Studio Vilebrequin has released exclusive Te mano te moan swim shorts for father and son. From each sold model, $ 10 will be transferred to the fund of the same name. The limited edition Te mano te moan print symbolizes hope: the signature Vilebrequin turtles float peacefully over a map of the world's oceans …
Background …
VILEBREQUIN
Spirit and power of the ocean
Following a joint action in support of marine life with Fabien Cousteau's Plant Fish Foundation in 2016, the Vilebrequin brand decided to continue this tradition. By joining forces with Te mano te moan (Spirit of the Ocean), a Tahitian non-profit sea turtle restoration organization, the brand will help protect the future of these animals.
MOANA, OCEAN PLEASE
The word Moana, meaning “ocean” in Tahiti, was given to the first green sea turtle to be rescued in the waters of Bora Bora more than ten years ago.
The badly wounded Moana was flown to the marine veterinarian Cécile Gaspar, who later became the founder and president of Te mano te moana. Gaspard has built a makeshift nursery to care for her first patient. After two months of fighting for her life, Moana died.
Nevertheless, this and other similar tragedies gave hope. Moana was destined to become the symbol of the first clinic on the island of Moorea, open to sea turtles in French Polynesia, on the basis of which the local population is trained and the implementation of research programs. It is this sea turtle that has adorned our legendary Moorea shorts for decades.
WE WILL SURVIVE
By 2016, there are already some successes: more than 400 sea turtles have been treated in the lagoon of the InterContinental Moore Resort and Spa. Almost half of the patients in this five-star clinic return to their natural habitat.
From 2016, Vilebrequin will provide financial support to the clinic, while providing funds for the development of key educational initiatives for the local population. This two-pronged approach is essential for the survival of future populations of sea turtles.