By creating a line of fitness apparel from human-made waste gathered from landfills and oceans, one company in Kuala Lumpur is establishing itself both locally and internationally.
Fitness enthusiasts Azalea Marzuki and Suan Yean Ong, both 29 years old, formed Terra and Eve Sdn Bhd in 2020 with the goal of developing a brand that is fashionable, of the highest calibre, and has a positive influence on the environment.
“We created the Terrae brand of activewear to combine our interest in fitness and fashion with our belief in sustainable living, which is still a fairly new concept in Malaysia.
“In the process, we have removed some of the plastics that end up in the oceans and landfills. Currently, we collect about 100,000 tonnes of waste each year from these two sources, which helped prevent 57,100 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere,” said Azalea.
She continued by saying that the company has avoided using dyes and other harmful chemicals in its manufacturing processes by recovering plastic trash and using it to create the athletic line.
Since then, products under the Terrae brand—which also includes bottoms, sweatshirts, sports bras, skirts, and bags—have been shipped to the US, Singapore, Germany, and Australia.
According to Suan, the business is developing a garment exchange programme via which pre-owned athletic clothing can be given back to the business and changed into brand-new items.
For the next five years, the company aspires to establish a circular fashion ecosystem, with an emphasis on each item’s longevity and life cycle in addition to its creation.
Suan stated that Terrae is dedicated to using fewer conventional materials and migrating to more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Among these are textiles manufactured from recycled polyethylene terephthalate and Econyl, a nylon substitute made from waste goods and other byproducts.
The co-founders emphasised the value of paying attention to the raw materials one purchases, especially in terms of their overall quality and endurance.
“This means investing in products that will last longer, and not contribute to the use-and-throw-away culture,” said Suan.
She continued by saying the business is committed to minimising waste, using sustainable and organic products, and working with ethical suppliers and manufacturers.
