Between low tide and courage: BRACENET on Sylt

Where others go on holiday, we drag nets.

And no, this isn't a new detox retreat. This is BRACENET on Sylt – with salty skin, strawberries in your backpack, and the soundtrack of seagulls.

Looking back with salt in the air

It was the first time in what felt like years that we not only reorganized our Excel spreadsheets with online data, but also our inner voice. A little bolder, a little clearer, a little: "Now, really."

We're doers, but I admit: the last five years have been tough. So many topics were important, so much news was difficult to bear.

From Hamburg to Porto

Our Netquarter aka headquarters is on Jungfernstieg – in the old Kunsthaus in the back building. A little spoiler: We wouldn't want to sit in the front row either – we'd rather save the money for the mission. Hamburg remains our heart – but we've gained reinforcements: in Höhenkirchen and in Porto. New faces, new energy, new ideas. Benjamin and I now have a bigger "child" who is becoming more independent – and suddenly things are happening. Products that were sitting in the ideas drawer for ages are becoming reality. Shipping works without a break. And we even have time for content that isn't created at a desk at 12:30 a.m. with greasy hair, but where it belongs: by the sea .

It took three attempts because something kept coming up and we were simply too busy. So: off to Sylt . Not to chill— to do . We wanted to know what BRACENET feels like there, where our main target group soaks up their Aperol Spritz vibes. And after last year, Sylt could use a breath of fresh, positive air. We traveled there with Deutsche Bahn—sustainably, without delays, with luggage full of nets and brains full of plans. Accommodation: Mimosa Suites . Great location, close to the train station, two minutes to the nearest fish sandwich. Just kidding—but we can really recommend the suites.

Content, Cake & Chaos

We strolled through the market, visited retailers , and bought strawberries (for the content, of course, not to snack on... cough), and walked into what felt like every shop on Friedrichstrasse. We observed, chatted, and understood. Which props fit us? Which shops understand our why? Where might our bracelets fit—and where probably not?

Our drink of the week? Ramazotti Spritz. Tastes like vacation and adulthood at the same time. Between Ramazotti and Reels, seagulls and market stalls, there was one thing above all: lots of laughter. Marthe and I function like a mini sitcom when we travel – Season 1: Sylt. We test outfits, curse the wind, shoot videos with sand in the lens, and discuss target audiences over cake. It was... wonderful. Not even 24 hours – but I'm sure: We now know Sylt like the backs of our hands.

BRACENET is not just a bracelet

Then that one moment: When we wanted to explain to someone that the bracelet on their wrist wasn't just any accessory. It was a piece of the North Sea . A piece of old fishing net that would otherwise have killed seals, whales, or seabirds. We salvaged it. And now you're wearing it – visibly. Marie asks if she can keep it and tries to convince her boss to let her bring it into the shop. She wipes away a tear – so do I.

Because old fishing nets, so-called "ghost nets," are floating out there. They don't just affect anyone, but seals, porpoises , and seabirds. And the island you love is right in the middle of it all.

Every year, 640,000 tons of lost fishing nets end up in the ocean worldwide. Many of them in the North Sea – including right off Sylt. This is where, in midsummer, up to 150,000 people flock to the beach every day – even though only around 20,000 people live on the island. With around 900,000 visitors annually and 6.8 million overnight stays, Sylt is a magnet. The sun shines. The water sparkles. We often overlook what's happening beneath the surface – but sometimes you can spot nets on the beach or even get caught in them while swimming.
Many illegal gill nets are found off the coast of Sylt, and reporting is often lacking. Although official figures aren't readily available, studies from across the North Sea show that bycatch is not the exception, but almost the rule—even if it's reported at less than 1% .
The problem is systemic: fishing is regulated, but oversight is lacking. In very few cases is everything digital – sometimes a pencil is placed in a notebook. But only as much as necessary to ensure that fishing is not stopped. Documenting the dead animals would also help with this – because it would give us data from which we could learn and develop strategies.

That's why we were there. Not as tourists, but with a power supply: BRACENET makes visible what should be invisible. We recover what would otherwise have killed people – and transform it into a statement.

That's why we recover the ghost nets and upcycle them into new products that allow you to make your own contribution to protecting our oceans. We rely on local, fair trade craftsmanship in our own workshops in Hamburg and Porto. We regularly donate to Healthy Seas to fund recovery missions and preventative measures, and we support many other projects to protect the oceans and marine animals.

Between snack and strategy

When we stumbled through shops in Westerland, shot reels in the wind, and talked to locals, it was all our attempt to create a connection between the beach chair and the deep sea. As Marthe always says: "If we have to do shitty work, at least we can have fun."
What we took away? A mountain of strawberries (okay, they're long gone). But also: real pictures, honest conversations , a new sales strategy, some pretty good ideas—and the feeling that we're on the right track .
If you're now thinking: I want a piece of Sylt for my wrist too – then take a look at our Sylt Island Bracenet – handmade from fishing net!

Get the Sylt network and show that you're paying attention.