Pic by @LindsayMorrisPhoto
Old neoprene wetsuits are a ubiquitous byproduct of water sports but they’re not exactly friendly to mother nature. Enter NeoNeo Surf.
Sitting on my foamie a couple of years ago, a newbie surfer, scanning the horizon for set waves, I felt a deep, growing connection to the ocean. Unlike the many sports I’d been involved in over the decades, surfing brought me fully into the present like never before—it was terrifying, but also peaceful, powerful and awakening.
I gave myself a 50-day surf challenge that summer, paddling out every day I could. And I was bewitched, joy-drenched by the waves, and eager to take it all in. Although I’ve lived on the eastern end of Long Island for over 25 years, it wasn’t until those meditative moments on the water’s surface as a “surfer”, that I realized how lucky I was to live surrounded by this breathtaking coastline. More than ever, I wanted to protect it.
My husband, being a gadget lover and having noticed my recent obsession, gave me a surf-tracking Apple Watch for Christmas. When the summer rolled around and wetsuits came off, I panicked about losing my watch. So, I made a cuff to secure it from an old wetsuit sleeve. That small hack turned into a bigger idea —a passion and protection project that I called NeoNeo Surf.
“I cut up all those donated suits.”
Neoprene is awful for the planet – it is petroleum-based and has almost zero biodegradability – and I knew that many of my surf buddies had wetsuits sitting around, broken, retired or forgotten. I began collecting them and invested in an industrial sewing machine. I cut up all those donated suits — some wildly colorful and patterned — and started making fun watch cuffs, beach pouches, sunglass sleeves and surf journals. Each one handmade, each with its own salty story.
In less than a year, NeoNeo Surf has grown into something more than I imagined. I’m now running a one-woman sustainable surf accessory business with the help of family, friends and an amazing local surf community. Every donation, every creative idea, every unique piece is a small wave of change.
We’re saving the planet—one wetsuit at a time.
And if you’re wondering—yes, we are all riding the green wave together. You don’t have to surf to join this party wave. You just have to care.
See you out there. 🌊
Follow @NeoNeoSurf to learn more about how to donate and to shop.
HOLLY LI resides in Amagansett with her family and has a passion for fun, nature and community engagement. She owns and operates Li Productions – a location/production company for photoshoots in the film/fashion industry. She is co-founder of Battle of the Fantasy Girl Bands and serves as VP on Surfrider Foundation’s Eastern Long Island Chapter’s executive committee. NeoNeo Surf is simply what happened when this ocean lover with a penchant for style and sustainability, learned to surf at 52.
