Outdoor Allies: John Kozlowski

Ever wondered how you can do more for public lands but you aren’t sure where to start? Outdoor Alliance’s Outdoor Allies series explores how other outdoor adventurers got their start and their advice for how you can harness your passion for the outdoors into protecting the places you love. John Kozlowski lives in Malibu, California with his wife Erica and his two sons, Sailor and Wylder. John is the founder of Sea N’ Soul, a social marketplace for the resale of outdoor adventure gear and apparel.

Will you tell us a little about what you like to do outside and how you got into the outdoors?

First and foremost, I'm a surfer and have a deep passion for the ocean and beaches, but I have also always been drawn to the outdoors and natural open spaces that have not been touched and altered by mankind. Our family is fortunate to live in Malibu, California, where we have some of the most beautiful coastline and surf breaks in the world, so I get in the ocean pretty frequently. I usually opt for the lesser known and not as busy breaks in West Malibu. Another beautiful part of living in Malibu is that we have amazing hikes right out our front door in the Santa Monica Mountains as well as ski and snowboard runs just a short drive away—something I hope to do more of this winter.

What led you to start Sea N' Soul?

When my wife, Erica, and I had our first son Sailor, we were living in NYC and we both knew we didn't want to raise our family in the big city. I had been there for over 20 years working in the fast-paced corporate world and was ready to make a change. I was becoming aware of just how devastating we, as the fashion industry, are for the environment. At the same time, I saw the resale industry exploding with the success of the Real Real and Poshmark. So I combined my passion for the outdoors and Surf with my retail background and created Sea N' Soul when we moved out West to Malibu. From the beginning I wanted it to be much more than a transactional app for outdoor gear—I also wanted to help educate our users on what's happening with the environment and encourage them to become advocates. This is where our partnerships with Outdoor Alliance and The Surfrider Foundation align for us. For every transaction we give back to the places we all love to adventure in. We are a community of like-minded passionate outdoor enthusiasts

It's rare that companies start out with a real commitment to investing in conservation and advocacy. What made you decide to partner with the Outdoor Alliance and Surfrider Foundation from the beginning?

It was always the goal to be a regenerative company that gives back to the places we love to adventure in. My personal experience has been that surfers in general are a little more concerned with the environment than most. After all, the thing you love to do most immerses you in this amazing natural world. The ocean is different every time you enter the water. It's easy to recognize the human impact on it and whether or not the water is clean or polluted. Because of this belief people who ride waves seem to be more aware of the environmental impact human beings have on the planet. I have been a member of Surfrider foundation for many years so this was a natural choice to partner with them.

What are the biggest conservation or advocacy issues that you are focused on?

We are focused specifically on reducing the harmful impact that the fashion industry has on our planet. We are combating the issue by encouraging people to, and providing a platform for, reselling outdoor gear, apparel and staying informed on what is happening in the world of climate change. By facilitating resale on a large scale we are keeping unnecessary waste out of landfills and decreasing the demand for new production that isn’t needed.

What do you hope the future holds for the outdoors?

I hope we see a large-scale effort from big corporations to take responsibility for their actions and move in the direction of operations that are at the very least climate neutral. Overall I hope to see more empathy for the environment and the planet from people who don’t currently show that. I know that we are all, in this community, working for the greater good and I’m looking forward to seeing the fruits of our labor.

Lightning Round:

Favorite place to get outside: the ocean

Most used piece of gear: my 8’0” Josh Hall surfboard

Something you’re reading right now: In Search of Captain Zero by Allan Weisbecker. It is a sort of Surfers On the Road Jack Kerouac type of travel story. It resonates with me because Allan the author lives in Montauk NY, the story starts there. It's also where I learned to surf and have spent so much time there. It's an amazing read for anyone that loves bohemian style adventure and travel.