Our Story
At EcoStiks, our journey began with a surprising twist. As Julie Schneiderman, our CEO and Founder, often says, "My greatest failure became my greatest success." In 2020, while developing our signature EcoStiks patches, Julie discovered that these patches could serve a far greater purpose than she had initially imagined – even becoming a platform to address climate change and her journey in becoming an accidental environmental advocate and entrepreneur.
Ecostiks was founded by Julie Schneiderman, an artist, surfer, mother and environmental advocate. Founded in Santa Barbara's arts district, the Funk Zone.
How it all began
With a deep love for surfing, creativity, self-expression, and the environment, EcoStiks patches were originally designed to stick to wetsuits, offering a fun way to customize gear. However, after countless trials with eco-friendly materials and adhesives, it seemed like the patches just wouldn’t stick to wetsuits as intended.
Julie was on the verge of giving up when something unexpected happened: the patches started sticking to everything "but" wetsuits –
surfboards, skateboards, snowboards, skis, hats, yoga mats, jackets, luggage and more.
They held up beautifully!
Even better, the waterproof, durable, and eco-friendly fabric, made from recycled water bottles, provided unexpected versatility and utility.
To this day, we’re still discovering new applications for our patches!
A Purpose Beyond the Product
This accidental discovery led to an even more meaningful realization: EcoStiks patches could be a tool to raise awareness about the harmful impact of single-use plastics and the importance of protecting the environment we all enjoy.
Julie’s journey from surfer, artist, product developer to environmental advocate and entrepreneur may have been unplanned, but it’s one that has shaped EcoStiks into a brand dedicated to sustainability, community, creativity and self expression. Together, we’re on a mission to inspire change, one EcoStiks patch at a time.
Small waves make big waves. How will you Stik It?
