Meet Mira: A Seahorse Mascot Made of Marine Litter and Circular Fabric

Bringing Circularity to Life Through Collaboration

At Healthy Seas, we believe that collaboration fuels creativity—and creativity fuels change. That’s why we’re proud to share the story of Mira, an interactive seahorse costume designed by Nikki Steenbergen, a Fashion Design student at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht, made possible through a partnership with our partner Carvico and inspired by our mission to protect the ocean.

More than a costume, Mira is a conversation starter: a playful, hand-built mascot designed to connect with children and families, made entirely from materials found in the sea or created from recycled ocean plastic. From discarded face masks to ECONYL® yarn made from recovered fishing nets and other discarded nylons, Mira brings together waste, design, and purpose.

A Graduation Project Rooted in Purpose

For her final thesis, Nikki wanted to create something that reflected her passion for marine conservation and education. A longtime volunteer with Healthy Seas, she knew firsthand the impact of ghost nets and marine pollution. The idea of creating an ocean ambassador for the youngest audiences took shape: a costume that could move, surprise, and spark curiosity.

“That’s still the art of future, and I think it’s very important to educate kids about ocean pollution from a very early age,” Nikki explains in our recent video interview.

Choosing the seahorse as her muse, Nikki sketched and engineered a full-body costume with mechanical eyes that move, blink, and react. Her inspiration? The diversity, friendliness, and uniqueness of these curious marine creatures.

Turning Trash into Wonder

Mira is a patchwork of marine litter: cotton swabs, plastic bags, fruit nets, discarded face masks, and fluff from old fishing nets collected by Healthy Seas divers. But what gives Mira her elegant final touch is the skirt—made with Vita and JL Renew, two high-quality recycled fabrics by Carvico and Jersey Lomellina, created with ECONYL® yarn from regenerated nylon waste.

Through this partnership, Nikki was able to work with industry-grade, sustainable materials that aligned with the values behind her project. “As a designer, I think it’s crucial to use recycled materials,” she says. “The fashion industry is one of the most polluting in the world. My generation has the power—and the responsibility—to change that.”

From the Catwalk to the Community

Mira made her debut in June 2024 at a special event hosted by Carvico at their plant in Italy—a day dedicated to ocean education for families, employees, and children. Nikki and Mira travelled from the Netherlands to meet the kids, tell their story, and show how design and sustainability can go hand in hand to protect our seas.

The reaction? Pure joy. Children followed Mira around with wide eyes. Parents asked questions. Conversations started—not about fashion, but about responsibility, reuse, and the hidden waste in our daily lives.

A Case Study in Creative Circularity

This collaboration is a powerful example of how Healthy Seas connects education, industry, and the arts to foster ocean advocacy. By supporting students like Nikki and bringing in forward-thinking companies like Carvico, we turn abstract concepts like “circular economy” into something you can see, touch, and remember.

Projects like these are not just creative—they’re impactful. They prove that when we work together across disciplines, we can spark lasting change. And maybe, just maybe, inspire the next generation of designers, engineers, and ocean advocates.