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PREMIUM YACHT CREW WEAR | COMING SOON

the yacht crew uniform you have been dreaming of.

Vela Yacht Wear creates premium yacht crew uniforms for those looking to make a conscious & functional choice in the modern world of yachting.

Our uniforms are all ethically and sustainably sourced as well as being highly functional, durable and aesthetically pleasing. 

After over 20 years of combined experience working on yachts and wearing uncomfortable, unattractive non-functional clothing, the founders of Vela decided to embark o n a mission to create yacht apparel that elevates crew uniform to what it should be and more. 

Not only does Vela focus on creating premium, durable and functional uniforms that looks good, Vela also  focus on crew uniform that does good too.

All Vela uniform is made sustainably and ethically so you know that you are doing your bit to make the yachting world a better place.

Vela will be taking to the seas in 2024.

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Sustainable | Ethical | Functional | Luxurious

Our mission is to empower chief stewardesses and yacht crew to be able to make better decisions on crew apparel for asthetics, functionality and sustainability.

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Yacht Uniform Companies Share the Latest Uniform Trends and Innovations

Kate got her start in the yachting industry working as crew. She spent five years cruising the Bahamas, Caribbean, New England, and Central America, then segued that experience into a career in marine journalism, including stints as editor of  Dockwalk  and  ShowBoats International .

At a quick glance, yacht crew look as sharp as ever, decked out impeccably in classic skorts, shorts, and shirts in unoffending shades of navy, gray, and beige. Beyond the well-tailored façade, there have been some big advancements in the world of uniforms.

Fabrics of the Future

“Nothing really changes in uniform design,” says Owen Rutter of VMG Clothing in Auckland and Palma de Mallorca. “Uniforms for superyachts are generally pretty traditional in terms of what they are and the handful of colors that you can work with. The biggest change you can make is in the fit and the fabrication, and that’s something that we’ve really taken to another level with [our] new range… We’ve introduced quite a bit of stretch into a number of our garments so the comfort factor has been improved hugely.”

They’re not the only ones. Crew uniform companies across the globe are unveiling pieces made with fabric that’s lighter, stretchier, and more quick drying and comfortable than ever.

“In the fabric world, things move really quickly,” says Montana Pritchard of Zeidel & Co . in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. “It’s driven by companies like Patagonia and Arc’teryx that are putting a tremendous amount of money into developing fabrics, and the rest of the fabric world benefits from that.” Zeidel has a soon-to-be-available hybrid deck short, the Murphy, in its men’s SEE Apparel line made of stretch Taslan, a high-tech woven polyester fabric that’s durable and very quick drying. “It’s going to feel featherweight,” Pritchard says.

Inspired by the material for its popular board shorts, Smallwood’s Yachtwear in Fort Lauderdale, Antibes, and Barcelona has unveiled a new daytime collection called the Pacific, featuring light, stretchy, water-repelling, quick-dry performance fabric. “We’re even doing a dress in it,” says Helen Smallwood. “It fits most bodies, it’s super comfy, it feels almost like nothing.”

Kingston White of Liquid Yacht Wear in Fort Lauderdale and Antibes says the Liquid Gold line with its high-tech, high-performance fabric in updated styles has been a big success. “It’s got the SPF functionality, it’s got breathability, it’s got wicking capabilities, it’s quick dry, and it’s got the mechanical stretch; the fabric itself feels amazing. The skorts (for example) are made to hold up the entire working day, whether that’s 10 hours, or more realistically 20-plus hours, and still look great.”

Durability is an important consideration with what crew put the clothing through in a typical day, day after day, charter after charter. “It’s not just how it looks when someone puts it on for the first time,” Rutter of VMG points out, “it’s when it goes through the superyacht commercial washing machines and how much ironing it needs, how much care it needs afterwards. We’ve really taken a lot of care to make sure that the people who are responsible for the clothing on the boat get great feedback from the people that are wearing it.”

With supply chain issues coming to the forefront this year, Saltee Rags — a Fort Lauderdale company run by former yacht chef David Marchand and former stew Lena Rossello — has begun manufacturing their own polos, SPF shirts, rain jackets, and a few additional items so their supply is steady and they’re not subject to discontinued styles or colors. “All these new products are being designed by yacht crew for maximum quality, comfort, and safety,” Marchand says. “We have found new materials that will protect the crew from harmful UV. All our new apparel will reflect that and offer SPF-rated protection for crew.”

Presentation is also key, notes Prudence Ellis-Bundren of Anchors & Dove in Sydney. “You’ve got to make sure, say with the men’s Walkshort that we sell, that the fabric is comfortable, it’s four-way stretch, and if it gets wet it dries quickly and it dries quickly across the entire short. We’ve found the perfect fabric for that.” The former chief stewardess knows what works and what doesn’t after a decade in the industry. Living ashore nowadays, she personally tests her designs, putting the clothes through their paces as she chases after her children. Along with unveiling two new skorts this year, she reports that all polo shirts are now bamboo fabric. “They’re getting rave reviews in terms of the color fasting, and they’re super duper soft. A lot of crew are commenting that they don’t even feel like they’re wearing a shirt,” she says.

It’s Easy to be Green

In addition to the comfort and breathability that bamboo brings, it’s also a superbly sustainable material. Fast growing, naturally pest-resistant, and requiring minimal water, it’s an environmental win all around.

“We are in a moment where the green approach is fundamental,” says Annalisa Mutti of Floating Life in Varese, Italy, which has introduced fabrics to its regular collection that have Oeko-Tex certification for being ecologically safe.

The trailblazer in this movement when it comes to yacht crew uniforms is Ethical Yacht Wear in Fort Lauderdale. Started by a stewardess two years ago, the company supplies clothing that has the least environmental impact possible, choosing, for instance, organic cotton so there’s no chemical runoff into the sea from pesticides or fertilizers, or performance fabric made from 95 percent recycled material. The latter makes up its new collection of Eco Hybrid skorts and shorts.

“We don’t just take care of the planet, we take care of the people,” says founder Lauren Wardley. Every item is certified Fair Trade, meaning all workers from manufacturing through to distribution are paid honest wages and work in safe, clean conditions.

This is the approach Liquid Yacht Wear has taken as well. In addition to producing its own brand, it works with vendors that are committed to safe labor conditions and giving back more to the environment than they take away. This past November, it launched a recycling program for old uniforms at its Fort Lauderdale location. Crew can bring in discarded uniforms from any supplier. Anything with a yacht’s name or logo on it is sent to a shredder to be made into new product at Liquid Yacht Wear’s expense, and clothing without a yacht name is given to charity.

Crew & Tailor in London also encourages crew to return old uniforms to them for recycling. In addition, they’ve launched a Crews for Oceans line that will be trickled into its product list. “We’re phasing in planet-friendly fabrics to our clothing line, including fabrics that biodegrade in landfill and fabrics made from 100 percent recycled materials,” says founder Sienna Roebuck.

When Events Clothing was acquired by VMG Clothing in late 2019, the company became part of a larger organization that produces a lot of clothing for the New Zealand market and, as such, has close connections to and even ownership of factories overseas. This gives the uniform company a lot of control over the manufacturing process. “We’ve gone through and looked at all those different fabrications and said how can we make what we’ve got at the moment better? And how can we do it in a more sustainable way?” says Rutter.

For example, “Repreve is one of the brands that’s being used,” he continues. “It is a name for polyesters that come from recycled plastic bottles. We’ve got their fabrication in a number of our performance garments, in the shorts and the pants and in one of our polos, and at the other end of the scale we’ve got organic cottons that we’re using in our polo shirts and our T-shirts.”

“Since our first day of inception, Saltee Rags has had a strict environmental policy — we are the only yacht supplier that offers 100 percent green screen printing where nothing touches the earth,” Marchand says. “We have been researching earth-friendly materials that look great and have minimal impact on the earth.” The company offers eco apparel made of 100 percent recycled post-consumer products, and its line of triblended shirts has a social and eco conscience, adhering to environmental policies and labor laws that elevate communities worldwide.

In Zeidel’s proprietary SEE Apparel line, all bottoms are made from fabric that ranges from 50 to 75 percent polyester chips recycled from PET bottles. “Our three-year goal is to be utilizing 100 percent recycled material across our uniform line,” says Pritchard. Moreover, the fabric’s manufacturer uses only rainwater collected onsite, since water is one of the biggest wastes in the process.

“One of things that a lot of crew are looking at is socially responsible items,” Pritchard says. “One of the big brands that we’re selling is tasc, made from sustainable bamboo; the AS Colour T-shirts are a premium shirt and they are organic cotton; the Allmade T-shirt is 50 percent recycled plastic bottles (Repreve), 25 percent organic cotton, and 25 percent Tencel, a type of super sustainable wood like bamboo. We’re seeing people care about that quite a bit now, and they’re willing to pay more for premium brands.”

One of a Kind

Some crew are prepared to pay even more to be unique. Big boats mean big budgets and limitless options for dressing the crew in something that will turn heads when they pull into port.

“From 2019, we noted a big increase in bespoke items’ requests,” says Mutti of Floating Life. So much so that the Italian company separated its offerings into two lines: The Collection for its regular pieces that are always available, and the bespoke Collection Privè, which shows the customization possible with its in-house stylist. “We start from the client’s idea of what he would like to have on board, and after that we speak with our stylist, and she proposes a few sketches, a few designs from which the client will choose. And from there, we start selecting the perfect fabric and measuring all the crew.”

Roebuck of Crew & Tailor agrees this is a growing trend. “I think there has been a general feeling of caution due to the pandemic, but with the current rate of new builds there will be an increase in ‘expressions of luxury,’ including bespoke uniform,” she predicts. “Our bespoke service is a great chance for yachts, especially new builds, to develop uniform in line with the yacht’s aesthetics. There is no limit with custom-designed textiles, prints, cuts, and accessories.”

This feature originally ran in the April 2022 issue of Dockwalk .

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ECOLOGICAL AND TECHNICAL

Yacht crew uniforms, personalize your crew wear.

EVENING WEAR

Yacht Crew Uniforms

Environmentally Conscious High Performance Crew Wear

Yacht crew uniforms by Marina Yacht Wear are revolutionizing the yachting industry with our collection of ecological crew wear designed exclusively for yacht crews.

Firstly, our mission is to elevate the yachting experience by transforming traditional workwear into practical luxury wear for all crews. At Marina Yacht Wear, we understand the unique demands that yacht crew members face every day.

Moreover, whether they are working on the deck or below deck, our collection provides the perfect blend of style, comfort, and functionality. We believe that yacht crew members deserve the best, which is why we collaborate closely with them to create a cohesive and luxury collection that meets all their yachting needs. Our stylish and easy-care collection is not just about fashion; it’s about performance.

Furthermore, we design our own brand in-house at our studio in Nice, ensuring that every piece of clothing is tailored to perfection. Our team of skilled designers and textile experts carefully selects innovative technical fabrics that are breathable, stretchable, wrinkle-free, stain and water-resistant, quick-drying, and rated UPF 50 for built-in sun protection.

When it comes to quality, Marina Yacht Wear is a leading name in the industry, trusted by crews all over the world. Our range of services goes beyond just clothing. In addition, we provide templates and mock-ups for personalized uniforms, ensuring that each crew member looks and feels their best while representing their yacht.

Besides our smart and functional apparel, we also offer a range of casual wear for those moments when crew members want to relax and unwind. From liquid-resistant gear for the deck to cozy clothing for those cooler seasons, Marina Yacht Wear has it all.

Moreover, we take pride in our commitment to sustainability. Our ecological crew wear reflects our dedication to protecting the environment while meeting the highest standards of quality and performance. With Marina Yacht Wear, you not only get the best in yacht crew uniforms, but you also contribute to a more sustainable yachting industry.

In conclusion, Marina Yacht Wear stands as a beacon of excellence in the world of yacht crew uniforms. Our dedication to innovation, quality, and ecological consciousness sets us apart from other brands in the industry. Experience the difference for yourself and elevate your yachting experience with Marina Yacht Wear.

Yacht crew uniforms with a GREEN PHILOSOPHY

To create crew wear that looks good, feels good, and does good!

When it comes to outfitting yacht crews in both style and sustainability, look no further than Our Yacht Crew Uniforms. Our mission is to revolutionize the yachting industry by offering a collection of crew wear that seamlessly combines luxury and environmental responsibility.

Firstly, Our Yacht Crew Uniforms is committed to sustainability without compromising on luxury. We take pride in crafting uniforms made from technical, engineered recycled, and organic fabrics. These materials not only provide exceptional comfort and performance but also reduce our environmental footprint. By choosing our uniforms, yacht crews can enjoy the best of both worlds: high-end fashion and eco-consciousness.

Furthermore, at Our Yacht Crew Uniforms, we believe in transparency and responsibility throughout our supply chain. We meticulously source, produce, and develop our entire collection in ethical and sustainable conditions that adhere to all European labor laws. This commitment ensures that the uniforms we provide are not only eco-friendly but also ethically produced, aligning with the values of responsible yachting.

Moreover, our uniforms are designed to meet the unique demands of yacht crews. We understand that life on board can be challenging, with varying weather conditions and strenuous tasks. Therefore, we prioritize quality and performance in our designs. Our technical fabrics are engineered to be durable, breathable, and moisture-wicking, keeping crew members comfortable and looking their best, no matter the situation.

Additionally, by choosing Our Yacht Crew Uniforms, you’re not just investing in clothing; you’re investing in a sustainable and stylish yachting experience. Our commitment to quality, ethics, and the environment makes us the go-to choice for yacht crews worldwide.

In conclusion, experience the perfect blend of luxury and sustainability with Our Yacht Crew Uniforms. Join us in setting a new standard for yacht crew attire that’s both elegant and eco-friendly. Your yacht, your crew, and the planet will thank you. Choose us for your yacht crew uniforms and experience the difference today.

PERSONALIZE YOUR YACHT CREW UNIFORMS

Embroidery and printing.

Selecting the appropriate personalization technique is crucial to achieving the desired result, and we are your trusted partners in making this choice. Firstly, our team of experts will provide tailored advice based on the fabrics you’ve selected. We consider the texture, durability, and aesthetics to recommend the best-suited technique for your crew wear.

Moreover, by offering both digital printing and embroidery, we enable you to make informed decisions that align perfectly with your unique preferences and requirements. Whether you’re seeking intricate embroidery for a timeless, classic look or vibrant digital printing for bold statements, we’ve got you covered.

Additionally, your yacht and your crew deserve crew wear that is as exceptional as the journey you embark upon. At Marina Yacht Wear, we don’t just provide personalized crew wear; we create experiences that reflect your individuality. Therefore, let us help you transform your vision into reality, ensuring that your crew uniforms stand as a testament to your yacht’s distinctive identity.

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