Umaï X Apnée : The Ocean Road
Created in 2019, Umaï is a brand of natural, committed cosmetics, made in France from local ingredients, and as pleasant to use as they are environmentally friendly.
After the success of the first edition of La Route de l'Océan last summer on the Atlantic coast, Umaï is heading to the Mediterranean this year.
The brand invited us to join them for this second edition and we are happy to participate in this project by offering beautiful embroidered jerseys which will be sold for the benefit of the production of a documentary to raise awareness about the protection of the Ocean.
The brand invited us to join them for this second edition and we are happy to participate in this project by offering beautiful embroidered jerseys which will be sold for the benefit of the production of a documentary to raise awareness about the protection of the Ocean.
Why did you decide to create an eco-responsible cosmetics brand?
Umaï was born from a common desire: to create care products that respect the environment while being pleasant to use. Angéline, Célia, Emeric and Sara, the 4 co-founders of the brand are passionate about nature and the great outdoors. Seeing them deteriorating little by little, they decided to bring together their expertise in cosmetics with their values and their commitments to create quality treatments, good for the planet that we will enjoy using, again and again.
What constraints does this imply?
To independently develop natural, unique and innovative formulas, we needed to establish our own research laboratory. By conducting our own research, we have the power to judge each decision ourselves, to carefully select each active ingredient, each plant, each material, each supplier, according to our very strict specifications.
Sometimes we succeed on the first try, sometimes the tests keep coming and we can't find the perfect formula for us... But we never give up. 
Can you present the Ocean Route project to us?
The Ocean Route movement is an expedition created in 2020 by Umaï with the aim of informing and raising awareness about the preservation of the Ocean.
Last year, we traveled the Atlantic coast from Biarritz to Deauville to raise awareness about the preservation of the Ocean and the fight against plastic and micro-plastic waste. For this we were supported by La Fondation de La Mer, SurfRider Europe, more than twenty-five partner shops on the Route and were followed by numerous local and national media. We also created a questionnaire that allowed you to calculate your plastic footprint on the Ocean. The results of this questionnaire were clear: we still have a long way to go!
This year, La Route de l’Océan is heading to the Mediterranean Sea. Our objective is to protect the Mediterranean basin & its ecosystem.
How did this project get started ?
As a company, we believe we need to do more and that our mission goes beyond creating engaged products. From the beginning, our goal has been to make an impact. This is why, to move the lines, we have decided to raise our voice by carrying out major committed projects aimed at protecting our beautiful planet such as “The Art of Living without Plastic” or “The Ocean Road 2020 ”. And as we like to say, we are all the impact. The more of us who are aware and informed about the situation of our oceans, the more of us will act to preserve them.
How will this expedition take place?
This year, we want to go even further in our approach. To have the greatest possible impact, we have decided to travel along the Mediterranean coast from Barcelona in Spain to Genoa in Italy from July 13 to 23, 2021. We will travel the Mediterranean coast to meet actors leading positive initiatives for the Mediterranean Sea and come to meet you.
What is the objective of this expedition?
Our objective is to protect the Mediterranean basin & its ecosystem. To achieve this, our Ocean Route will be structured around 4 key pillars:
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Meet those who are fighting on the ground to protect the Mediterranean ecosystem
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Raise awareness and inform the general public about the ecological issues of the Mediterranean and its ecosystem
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Raise funds to produce a documentary highlighting committed and positive initiatives for the Mediterranean Sea and its biodiversity
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Engage as many people as possible on our side through an Open Letter to the Mediterranean Sea.
What will the special Route de l’Océan box be used for?
To help us finance this upcoming documentary, we have developed a La Route de l'Océan capsule collection. You will find limited edition capsules designed with Mood Paris and Apnée, two committed brands offering swimsuits made from 100% recycled fibers and delicately embroidered "La Route de l'Océan" to always remember what we care about. .
Can you tell us more about this documentary?
At the end of this expedition, we are keen to produce a committed documentary highlighting positive initiatives aimed at protecting the Mediterranean basin and its unique biodiversity. The documentary will be positive and give hope to show as many people as possible that each of us has the power to act at our own level and can have a positive impact.
Why did you choose Apnée to support you on this project?
Why did you choose Apnée to support you on this project?
Apnée is a brand of eco-responsible swimwear for men with prints inspired by the seabed. They share the same vision and the same values as us. Eco-designed from plastic waste collected in the Mediterranean Sea and on beaches, this swimsuit is made from 100% recycled fiber which really made sense to us.
Is it possible to join you during the expedition?
Is it possible to join you during the expedition?
With great pleasure ! At each stage we organize different events: conferences, talks, waste collection, awareness activities, etc. All stages of our itinerary are accessible on the Umaï website .
Do you have a small, easy gesture for the planet to recommend to our readers?
At Umaï, we believe that there are no “small” gestures. Every gesture, if carried out by millions of people, can change the world and send a strong message.
What are your plans for the future ? Do you have a dream for the planet?
We want to engage even more and reach as many people as possible with our message. It is important that people see ecology and commitment as something pleasant, something that makes you happy. At Umaï we have a lot of hope and we are surrounded by people who make us want to continue as we do, sowing little seeds everywhere. We are convinced that we can move the needle by leading the way.
It's very easy to criticize, much more complicated to act.
It's very easy to criticize, much more complicated to act.
A dream for the planet? We think that we must learn, again, to take the time: this is what we call “The Art of Life-size Living”. And it’s also what pushes us every day to reinvent ourselves…
I discovered the Umaï x Apnée box set
