A bold headline introduces a local creator who turns scrap from surfboard production into striking, durable jewelry. But here’s the twist: the designer’s journey blends passion for the ocean with a mission to repurpose waste. This is the story of Surf Gems, a San Luis Obispo County brand that converts recycled resin into vivid earrings, necklaces, rings, and bolo ties.
On a brisk morning five years back, Abby Ahlgrim squeezed into a thick black wetsuit, paddled out, and rode the Pacific’s frigid swells. As Morro Bay’s white-topped waves curled over her, a rush of adrenaline culminated in a moment she describes as almost sacred—standing on the board and feeling utterly at home in her body. That sense of belonging grew as she trained during the long COVID lockdown, even as the cold waters demanded her attention daily. Yet she also longed for color and femininity in a space she saw as predominantly male.
That desire sparked an unconventional idea: could leftover resin from surfboard manufacturing be transformed into wearable art? In 2020, she launched Surf Gems, a venture rooted in tapping into post-production waste and reshaping it into lightweight, colorful jewelry that stands up to real-life adventures. The brand now ships to more than 80 retailers nationwide, including notable institutions like The Getty in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, as well as all Title Nine stores.
Ahlgrim emphasizes practicality alongside style. Her pieces are designed for hiking, biking, running, or climbing—products that let wearers feel vibrant and ready for any challenge. Many customers—primarily women—have thanked her for providing bold, sea-inspired accessories that complement an active lifestyle while offering a form of self-expression that ripples beyond fashion.
Cal Poly played a pivotal role in enabling this venture. Ahlgrim’s formative years in Waldorf education fostered hands-on learning and imaginative problem-solving, traits she carried into art and entrepreneurship. At Cal Poly, she developed a critical mindset about sustainability, technology, and how everyday infrastructure shapes life. After earning her degree in 2018, she briefly worked as a chef at the Esalen Institute, but the pandemic led to layoffs that redirected her path toward surfing and her resin-recycling idea.
Her interest in surfing began as a personal discovery—she once felt she didn’t belong, yet the ocean’s rhythm felt like a perfect match. When she glimpsed the discarded resin at the surfboard shop where a former partner worked, the potential of turning waste into wearable art became obvious. She started by cutting, grinding, and shaping the hardened resin slabs—nicknamed “surf rocks”—in a modest Morro Bay studio, and she called the finished pieces “surf gems.” She launched a simple website and began selling at pop-up markets, quickly finding demand outpace supply.
Surf Gems’ growth has been steady and intimate: most pieces are small-batch, with Ahlgrim personally handling every item as production scales. The jewelry is celebrated for its eco-friendly story—an effort to rescue a modest amount of waste from ending up in a landfill—and for its ability to spark conversations about sustainable design.
Production involves a careful, months-long process of converting resin chunks into wearable formats. Ahlgrim sources resin from local and regional surfboard producers, selects pieces with striking color patterns, and uses a range of tools to craft dozens of shapes. After shaping, each piece is tumbled to a smooth finish before being mounted on hoops, chains, or leather cords. The entire process demands protective gear and careful attention to detail, as the studio becomes coated with white dust during shaping and polishing.
Although Surf Gems remains a small operation, it has begun to expand its team to meet demand, while keeping a deliberately intimate, hands-on approach. Ahlgrim’s mother, known as the GemMama, manages packaging and shipping, and production also occurs at a family member’s home. The business aims to maintain its close-knit culture even as it grows.
Today Surf Gems are carried in about 85 stores nationwide, with a particular concentration of local shops in the Central Coast. They’re also available through the Surf Gems website and at local pop-up events, including appearances at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market. The company will host open studio events on a weekend in December, inviting the community to see how the pieces are made in Los Osos.
The broader takeaway is clear: creativity paired with sustainability can yield beautiful, functional art that resonates with everyday explorers. Ahlgrim’s story invites readers to question where their own accessories come from and how waste can be repurposed into something that celebrates both style and responsibility. If you’re curious about the ongoing conversation around sustainable fashion and the impact of upcycling, what are your thoughts—do you see more brands embracing similar approaches, or do you think this remains a niche movement? How might you apply a similar mindset to your own hobbies or work?
