Casual apparel company Marine Layer will open in downtown Bethesda this summer, the brand’s first location in Maryland.
The San Francisco-based company will operate from a 1,599-square-foot shop at 4803 Bethesda Ave. in Bethesda Row. The location will be the third Marine Layer in the Washington region and 41st store overall.
Bethesda Row – which includes an Apple retail store, Lululemon athletic apparel and Warby Parker eyewear shops – is a property of Federal Realty Investment Trust, which announced its new tenant Tuesday.
Marine Layer was founded in 2009 by Michael Natenshon, and the company has developed 25 fabrics from beechwood pulp, with an emphasis on softness.
“I wanted to recreate a shirt that would feel like my old favorite from Day 1,” Natenshon said on the company’s website.
Marine Layer has branched out beyond T-shirts into casual apparel for men, women and children, including hoodies, shorts, skirts, underwear and accessories. Adult tops are in the $40 to $50 range, while bottoms are around $75 to $100. Childrens’ items are about $10 less.
“Federal Realty is always searching for superior new-to-market brands and innovative concepts for Bethesda Row,” Federal Realty Senior Vice President of Leasing Stuart Biel said in a statement. “Marine Layer is a shopping destination for the entire family, adding to the exciting mix of retail Bethesda Row offers.”
The signature Marine Layer fabric is made from recycled beechwood, a self-sufficient process making the clothing eco-friendly. The company began its Re-Spun initiative in late 2018 to further its sustainability efforts, offering customers a $5 discount for turning in old T-shirts, which are then broken down into recycled yarn and made into “new” apparel.
Charlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
