return to the ocean
tiger shark
One of the ocean's most misunderstood predators — and one of its most vital.
tiger shark
meet the animal
about the tiger shark
Named for the dark, tiger-like stripes that mark their young, tiger sharks are one of the largest predatory sharks in the ocean — and one of the most important. As apex predators, they help keep reef and seagrass ecosystems in balance, culling weak or sick prey and keeping other species from overgrazing critical habitats.
Despite their fearsome reputation, tiger sharks are slow-moving, curious animals, and populations in key habitats like the Maldives are increasingly the focus of dedicated research and protection efforts.
kayla racanelli
meet the artist
About Kayla Racanelli
Based in Hawaii, Kayla Racanelli brings this Tiger Shark to life through dotwork — building the design entirely from thousands of individual dots to create depth, texture, and movement. The piece draws directly from real underwater photography by Jake Mason and Sina Ritter, grounding the artwork in the actual animal rather than an imagined one. It’s this attention to real detail, paired with Kayla’s meticulous style, that turns a photograph into wearable art.
Miyaru Project
the cause we're supporting
About the Miyaru Project
This design supports the Miyaru Project, a Maldivian NGO dedicated to shark research and conservation. Based in Fuvahmulah — one of the few places on Earth where tiger sharks are reliably encountered year-round — Miyaru’s researchers use non-invasive tools like ultrasound imaging to study tiger shark reproductive biology, and deploy deep-sea cameras in partnership with the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab to track populations in areas newly exposed to fishing pressure. Their work is entirely community-driven, built on collaboration between local Maldivian communities and international scientists.
