Named for the gigantic, slow-moving whirlpools where much of the oceans’ plastic debris aggregates, the Vortex Project is no ordinary cleanup effort.

Targeting the planet’s plastic-choked oceans, the project is an attempt to find creative, consumer-friendly ways to incorporate ocean plastic into yarn, fabric and other consumer materials.

The process begins with Sea Shepherd Conservation Society USA, which leads the effort in scientific innovation and public awareness, as well as working with conservationists to mobilize teams to help clean up the oceans and beaches.

Once the plastic-collection effort is in full swing, Bionic Yarn — pioneers of the first high-performance eco-yarn — transforms the debris into quality material, available for worldwide use.

Parley for the Oceans provides the final step in the Vortex Project’s success: linking environmentally conscious directors, fashion designers, product inventors, journalists, architects, and more together to share knowledge and form collaborations.

Bionic Yarn’s creative director — singer, songwriter and producer Pharrell Williams — announced the Vortex Project’s first collaboration in February 2013, with Dutch denim company G-Star RAW, which debuted a new line of denim made exclusively with Bionic Yarn’s ocean plastic eco-yarn. The line, called RAW for the Oceans, is available online and in selected G-Star RAW stores.

“It’s time humanity takes responsibility for our actions and cleans up the mess we’ve made,” said Capt. Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. “We hope this is the first of many meaningful collaborations to come.”

For more information on the project, visit parley.tv/thevortexproject. To see the G-Star collaboration, visit g-star.com.