ohhcean
Mathilde Mackowski, co-founder of the ohhcean initiative
Today we're spotlighting Mathilde Mackowski who is making a splash as the co-founder of the ohhcean initiative! Having worked in the sex toy industry for 14 years, she was the brains behind the award winning sex toy business Sinful. Looking to develop a new product range that combines pleasure with a sustainable approach, she’s making waves in the industry with the first ever collection of sex toys made with upcycled ocean-bound plastic! Collaborating with #tide to manage the entire supply chain, ohhcean is injecting new life into everyday plastic that’s thrown away each day! We caught up with Mathilde to talk about the inspiration behind the initiative, working with #tide and what’s next for ohhcean.
You’ve been in the sex toy industry for 14 years and you are also the creator of the award-winning sex toy business Sinful! What initially drew you to this industry and eventually to start your own company?
It felt like a very instinctive need to create a space for fun and intimacy. We started because we wanted to inspire more playfulness in people’s lives. Adulthood comes at us so fast and everything quickly becomes very serious. Our dream was to help people (re)discover their playful side and inspire intimacy through play. That’s what sex toys can help us with. To get curious and playful again.
Tell us about the inspiration behind the ohhcean initiative and the ethical values behind the brand?
There is a need to think in new ways. This is just a small drop in the pond but I hope it will make waves and inspire. ohhcean was born from this moment of “of course!” - it just made perfect sense to combine our mission of more playfulness with the eco-considerate. It is the love child of playfulness and the urge to think in new ways. It’s the desire to do things differently and a tribute to fun and playfulness and the possibility of making a change.
What were the biggest challenges you faced on this journey to be the first company to create sex toys using ocean-bound plastic?
It was a very long process compared to our normal. The ocean-bound plastic that is collected in and around the ocean reacts differently than virgin plastic when melted and put into moulds. It took so much more testing and a lot more time to find the perfect fit and to learn how the material reacted. It wasn’t an easy process and we were tested on our patience. But that also makes it feel so good to finally have made it here.
You collaborated with #tide, one of the world’s leading players within the upcycling and recycling of ocean-bound plastic to create the ohhcean range! How did this collaboration come about?
We really wanted partners with a philosophy and way of working similar to ours, and it wasn’t easy to find. Research, research, research. But when we finally found #tide, it was just a perfect match. They are so good at what they do and put a big emphasis on transparency.
What type of plastic products are used to create the ohhcean sex toy range and how do you turn single-use plastic into sustainable materials?
#tide are professionals when it comes to this process. See here how they work and here for the materials.
https://tide.earth/#solutionhttps://tide.earth/#products
What are your experiences with mainstream sex toys that are currently available on the market and how does the ohhcean range compare?
The truly unique thing about ohhcean is the fact that it’s the world’s first sex toy range made with ocean-bound plastic. It is not about the items per se, it is the fact that we’ve made these well-known classics in a whole new way.
What advice would you give to young female entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting their own ethical and socially responsible business?
I’d say that no matter what you do, make sure it’s something that you’re passionate about. That’s the focal point. No matter the business, no matter how you go about it. Make sure that it ignites a fire in you and that you think it’s fun. And work with people who like to do the stuff you don’t. That’s a pretty great way to get things done.
What’s next for you and for ohhcean?
Now, we have launched the first 3 products within the collection. We wanted to learn about people’s interest in this genre. We have felt the enthusiasm from all over the world and have already embarked on the next level concerning new products in the line.
