Holden Bierman, an 18-year-old entrepreneur from North Carolina, is making waves in the fashion industry by turning plastic waste into trendy swimwear. Then, on his 13th birthday in August 2020, he officially started his company Coastal Cool. He launched his business with a $500 micro-loan from his parents. Initially conceived as a creative outlet during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Coastal Cool quickly evolved into a brand with a meaningful mission: to help clean up the world’s oceans.
Bierman’s new venture was initially launched with a line of T-shirts and hoodies. Now, it’s blossomed into a national brand that produces sustainable, fully-lined, light-weight swimwear using 88%–91% recycled polyester that is blended with spandex. This dynamic, creative approach is responding to the environmental crisis that plastic waste has created. It gives many fashionable choices to consumers who want to do something about their ecological footprint.
Coastal Cool is proud to partner with TideyOcean, a nonprofit focused on collecting the most harmful plastics in our oceans whilst creating fair-pay jobs in developing countries. By working this way, Bierman hopes to achieve both economic success and strong environmental stewardship.
As Bierman continues to expand, he’ll be balancing business with a college education, while introducing Coastal Cool’s offerings into retail locations. His dedication to intertwining education and entrepreneurship speaks to his realization that both are necessary in tandem for sustained success. He’s passionate about helping young people to pursue their passions and take risks for their potential.
“You’ve got one life and I think everybody has a purpose on earth to do something cool.” – Holden Bierman
Even with all the difficulty of being a new CEO in his twenties, Bierman’s story has been able to motivate others. He’s delivered this same message at hundreds of colleges and K-12 schools around North Carolina, igniting a fire in students to pursue their dreams. His faith in the power of community is palpable and inspiring in his work. He drives home the point that entrepreneurship is not only about creating products, but it’s about cultivating a community of like-minded people to collectively pursue a vision.
Bierman’s entrepreneurial spirit is rooted in more than just his current pursuits. He’s unrepentant in admitting that he inherited his selling personality from his father and his creativity from his mother. It’s this unique combination of passion and persistence that has defined his sometimes unorthodox path to business success.
“I think I get my selling personality from him. And I get my creativity side from my mom.” – Holden Bierman
Though Bierman has had great success, he’s the first to admit that he had to pay the price to get there. As he reflects on his past, he considers all the quintessential teenage experiences he never had, from prom to parties. He emphasizes that the relationships he’s built and the opportunities he’s taken advantage of have made it all worth it.
“I missed out on going to dances and football games and social events, but then I’ve been able to do awesome things and connect with awesome people.” – Holden Bierman
Bierman’s thoughts for other young dreamers are simple, but no less profound. He urges them to fail, to take chances, to pursue what they’re interested in and to keep their minds and options open.
“So take the risk, try. You have so much time to recover if something goes wrong, but just follow your passion, and connect the dots, and see what happens from it.” – Holden Bierman
His vision for Coastal Cool extends beyond mere profit. He aims to bring quality products to the market while contributing positively to society. As he puts it:
“I want to bring quality to the market.” – Holden Bierman
Jeremy Porter, founder of TideyOcean, testifies to Bierman’s dedication and passion. He describes working with the young entrepreneur as “truly inspiring,” noting that Bierman’s dedication to environmental impact sets a commendable example for his community.
“Working with Holden Bierman has been truly inspiring,” – Jeremy Porter
