Seeking highly motivated and creative individuals to join our intern team. Ideal candidates must be interested in building a sustainable fashion brand and, most importantly, promoting environmental causes.
This program will teach and develop entrepreneurial skills on all levels, including product development, marketing, fashion design, social media advertising, technical skills, project management, and LEADERSHIP.
We currently have three returning interns from last summer and two new hires. Our interns are studying business, digital marketing, and environmental sciences at Berkeley, Duke, Santa Barbara, and SLO. So far, we have a great team, but we need students with web development and data analytics backgrounds to help out.
One of our first prototypes made in LA in 2016. This is my daughter. She is 15 years old in this photo.
Sustainable fashion isn’t just a trend — it’s a movement shaping the future of how we dress. For those who value thoughtful choices and impeccable style, it’s an opportunity to build a wardrobe that reflects your values and exudes sophistication. This isn’t about compromise but intentionality, blending luxury with purpose in every stitch.
When I started Ocean SF, people didn’t know the difference between polyester and cotton. They would tell me their jacket was cotton when in fact it was 100% polyester. No one was talking about how polyester fleece pollutes drinking water. It wasn’t even a consideration.
I’ve been doing this for eight years. It’s been a long and winding path educating others on the benefits of sustainable and ethical clothing, but I feel there has been real progress and people are changing how they shop.
The Hidden Cost of Convenience
Fast fashion may deliver instant gratification, but it comes with a heavy price. The industry contributes to 10% of global carbon emissions, pollutes waterways with toxic dyes, and generates mountains of waste. Add the exploitation of garment workers into the mix, and it’s clear that convenience is costing us more than we can afford. The good news? We have the power to choose better.
Prioritizing Well-Being
Sustainable fashion challenges the status quo, prioritizing the well-being of people and the planet. Here’s what sets it apart:
Eco-Friendly Fabrics: Materials like organic cotton, merino wool, hemp, and recycled fibers that minimize environmental impact.
Ethical Production: Fair wages, safe working conditions, and support for local communities.
Timeless Design: High-quality pieces designed to last beyond fleeting trends.
Circular Fashion: Encouraging reuse, recycling, and reducing waste in the fashion cycle.
Why It Matters
Environmental Responsibility: Lowering carbon footprints and conserving precious resources.
Ethical Impact: Supporting fair labor practices and uplifting workers worldwide.
Durable Quality: Investing in fewer, better-made items that stand the test of time.
Effortless Versatility: Classic, sustainable pieces integrate seamlessly into any wardrobe.
Building a Conscious Wardrobe: Your Guide
Choose Transparent Brands: Support companies that openly share their sustainability practices. Certifications like Fair Trade and GOTS are reliable indicators.
Swap Clothing With Friends: Trade with friends the things in your closet that you don’t wear or offer to lend your clothing to others.
Invest in Timeless Staples: Focus on versatile essentials that work across seasons.
Care for Your Clothes: Proper washing and mending can significantly extend a garment’s life.
Rent or Borrow: For special occasions, explore rental services to reduce waste.
Ocean SF: Elevated Sustainability
At Ocean SF, we believe that clothing should elevate your style while respecting the planet. Our mission is to create luxurious, sustainable pieces that become the cornerstone of your wardrobe. Each garment is carefully crafted using eco-friendly materials like responsibly sourced merino wool and organic cotton.
Here are some of our signature designs:
The Ocean SF 100% Cotton Hoodies: A refined essential that’s cozy, breathable, and endlessly versatile.
The Organic Cotton Tee: A perfect balance of softness and durability, designed for everyday wear.
Eco-Friendly Outerwear: Sophisticated jackets that combine functionality with sustainability, ready to take on any adventure.
Our approach goes beyond design; it’s about creating a lasting impact. By choosing Ocean SF, you invest in garments that honor the planet and the skilled artisans who make them. We’re setting a new standard for modern luxury — one that feels as good as it looks.
The Road Ahead for Sustainable Fashion
The journey toward sustainable fashion is accelerating, but it’s far from complete. From innovating with new materials to making eco-friendly options more accessible, every step counts. As brands and consumers, we share the responsibility of crafting a more conscious industry.
Fashion That Inspires Change
Sustainable fashion is more than a choice; it’s a lifestyle. It’s about making thoughtful decisions that uplift the planet and its people. Whether you’re a seasoned advocate or just beginning to explore this space, every effort matters. With Ocean SF, you’re not just curating a wardrobe — you’re joining a movement that defines style with substance. Together, we can shape a future where the clothes we choose to buy and wear empower, inspire, and transforms.
For the past four years, I’ve run a summer intern program for Ocean SF. I can’t remember exactly when this idea came to me, but it was in 2021 when I had both my daughters home from college due to COVID-19. I was also teaching leadership and management classes at UC Berkeley, and as part of my content, I focused on women in leadership. The statistics were astonishing, but not in a good way. One statistic stated that if a woman doesn’t find themselves in a leadership role in the first five years of her career, she never would.
In 2023, women held about 32% of management roles globally. This marked an increase from 29% in 2019, showing slow but steady progress.
As of 2023, only 8.8% of Fortune 500 companies had female CEOs, a historic high but still demonstrating the underrepresentation of women in top leadership.
Women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) make up less than 30% of the workforce and are even more underrepresented in leadership roles.
In the health sector, women comprise 70% of the global health workforce, yet they occupy only 25% of senior roles in the sector.
I was teaching leadership, but my sailing apparel company Ocean SF was going under due to the implosion of retail during COVID-19. All of the hard work I had put into finding investors, partnerships, and distribution channels had gone up in smoke overnight. I thought it would be a good idea to combine the two and at least begin to incubate women leaders. Being resourceful, I recruited my eldest daughter, Paris, who has strongly supported the brand since its inception. I tried to recruit my younger daughter, but she refused and could not be coaxed into spending her summer working for her mother under the direction of her sister. Paris, however, was enthusiastic and got to work. We found seven other interns to round out our team. I proceeded to teach the interns everything I taught in my classes at UC Berkeley. Paris was the project manager, and everyone learned to use project management tools. They alternated between leading their own projects and managing their own teams.
We had a ton of fun that first year, and we made good progress in building the company’s foundation, and it has continued since. This past year, we had another large group of kids who dug in and made a significant impact. We had three pop-ups and have grown our social media by over 1000%. We also transitioned to a San Francisco lifestyle brand. We are now partneing with a Shop Locally a website for local brands in and around San Francisco. It will be another avenue for us to sell our products.
It must be noted that we have also had boys intern with us as women need advocates and allies.
Sadly, I had to say goodbye to my interns a few days ago. I have to say it wasn’t easy. Motherhood has been my most treasured role in life, and being able to connect and bond with young people is something that I love. Now that my children are launched and working in the corporate world, I have the next generation to help shepherd toward their professional lives. I shed a few tears because I will miss them, but we will stay in touch and continue our initiatives with monthly meetings and check-ins.
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok. Like and share our content with your friends, and remember to buy sustainably and shop local and woman owned!
Ocean SF is in production again in San Francisco making our sustainable outdoor apparel. After selling out of almost everything I’ve made I am taking the deep dive into producing another line of clothing for cool weather. My signature jackets will be available, but stock is limited as I have been taking pre-orders through out the pandemic for what I was out of. Even though retail is suffering during the pandemic Ocean SF has been thriving. As orders rolled in I miraculously had just that size and color for the order in stock. Every time I received an order I was able to make a donation to The Lonely Whale or to 5 Gyres. It feels incredibly good to be able to help the organizations that are working to save our oceans and waterways from the impact of plastics and plastic particles. Now it’s time to replenish so I can offer some nice discounts to teams and my loyal customer base.
We are bringing back some of the winners from last year including the very thick and warm 100% Merino Wool hoodie. If you are social distancing outdoors this winter this is the perfect purchase. Originally made for sailing this is an anywhere garment. My fabric is custom milled making it perfect for outdoor sports like sailing, hiking, skiing or cycling because it wicks moisture and continues to keep you warm even if it gets wet. It is also anti-bacterial meaning it will not smell even if you sweat. What’s not to love?
These 100% Merino jackets and hoodies are great for spending time at the fire pit or doing the back yard social distancing required to stay healthy through the upcoming flu season.
I’ve just finished my women’s prototypes for the velour track and wide leg jogger pants. They are incredibly comfortable and stylish. There are three styles in pants and shorts for both men and women. I also finished my two new Bamboo tops. They are so comfortable and light weight an excellent layering piece to be worn under the wool. These long sleeve options have a wonderful soft smooth finish and are slightly stretchy. This is a wonderful innovative fabric that you will love. I used bamboo because it is the most environmentally sustainable fabric in the world right now. Bamboo grows quickly while putting oxygen in our atmosphere and it is also easy on water during production unlike some fabrics that use a great deal of water to produce. These new styles will be available in early January or sooner. And, they are ridiculously comfortable. Please feel free to leave me a comment or send me a message to learn more.
As I collect my thoughts this early Sunday morning I am dreaming of my last misty morning on the San Francisco Bay. It was the Big Daddy Regatta hosted by Richmond Yacht Club. It was pouring rain, but I was ridiculously warm in my Ocean SF wool mid layer. I was wearing the men’s size large in Orange sitting inside The Pelican Race Committee boat.
This was my last big gathering of a group of 50 people or more before quarantine. I stood in the Yacht Club talking to the Berkeley Yacht Club President. I met some very interesting people that day on both the Race Committee and at the after party. I was sipping a beer and making plans with them for the summer. Oh, the things we take for granted. I miss the luxury of being so naive.
Midwinters
Before COVID-19 I was busy raising money to fund my next Ocean SF collection. Now the retail industry has blown up and not in a good way, and as a consequence is bleeding money. Maybe hemorrhaging is a better word. Still, I was just chosen as a semi finalist for The Pepperdine 15 most fundable companies and our Vintage preowned store is now open and we’ve seen a few sales roll in.
A friend of mine in advertising who works with the big brands told me I dodged a major bullet not having produced the inventory I had planned. Maybe so. Maybe so.
For whatever reason in many of my endeavors luck always plays a bigger role than my efforts. Heaven knows I was hustling hard to fund that production.
More importantly, I’m thankful for the environmental re-set we are seeing as a result of quarantine. This is definitely the silver lining of the situation. As I see our planet healing I am even more committed to locally and ethically produced sustainable outdoor clothing.
As the morning fog lifts this June morning in the Bay Area I sip my coffee and plan my next move for Ocean SF. I can see my fall collection with valour cotton pants for men and women in jewel tones, and cosy cotton hoodies in sky blue. I see myself walking back into my San Francisco factory and putting everyone to work.
Another silver lining is time. I’ve updated our website. I had to learn how to program with Elementor Builder to do it, so please don’t say I’m not techie. Because I am. My kids don’t teach me how to use technology, I teach them. I’ve detailed our certifications and commitment to human and environmental protections in our processes under the Ethical & Sustainable tabs, click here to read more.
