Luxury travel and fashion come together to attract attention to the Seychelles: Manta rays

Specialist in luxury adventure travel, Exploration companyhas announced a partnership with the British luxury swimwear company, DEAR BRAND & CO. The collaboration will see the creation of a bespoke, limited edition collection of swimwear to boost awareness of the incredible manta rays of the Seychelles and help protect our oceans.

The exclusive ‘Where to go within the tropics?Inspired by the majestic manta rays and the sky-blue waters of the Indian Ocean, the gathering includes two designs by Oliver Tomalin, founder and CEO of LOVE BRAND & Co. The aim of the gathering is to support marine conservation and research efforts within the Seychelles and the vital work of the Seychelles Manta Ray Project (SMRP).

Manta ray populations have declined dramatically worldwide in recent many years as a consequence of bycatch and targeted fishing. Since manta rays grow and reproduce slowly, they’re prone to extinction as a consequence of these unsustainable pressures. In Seychelles, manta rays are currently not affected by such targeted fishing efforts, mainly as a consequence of the distant and isolated nature of their assemblages. The resident populations on the outer islands of the Seychelles archipelago subsequently represent an exciting opportunity to learn more about this enigmatic species and develop effective conservation strategies to guard it from future threats each regionally and across the Indian Ocean.

Established in 2013 by the Save Our Seas Foundation and The Manta Trust, the SMRP, in partnership with the Alphonse Foundation, has identified greater than 470 individual manta rays over the past decade, using photographs of the unique spotting pattern on each manta’s belly. The SMRP’s research efforts to higher understand the population size, movement patterns and connectivity of manta rays within the Seychelles have also included satellite and acoustic tagging studies, in addition to foraging ecology studies at collection sites. All of this has served to focus on vital habitats for the species within the archipelago, including behaviours unique to different atolls.

By promoting its research efforts alongside sustainable ecotourism, the SMRP is expanding its understanding of the biology and conservation needs of manta rays to guard them through the event of sound, area-based management locally and national policies similar to marine protected areas. Guests visiting the Seychelles with Explorations Company are encouraged to witness (and take part in) the vital work being done here by participating in weekly manta surveys, swimming with manta rays and higher understanding the behavior of those magnificent, charismatic creatures.

“We are delighted to partner with impact-led luxury travel brand Explorations Company. With our shared love of luxury travel and our shared values ​​and respect for nature, our joint print ‘Which Way to The Tropics’ highlights the ongoing need to protect our oceans and the stunning world within them. Through this collaboration, we are delighted to join our friends at Explorations Company in supporting the outstanding conservation and research efforts of the Seychelles Manta Ray Project,” says Oliver Tomalin, Founder and CEO of LOVE BRAND & Co.

“Conscious travel that allows you to make a direct contribution to the local area is at the core of what we do at Explorations Company. We are committed to protecting our planet and so it is a pleasure to partner with a like-minded, responsible brand like LOVE BRAND & Co. to raise awareness of the amazing work currently being done through the Seychelles Manta Ray Project. Not only do we love this capsule collection, but we hope future customers will (love and) wear it when they travel with us to magical destinations like the Seychelles, where we offer the opportunity to be involved in such projects and make a positive contribution while enjoying your holiday,” says Nicola Shepherd, Founder of Explorations Company.

As a part of Explorations Company’s commitment to charitable travel and to support the vital work of the Foundation and sister projects, for each trip to the Seychelles booked through Explorations Company, the corporate will donate 2.5% of the trip value (over the subsequent 12 months) to the Alphonse Foundation for the Seychelles Manta Ray Project. Likewise, LOVE BRAND & Co. has pledged to donate a minimum of USD 1,000 this yr.

The Which Way To The Tropics collection includes swim shorts for men and kids in two designs. It can be available in Love Brand & Co boutiques from July 10, 2024 and may be purchased online from July 12, 2024.