of primary caretakers for their families, which means job opportunities can be pretty limited, especially for women in rural communities. These areas may not see a lot of foot traffic from tourists or they may rely heavily on seasonal businesses; many of their husbands are fishermen, farmers, or laborers who must leave for work.
Our bracelet artisans are empowered to work out of their homes and village centers and often split the work as a community. Since they don’t have to go to a factory to work, more women are able to join the workforce and earn an income while continuing to care for their families the way they always have. Right now, our artisanal workforce employs about 200 people and 80% of them are women.
OPPORTUNITIES
Women comprise 80% of our artisanal workforce
In Bali, women tend to assume the role of primary caretakers for their families, which means job opportunities can be pretty limited, especially for women in rural communities. These areas may not see a lot of foot traffic from tourists or they may rely heavily on seasonal businesses; many of their husbands are fishermen, farmers, or laborers who must leave for work.
Our bracelet artisans are empowered to work out of their homes and village centers and often split the work as a community. Since they don’t have to go to a factory to work, more women are able to join the workforce and earn an income while continuing to care for their families the way they always have. Right now, our artisanal workforce employs about 200 people and 80% of them are women.
HANDCRAFTED
Every 4ocean bracelet is assembled by hand
We turn the plastic we collect into strong, waterproof cord. When a new batch comes in, our team of Artisans begins creating their next design!
Scroll through the slider to see how we create each and every 4ocean bracelet by hand.
Bracelet cords are cut to size and tied off at one end. We make them for average wrist sizes or roughly 7 to 13 in.
We thread the cord through a large needle to hold it in place while we braid the design. Each design is inspired by the ocean, the environment, and our teammates.
We add the bracelet charms in the perfect spot to ensure they don't snag on clothing or other jewelry!
Next comes the fun part - braiding our signature design. Pictured here is the Riptide design!
We then tie the closure knot, which is the most challenging part. We must ensure it's adjustable and stays on your wrist during adventures!
Once we have a good batch, we pass them to our eagle-eyed teammates, who check them for quality and strength. They ensure you get the exact bracelet we set out to design.
Finally, we package the bracelets in recycled paper packaging and send them out to our supporters around the world!