Wetlands
iCast2023
Thank you to everyone who visited our booth!
(Left To Right) Nic Portell, Captain Jimmy Nelson, Luiza Nelson, Rory Todd (CEO/Artist)
Thank You for Making Wetlandsusa Shine at ICAST 2023!
At Wetlandsusa, we are still buzzing with excitement following our unforgettable experience at the 2023 International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST). We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who stopped by our booth and helped make it a resounding success. From the moment the doors opened, the energy surrounding our display was electrifying. Johnny Morris, the esteemed founder of Bass Pro Shops, took notice of us and stopped by, which meant the world to us. Of course, it was the reaction to our performance apparel that truly left us speechless. Hearing attendees describe it as the best they've ever encountered was a dream come true. We poured our hearts into designing gear that not only performs impeccably but also reflects the passion and spirit of the fishing community,
Your enthusiastic response confirmed that we hit the mark. The icing on the cake was when fishing legends Luiza and Capt Jimmy Nelson stopped by to see what all the buzz was about. Among many, their visit was a moment we'll never forget and a testament to the impact Wetlandsusa is making in the industry. As we reflect on our time at ICAST, we're filled with gratitude for each and every one of you who visited our booth, shared your feedback, and supported our journey. Your enthusiasm fuels our passion, and we can't wait to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability in the world of fishing apparel. Thank you for making Wetlandsusa shine at ICAST 2023. We can't wait to see what the future holds as we continue this incredible journey together.
Warm regards,
About Wetlands
Our oceans and our freshwater lakes and rivers are as fragile as they are beautiful. They are slowly being strangled by micro-plastics, pollution, chemical runoff, human waste, heavy metals, fertilizers, hormones, pharmaceuticals and industrial dumping. Overfishing and overexploitation of vulnerable marine resources has decimated certain fish and sea life populations. The human footprint is lasting. WetLands was created to raise awareness through art and action. We want to turn the tide. Conservation begins locally. It’s as easy as buying a tee shirt.
We are donating a percentage of every shirt purchase to local marine, beach and wetland conservation, cleanup and testing. Help preserve our coastlines. Visit our donation page to review our list of charitable conservation organizations. Real research. Real change. Working together, we can all make a difference.
Wetlands was launched in the spring of 2022 and is a celebration of our coastal ecosystems, as seen through the eyes of an artist. It is an outdoor recreational and lifestyle brand engineered for the Florida local, but our creed of conservation is universal to anglers, divers, hunters, surfers, spear fisherman and nature lovers all over the world. Our products are a reflection of our passion. In the past year and a half, we have received a tremendous amount of support from the fishing community and the public, and without them, none of this would be possible. Thank you for visiting our site and helping us save our oceans and wetlands.
The goal is zero harm. That means no impact. We have a dedicated team sourcing and producing superior DTF and sublimation printing. Our shirts perform. Our products stand the test of time. Proudly MADE IN THE USA.
The Art
Rory Hilton Todd is the artist and the creative mind behind the Wetlands brand. He has dedicated thousands of hours to creating works of art that have revolutionized design and sustainable garment construction in the outdoor lifestyle and sports fishing markets. Each piece of artwork is a meticulous portrayal of the diverse and wondrous habitats that surround us. They begin with a simple sketch and evolve into finished works that swim right off the page in unmatched detail and composition. The artist grew up surfing and fishing off the snow white shores of the Florida panhandle. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and most of the incredible marine species found on this site are indigenous to his home state of Florida. Simply put, he illustrates “what he knows best.”
There’s no denying that what makes our product so unique is the aesthetic. No one can match the quality of our marine art or garment design. Each of our performance pieces is a well-thought, wearable artwork. It all starts with the details. The artist meticulously researches each species he illustrates, combining his personal knowledge and experiences with a passion for color and composition. From initial sketch to printable art, the process is relatively simple. The first step is to visualize the layout and sketch a quick rough draft. Second, the artist isolates each element into a layer and creates detail using texturing and digital airbrush. Details like scales and corals are painted individually, cloned and then turned into brushes for incredible realism and detail. Layer by layer, hour after hour, the image takes shape. After +40-80 hours of work, the final art is then compressed from a canvas of 6ftx4ft down to 24” at 300dpi for a photo realistic finish. Every illlustration is a labor of love as you can see below.
