Making Waves

Since 2019, the Prada Group has conducted their educational programme, SEA BEYOND, which seeks to raise awareness of ocean preservation. Tied in partnership with the Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, SEA BEYOND exercises a response to the serious global concern of the wellbeing of our seascapes and marine life. 

Released over four instalments, Prada ambassadors and actors, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sadie Sink feature in new films exploring Norway and Mexico respectively. Travelling within Norway’s Arctic circle and accompanied by a local expert, Benedict and National Geographic CreativWorks combine their storytelling skills in a noble effort to explore the unique landscape while highlighting the existential threats against it too. Sadie, a sparky and youthful ambassador for whom SEA BEYOND aims to inspire her faithful audience with their education programmes, journeys to Mexico. With rising temperatures, Mexico’s coral reefs have suffered, along with un-mediated tourism and waste that has piled up and accumulated from visitors. Traversing icy landscapes and sweltering coastlines, the films explore two sides of the same coin and showcase breathtaking ocean shots while the nurturing, familiar voices of actors we know and love either soften the blows of reality or spur us into action with their subtle pleas.Our richly varied ecosystems are complex, and the films capture, in only a way that National Geographic can, a considered perspective on our habitats and what we humans are doing to them. 

The first film has been released this week and features a bag in the campaign trailer image that is amongst a new collection of Prada’s Re-Nylon pieces. Crafted from regenerated plastic waste sourced from oceans and landfills, Re-Nylon is Prada’s answer to creating non-extractive fashion. With 1% of all proceeds from the collections being directed into SEA BEYOND, it’s clear that Prada has claimed ownership for their actions amidst a global climate crisis. 

We need our mega brands to do as much as they can to stem the overconsumption and overuse of natural materials - less extraction and more clever solutions. With the SEA BEYOND films debuting as one of their first initiatives for 2025, it’s clear that Prada Group are making a statement and more than that, trying to act and lead from the front.

Released over the coming months, part one of the film series is available to view here, with the next three videos streaming on 10th Jan, 18th Feb and 10th March.