Eco-friendly, Guam-based company heads to Saipan

A Guam-based brand that is fighting climate change has expanded into the CNMI through a partnership with local brand Tribe Marianas.

Shorty’s, a brand that sells accessories and seeks to do so in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner, has partnered with Tribe Marianas to offer their products to residents of Saipan. Last Saturday, they set up a two-day pop-up store outside Tribe Marianas, giving away free backpacks, school supplies, and even some of their products.

The pop-up store reportedly gave away over 100 stories that are made of recycled materials, along with about 600 backpacks. They also gave away books and other reading materials, along with school supplies.

“…The entire Shorty’s brand was thought of while I was sitting on a beach in Chalan Kanoa, so I thought it right that Saipan should be a large part of our market,” Shorty’s founder Kai Murrell told Saipan Tribune in an interview Saturday afternoon.

“We wanted to be able to launch [on] both Saipan and [in] Guam as a small company and grow in both locations because both [islands] are home,” he said.

Murrell noted that they recently released a snapback hat that is 100-percent organic and entirely biodegradable except for the snap. “I haven’t figured out how to do the snaps because they need to be [sturdier],” he said. “We are trying to do everything about our company as eco-friendly as possible,” adding that all of the company’s products are either biodegradable or made of recycled products.

Murrell’s day job consists of disaster relief work for the Ayuda Foundation, along with medical missions on other islands.

Tribe Mariana’s general manager and co-founder T.J. DLC Manglona told Saipan Tribune that the eco-friendly mission of Shorty’s is something that Tribe Marianas would support.

“We are very open to collaborating with everybody, especially those from other islands,” he said. “When Kai approached us with the concept of his brand, we felt it was just right.”

“Everything he sells is made of biodegradable products and recycled products, so why not have a pop-up here and support the cause,” he added.

Those interested in getting Shorty’s products may visit Tribe Marianas at the D’Torres building on Middle Road, Garapan. They are open from 11 am to 7 pm from Monday to Saturday.