our story

MARBLIS is an architectural surfaces brand that produces biomarble in California, made from marine biocalcites derived from ecologically destructive species to restore balance in the oceans. Their first debut product, Urchinite™, is the world’s first biomarble made from sea urchins. Mineralized from overabundant purple sea urchin shell, Urchinite represents a breakthrough in material science and ecological design: a biomarble engineered not just for beauty and durability, but for environmental repair.

"In nature, nothing exists alone" - Rachel Carlson, silent spring

Once a symbol of underwater imbalance, the overpopulated Strongylocentrotus Purpuratus, also known as the purple sea urchin has devastated California’s kelp forests, stripping once-thriving marine ecosystems down to sea urchin deserts. Urchinite offers a tangible solution, where each biomarble is made from purple sea urchins harvested from overabundant urchin barrens — helping to restore balance beneath the waves. Once deemed a "zombie" nuisance, the purple sea urchin is now being reimagined as a symbol of recovery and transformation, where each surface is traceable to a marine restoration event. Urchinite™ is the culmination of years of research, blending cutting edge materials science, biodesign innovation, and artisanal craftsmanship into a product that is as high-performing as it is meaningful and beautiful.