SAVE THE SEA

Men's Folio speaks with Andrea Dini, CEO and president of Paul & Shark about sustainability and what it means to the yachting-oriented Italian fashion house.

- John Ng

For those who are not familiar with the brand, can you tell who is Paul and how is he related to the shark?

My grandfather was not a sailor but he dreamed to become one. During the golden era of British royalty, around 18th century, my grandfather was a collector of vintage sunken boats. One day, he found a boat named Paul & Shark – and coincidently, my grandfather’s nickname was also Paul. That was back in the early Seventies and that was when Paul & Shark was officially founded. Brands such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Lacoste were also established about the same time, but unlike us, they weren’t focused on the beauty of sailing in the high sea. Back to your question: and why shark? When my grandfather was brainstorming for a name, the movie Jaws was released and became a major blockbuster! Shark is one of the most beautiful, strong and fierce creatures of the ocean – and he found the appropriate to associate our brand with the creature.

As a fashion brand that set up to promote sustainable choices from the very beginning, do you notice the change of consumer behaviour over the years in the industry, especially with the world becoming more and more environmentally conscious?