SEA BEYOND 2.0 represents a paradigm shift, showing that corporate responsibility in fashion must be more than a trend. It can be a cultural commitment with real ecological consequences. As Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, expressed during the conference, “Every child empowered through ocean literacy brings us one step closer to a more sustainable and conscious future.”
A partnership that blends science, education, and culture
SEA BEYOND has already made waves. Since its launch, the initiative has introduced more than 35,000 students worldwide to ocean literacy principles. It has also expanded to include immersive experiences like the “Kindergarten of the Lagoon” in Venice—an experimental project where children learn about marine ecosystems in direct contact with the environment they aim to protect.
With the creation of the new fund, Prada Group and UNESCO are scaling this vision to the next level. Over the next five years, the SEA BEYOND fund will support youth-driven, locally rooted, and globally scalable projects across five core pillars: integrating ocean education into schools (“Blue Education”), empowering young voices in science and policy, preserving oceanic cultures, strengthening the connection between science and public policy, and reshaping how the public perceives ocean issues through strategic media campaigns.
This isn’t about symbolic donations or corporate greenwashing—it’s about systemic change. Projects will be selected through international calls for proposals, the first of which will open in December 2025, and each proposal will be vetted by a multidisciplinary scientific committee to ensure both rigor and impact.
When fashion leads with purpose
It may seem surprising that a luxury fashion house would emerge as a key player in environmental advocacy, but Prada Group’s engagement with sustainability is neither recent nor superficial. Beyond consumer-facing initiatives like its Re-Nylon line, the company has also invested internally, training over 14,000 employees using immersive virtual reality platforms and tools like the UN-backed AWorld app. These trainings go beyond optics—they represent an internal cultural shift toward long-term planetary thinking.
Bertelli, who has become one of the most vocal advocates for sustainability in the fashion industry, sees SEA BEYOND not just as a CSR program, but as a responsibility. “We are part of a system that has global influence,” he said. “And influence must be paired with integrity.”
In this light, Prada’s partnership with UNESCO is more than a gesture—it’s a strategy. UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission brings scientific depth and international reach to the initiative, making it a powerful platform for change that extends well beyond the fashion ecosystem.
Shaping narratives, shaping the future
One of the most compelling aspects of the SEA BEYOND fund is its focus on storytelling. Alongside science and policy, Prada and UNESCO are investing in the power of narrative to shift public consciousness. This means working with artists, filmmakers, influencers, and educators to rethink how ocean protection is communicated—making it more accessible, emotional, and urgent.
By incorporating storytelling into its structure, SEA BEYOND recognizes that facts alone aren’t enough to change behavior. What people remember, share, and act on are stories—especially when they’re told with clarity and cultural relevance. As the climate crisis becomes increasingly abstract and politicized, the need for emotionally resonant narratives has never been greater.
This intersection of art, education, and science is where SEA BEYOND stands apart. It doesn’t merely hope to raise awareness—it aims to inspire stewardship. In an age when apathy often accompanies overload, Prada and UNESCO are offering a model for how private institutions can leverage their cultural capital for real-world impact.
The ocean, the youth, and the long view
At its heart, the SEA BEYOND fund is about empowering the next generation to protect the planet they will inherit. It’s about giving young people the tools, knowledge, and platform to act—not just as future leaders, but as change-makers today. With targeted support and a global network, the fund aims to convert ocean literacy into tangible local action, creating ripple effects from coastal villages to international policymaking tables.
Fashion may not have all the answers, but through this collaboration, Prada is proving that it can be part of the solution. By anchoring sustainability in education, amplifying youth voices, and honoring oceanic heritage, the SEA BEYOND fund charts a new course for what meaningful impact can look like in the luxury sector.
As the climate clock ticks and environmental challenges escalate, initiatives like this serve as a reminder: the tides can still be turned—but only if we all go beyond.
