47.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Ocean Spirit for two Oceanside High alumnae
The brand is Ocean Spirit NY; an apparel business founded by Oceanside residents and Oceanside High School graduates (class of 2011) Samantha and Emily Febrizio. The 22-year-old identical twins have taken their passion for the beach and their talent for producing ocean-inspired designs and launched a clothing company.
“It kind of came to me when I was sitting in anthropology class," said co-founder Samantha. "I was doodling and came up with a concept for a company that benefitted ocean conservation. I was also a graphic design major.”
Samantha said she grew up near the ocean and always loved it, so when looking for a name the sisters “threw around” ideas and settled on Ocean Spirit.
With each purchase from the Ocean Spirit line of shirts, hats, totes and blankets, five percent of the profits go to ocean preservation. “We donate to the Riverhead Foundation, the Long Island chapter of Surf Rider, and coming up Operation Splash,” Samantha said. “I’ve always had the idea every achievement I make I want to give back.”
Emily went to school for interior design, but also loved graphic design. “I saw my sister had this idea but nothing was happening, so I helped with the designs.”
Both girls were working at Mook Printing and Design in Island Park, where they learned how to screen print their own designs, and owner Mark Taglianetti helped them print their first shirts.
They started selling their shirts at the Long Beach Crafts Fair in 2015. Now they have “brand ambassadors” all over Long Island, in Maryland, California, New Jersey and even Nova Scotia, Canada, but they still do most of their selling through social media and on the web at https://www.oceanspiritny.com/.
