Los Angeles, CA, November 09, 2022 – Today, Hollywood heritage brand, Von Dutch, is proud to announce its partnership with fellow pop-culture icon Popeye for a custom apparel collection in support of ocean-cleanup organization, The SeaCleaners. This collection aims to highlight one of the most influential comic characters in the world and support the organization’s mission as they fight for a pollution-free ocean.

Made famous by top-celebrities in the 2000s era, Von Dutch is back and more popular than ever featuring nostalgic, one-of-a-kind styles and fashion-forward designs. With this first ever collaboration, the brand is hoping to expand their philanthropic efforts and help spread awareness for important causes.

Von Dutch and the creatives behind Popeye worked collaboratively to create a collection that was thoughtfully curated from the beginning design stages to final production. The collection, which will hit shelves on November 17, serves as an ode to the legendary sailor man and consists of a line of reimagined streetwear staples, which includes unisex hoodie and jogger sets in Popeye-themed design patterns, short sleeve tees, and crewnecks. Each of the brand’s highly recognizable logos are married along with comic-inspired illustrations and Popeye’s infamous silhouette heavily incorporated into the apparel throughout the line.

This collaboration was heavily focused on creating a sustainable line of clothing all while limiting the impact on the environment. Every aspect was taken into consideration when designing the pieces, even down to the finer details like the hang tags being made with recycled paper. The clothing line was crafted with organic fibers that have been produced in accordance with organic farming standards and with the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification. The raw material used for the products in the collection, from the trucker hats to the hoodies and t-shirts, have been produced with approval from the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).

“Ultimately, this collection is a blend of two cultural icons in both the fashion and the entertainment industry by creating pieces that are reminiscent of the comic legend,” said Olivier Mercier, CEO of Von Dutch LLC. “Collectively, Von Dutch and the creators of Popeye pushed the envelope and challenged the typical parameters of streetwear to present this nostalgic and philanthropic collection.”

Popeye, the iconic, spinach-eating sailor and clean ocean advocate, is owned by King Features Syndicate, a unit of Hearst and home to some of the world’s most popular entertainment characters. The deal was negotiated by their French agent, MJA Licensing. Popeye first announced his representation of The SeaCleaners, an organization that focuses on long-term and worldwide preservation of the ocean, in 2020, joining its fight against plastic pollution and raising awareness of its ocean conservation efforts. This partnership continues Popeye’s commitment to sustainability and a plastic-free ocean.

“Popeye stands up for what’s right and defends those in need, so joining The SeaCleaners fight to save the ocean was a natural fit,’” said Carla Silva, VP/GM, global head of licensing, King Features. “Partnering with an iconic fashion label like Von Dutch gives the cause greater visibility among style-savvy consumers who will be actively making our world better with each purchase — a portion of the proceeds goes back to The SeaCleaners.”

“Fighting for a pollution-free ocean must mobilize all energies”, said Yvan Bourgnon, President & Founder of The SeaCleaners. “Popeye and The SeaCleaners have been working together for two years to raise awareness for this cause. We are very grateful to Von Dutch for joining us. With this eco-designed collection, we are proud to partner with a pioneering brand that is leading the way for the fashion industry to develop new creation and production practices.”

The Von Dutch x Popeye Collection line is available for purchase exclusively at specialty streetwear shops, select retailers, and vondutch.com.

About Von Dutch
Von Dutch is a fashion brand that was created in the early 2000’s led by famed French designer, Christian Audigier. The iconic Hollywood brand has been a staple on the pop culture and music scene for over 15 years. Since the launch, Von Dutch exploded into the fashion world and became one of the most desired and recognizable brands of its time. Von Dutch continues to be one of the most influential brands that has stood the test of time. For more information, visit vondutch.com.

About The SeaCleaners
Created in 2016 by Franco-Swiss skipper Yvan Bourgnon, The SeaCleaners acts for the long-term conservation of the oceans and the reduction of marine plastic pollution. The organization develops actions both at sea and on land. Member Observer of the UN Environment Agency, and supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the NGO has four objectives: Collecting floating plastic waste in high concentration areas before it sinks or breaks down into microplastics. Contributing to scientific knowledge through research and open data sharing. Alleviating the problem at its source through education and public awareness initiatives and carrying out waste collection operations with teams of volunteers. Supporting the transition to a circular economy by developing and demonstrating innovative and ecofriendly technological solutions. Its integrated engineering design office, MANTA INNOVATION, develops innovative technical solutions to combat plastic pollution. For more information, visit www.theseacleaners.com and follow us on Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram and Facebook (@theseacleaners)

About Popeye
Sailor. Tough guy. Hero. Legend. That’s Popeye. An underdog with bulging forearms, a mean uppercut and a love of canned spinach. Unassuming, unsophisticated and undeterred by a challenge, from the minute he walked into the comic strip, The Thimble Theatre, and muttered his famous “Ja think I’m a cowboy?” line, Popeye the Sailor Man captured the hearts of millions of fans around the globe. As the star of his own comic strips and animated content on the big screen and small, Popeye became quickly ingrained in American culture, and today remains one of the most recognizable pop culture icons in the world. For more information, visit www.popeye.com.

About King Features
King Features is a premier producer and distributor of the world’s most iconic intellectual properties and a leader in classic character licensing and franchise development. With one of the longest-running consumer products programs in the industry, King Features’ portfolio includes world-renowned pop culture brands such as Popeye®, Olive Oyl, Cuphead, Flash Gordon™, The Phantom™, Hägar the Horrible, Moomin, Prince Valiant® and Mandrake the Magician. King Features produced The Cuphead Show! with Netflix Animation which is currently airing on Netflix.  As content syndication specialists, the company distributes beloved comics such as Blondie, Beetle Bailey®, Mutts™ and dozens of others as well as columns, editorial cartoons and puzzles across multiple platforms and content providers around the globe. King Features is part of Hearst Newspapers, which publishes 24 dailies and 52 weeklies, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle and Times Union (Albany, New York), and operates local digital marketing services and directories.