Teen CEO Turns Recycled Ocean Plastic into Sustainable Swimwear

At just 18 years old, North Carolina native Holden Bierman is already making waves in both fashion and sustainability. As the founder and CEO of Coastal Cool - a swimwear brand made from recycled ocean plastic - he’s proving that being eco-conscious and stylish can go hand in hand.

Bierman’s entrepreneurial journey began at age 12 during the COVID-19 lockdown. With plenty of time and curiosity,

he taught himself about e-commerce through YouTube tutorials,

business podcasts,

and online forums. On his 13th birthday in August 2020,

armed with a $500 loan from his parents and a self-made pitch deck,

he launched Coastal Cool.

Originally selling T-shirts and hoodies, the brand eventually evolved into a sustainable swimwear label. Today, Coastal Cool’s swimsuits are made from 88% to 91% recycled polyester derived from discarded bottles and ocean-bound plastic.

The company partners with nonprofit Tidey Ocean, which removes one pound of ocean plastic for every product sold while creating fair-wage jobs in developing countries. “Making money is cool, but it’s even cooler when there’s real purpose behind it,” Bierman told GMA.

Balancing business growth with high school hasn’t been easy - Bierman admits he missed out on proms and football games - but the tradeoff has been invaluable. Now, he regularly speaks at schools and universities across North Carolina, inspiring young people to follow their passions.

With plans to attend college while scaling Coastal Cool into retail stores, Bierman says his biggest lesson is simple: “Take the risk. You never know how far your ideas can go.”