Wild Thing!

We start by talking about the business namesake, Davy Jones’ Locker. “Firstly, I wanted a name that was a bit more androgynous and a little less feminine. And, especially as our swimsuits are actually made using recycled materials, such as ghost fishing nets at the bottom of the sea, it just felt serendipitous.”

In fact, this commitment to recycled materials is at the core of Davy J’s ethos, with entire collections crafted from regenerated ECONYL® yarn, made from waste. Through a collaboration with The Healthy Seas Initiative, ghost fishing nets are actively collected by volunteer divers and fed into the regeneration process to prevent damage to wildlife and ecosystems. For every 100 Davy J suits sold, at least 18 kg of waste is regenerated, of which 4.5kg are fishing nets. “It’s an interesting design challenge but I knew what I wanted from our products. Our swimsuits needed to be sustainable, durable, and I wanted them to feel really luxurious as well as being fit for purpose.”

I ask her for any tips to get started. “Don’t start in the winter!” she laughs. “It’s the worst time of the year for it – far too cold if you’re not used to the water. Start in summer, somewhere safe and sensible and ease your way through the seasons.” I comment that I’ve always wanted to try, but I’m not a strong swimmer. “You know what, neither am I. When we hear ‘sport,’ we think about competition, and that’s the antithesis to what getting in the water is about. It’s about community; you just do what you can, feel the cold and have a giggle!”

Helen’s love for the outdoors is infectious. We talk about the cult community of watersports enthusiasts who buy Davy J products. “We send each piece out to be put through the wringer for us. I think it can be tough to figure out what to wear on a paddleboard, but we’ve got a set of flexible long-sleeved tops that blur the line between wetsuit and swimsuit. It’s a nice middle ground. Our first run sold out within a few days.”