Sustainable swimwear is made from eco-friendly materials that are produced in a way that minimizes impact on the environment.
This type of swimwear is often made from recycled or upcycled materials, and it often features innovative design elements that reduce water waste and energy consumption.
Sustainable swimwear is a great choice for those who want to minimize their environmental impact, and it is also often more affordable than traditional swimwear.
Summertime is the perfect time to break out your fun and funky swimwear, but have you ever stopped to think about where that swimwear comes from?
Unfortunately, most swimwear is actually made from synthetic materials that are harmful to the environment and our oceans.
Luckily, there are some eco friendly and sustainable swimwear brands out there that make beautiful and affordable swimwear using only sustainable materials.
A recent study by Kyushu University in Japan, found there are 24 trillion pieces of microplastic swimming in our oceans!
Every summer we interact with our oceans, whether on the beach or on a boat, often not considering the negative impacts we have individually, let alone as a global community.
It’s a long journey and there is a lot of work to do, but simply being mindful of your buying choices when it comes to swimwear and accessories is a step in the right direction.
By choosing to support socially conscious and sustainable swimwear, you are voting with our dollar to see a rise in more ethical fashion production, while alleviating the strain we put on our oceans everyday.
The Environmental Impact of Traditional Swimwear
Traditional swimwear, often made from non-biodegradable synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon, contributes to the mounting environmental crisis. These materials are derived from fossil fuels, which release harmful greenhouse gases during their production.
Additionally, the manufacturing process involves the use of toxic chemicals and excessive water consumption, further exacerbating environmental damage.
Moreover, when these conventional swimwear items reach the end of their life cycle, they often end up in landfills, taking hundreds of years to decompose.
The Key Elements of Sustainable Swimwear
Sustainable swimwear aims to counteract the negative environmental impacts of traditional swimwear. It encompasses several key elements that make it an eco-friendly choice.
Firstly, sustainable swimwear utilizes renewable materials, such as discarded fishing nets, plastic bottles, and other post-consumer waste.
By repurposing these materials, swimwear brands reduce the demand for virgin resources and minimize waste.
Secondly, sustainable swimwear prioritizes natural and biodegradable fibers like organic cotton, bamboo, or hemp. These materials are grown without the use of harmful pesticides or excessive water, making them more sustainable alternatives.
Furthermore, sustainable swimwear brands often employ responsible manufacturing practices. They prioritize fair trade, ethical labor conditions, and reduce water and energy consumption during production.
Additionally, some brands even employ innovative techniques like digital printing, which minimizes water usage and eliminates the need for toxic dyes.
The Benefits of Choosing Sustainable Swimwear
Opting for sustainable swimwear comes with a myriad of benefits. Firstly, by choosing eco-conscious swimwear, individuals can significantly reduce their carbon footprint.
The use of recycled materials and natural fibers reduces greenhouse gas emissions, water usage, and pollution. By supporting brands that prioritize sustainability, consumers can actively contribute to a healthier planet.
Secondly, sustainable swimwear often boasts higher quality and durability compared to fast fashion alternatives.
These garments are designed to withstand the sun, saltwater, and chlorine, ensuring longevity. This reduces the need for frequent replacements and ultimately saves money in the long run.
By supporting these brands, consumers can promote responsible working conditions and contribute to the improvement of workers’ livelihoods.
Sustainable Swimwear Brands
Noserider
Noserider is a sustainable swimsuit brand that emphasizes eco-friendly practices at every stage of its business.
The brand’s surf suits are crafted from a luxury, eco-sustainable fabric composed of 78% ECONYL® regenerated nylon and 22% elastane, ensuring durability and environmental responsibility.
This choice of material not only makes the suits resistant to chlorine and sun creams/oils but also provides UV protection of 50, highlighting the brand’s commitment to both sustainability and user safety.
Production is kept local, with the surf suits handmade in Bali by a female-owned manufacturer located near the Noserider Surf Shop.
This proximity supports small batch production and timely manufacturing while fostering community engagement. Packaging reflects the brand’s sustainable ethos, with each surf suit packaged in a biodegradable bag.
Tags are made from 100% recycled card paper, and hygiene liners from recycled Kraft paper. Furthermore, Noserider offers reusable canvas tote bags as packaging for surf suits sold both online and in-store, further underscoring their dedication to environmental conservation.
5B Swim
5B Swim is a New York City based fashion label elevating handmade swimwear and activewear. Founders Lauryn & Ashley thoughtfully craft each piece from start to finish – with no detail overlooked.
Their unique approach focuses on zero waste production, using repurposed scraps in custom designs made from ECONYL® fabric.
Moreover, all orders are sent out using only compostable packaging materials like Better Packaging comPOLY bags and WastedBased Co mailers for an extra eco-friendly touch.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A combines sustainability with luxury. They use eco-friendly materials like Ecolux™, made from recycled nylon, and incorporate innovative production methods to reduce waste.
The company is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact and using its platform to advocate for change. They continuously strive to improve their sustainability practices both in their products and operations.
In partnership with a “green team,” they conducted an audit of their materials and supply chain over the past decade to assess their impact.
When it comes to materials, the company’s founder was inspired by Patagonia’s use of recycled plastic bottles and decided to design their own swim fabric called EcoLux™.
They collaborate with reputable mills in Italy, Canada, and California to create sustainable high-performance fabrics like recycled nylon fibers, as well as eco-conscious textiles such as organic cotton, linen, recycled cotton, and Tencel®.
All materials used meet the global Oeko-Tex standard for safe textiles.
The company values local production, which reduces emissions from shipping and allows them to build relationships with their manufacturing teams. They prioritize working with vertically integrated facilities where processes from dyeing to knitting take place in one location, minimizing the carbon footprint.
As they operate in California, which has stringent environmental laws, they adhere to high standards of workplace ethics and environmental responsibility.
For products that cannot be made in California, they partner with fair trade artisans globally, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions.
Throughout their production process, they aim to reduce waste and energy consumption. They prioritize fair treatment and compensation for all workers involved. The company maintains close relationships with their partner factories, visiting them regularly to ensure compliance with high standards.
In their distribution processes, they implement sustainable measures at their headquarters and warehouse.
They have replaced all lightbulbs with LEDs, utilize Nest thermostats for intelligent heating and cooling, employ solar cooling fans, implement smart weather-controlled irrigation, and use low-flow water fixtures.
They also minimize energy usage with occupancy sensor lights, provide reusable dining products, utilize 100% recycled paper products, and rely on Energy Star-rated appliances. They encourage remote work to reduce commuting-related pollution.
Packaging is another area where the company focuses on sustainability. They research and source the most sustainable materials available, using only what is necessary for shipping.
Their mailers are 100% recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable, while their garment bags are 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and backyard compostable.
Outerknown
Helping to revolutionize the fashion world, Outerknown is an innovative company started by legendary surfer and professional skateboarder Kelly Slater.
Walking the talk with regards to sustainability, all of its products are created using ethically-sourced materials from suppliers who adhere strictly to environmental and social standards, as well as produced in WRAP-certified factories.
In addition, this trendsetting brand partners with nonprofit organizations for causes such as ocean conservation and climate change – proving that style doesn’t have sacrifice quality or ethics.
With their commitment towards creating fashionable yet responsible clothing solutions – it’s no surprise why Outerknown has become a leader in today’s industry.
Sea Culture
Sea Culture is on a mission to help make our earth cleaner through collaborating with charities and creating products that last.
With the use of recycled plastics, they’re making an eco-friendly impact by producing shirts, swimwear, beanies – all made in the USA.
So far their efforts have saved 1,000 water bottles from landfills or ending up back in our oceans!
Camela Swimwear
Camela Swimwear combines timeless design and sustainability. Their commitment to the environment is evident in their choice of sustainable materials — like ECONYL® yarn, which is 100% regenerated from waste that was destined for our oceans and landfills.
By choosing this high-quality fabric, you’re making a conscious decision towards helping protect Earth’s precious resources while having an item that will last you forever.
TomboyX Swimwear
TomboyX has taken sustainability to the next level, ensuring customers have a safe and responsible wardrobe. By incorporating BCI certified suppliers into their supply chain, they guarantee that every bit of cotton used is sourced through farmer-centric practices.
They’ve also attained OEKO-Tex certification for all products made with cotton which adds an extra layer of assurance that each textile is sustainable and ethically produced.
TomboyX’s Eco Fleece capsule collection features an innovative blend of both cotton and recycled polyester, where the latter is sourced from plastic water bottles.
Their line also includes TENCEL™ Modal spun from beechwood pulp – delivering a fabric that is biodegradable, breathable and incredibly soft to touch while being durable too.
Those in search for sustainable swimwear can now rely on this brand as each piece has been certified by Oeko-tex 100 standards ensuring no chemicals were used during production.
boochen
boochen is a passionate ocean-loving team that seeks to reduce the planet’s pollution. To this end, they create reversible bikinis made from recycled materials like polyester and nylon taken from sea-waste.
Their commitment to sustainability led them to partner with UNIFI® through their REPREVE® initiative which helps protect oceans around the world!
Billions of plastic bottles go into landfills every year. But now you can do something about it. REPREVE® is the leading, most trusted, branded performance fiber made from recycled materials (including plastic bottles).
For an optimal fit and flattering silhouette, every design features adjustable details tailored just right whether it’s swimming laps or taking leisurely strolls on the shoreline – no matter what activity comes first.
Londre
Every Londre swimsuit contains 6 plastic bottles, while their packaging is made from corn and recyclable materials.
So far, Londre has taken over 90,000 plastic bottles from the beaches and streets of Taiwan to create their swimwear.
The sustainable brand also takes their stand on social causes by raising funds for women’s health and environmental initiatives, donating over $10,000 to organizations such as Amazon Watch and the Yellow Hammer Fund.
Summersalt
Summersalt focuses on creating timeless swimwear pieces using recycled materials. Their swimwear is designed to fit a range of body shapes and sizes, promoting inclusivity and body positivity.
To minimize their environmental impact, they utilize recycled or eco-friendly materials such as TENCEL™, TENCEL Modal, and Cupro in many of their garments.
They continuously refine their processes and explore fabric development to ensure their operations and products are as eco-friendly as possible.
The company also makes efforts to reduce waste by using poly bags made from recycled materials for shipping and employing double adhesive shipping mailers that can be reused.
The swimwear made with their signature fabric offers UPF 50+ protection and is designed to withstand sand, sweat, and chlorine.
Through wear tests, the fabric has proven to retain its shape and compression power even after over 100 hours of use in chlorinated water. While they recommend wearing sunscreen, they advise avoiding brands with Avobenzone as it may stain swimsuits.
Certain collections, such as maternity and COLLECTION by Summersalt, feature unique materials like TENCEL™, TENCEL Modal, and Cupro, which are known for their sustainability and comfort-enhancing properties.
The company also takes into consideration animal welfare by sourcing cruelty-free wool for their cashmere and wool products, using Oeko-Tex certified dyes.
For products made with traditional materials, they are actively working on finding sustainable alternatives through fabric development, research, and trials.
Overall, the company strives to combine style and sustainability, making conscious choices to reduce their environmental impact while providing customers with durable and fashionable swimwear options.
MAYOMI
At MAYOMI, the aim is to forge a more sustainable future through collaboration with innovators and the procurement of the highest quality materials for their products.
The company transforms plastic waste into new products without extracting natural resources or increasing CO2 emissions.
Their packaging is designed to be as eco-friendly as possible, made from 90% recycled material and transported via DHL GoGreen's carbon-neutral services.
With every purchase, customers support One Tree Planted in its mission to reforest areas around the globe.
Fair Harbor Swimwear
Fair Harbor is a sibling run company creating swimwear out of recycled plastic in an effort to keep the oceans clean.
Growing up spending summers on Fire Island, Jake and Caroline Danehy would pass their afternoons selling lemonade on the sidewalk, surfing and swimming in the water, fishing off the pier, and riding bikes around the carless streets.
Fast forward a few years, Jake and Caroline are now heading a successful business and helping to beat plastic pollution in the ocean, one bottle at a time.
Inspired by those summers spent on Fair Harbor, Fire Island, their brand produces high-quality, stylish swimwear for men and women from plastic bottles and other sustainable materials (like upcycled coconuts).
Indosole
Indosole is a company that produces shoes and flip flops made from recycled tires. The company was founded in 2006, and its products are available in over 30 countries.
Indosole’s mission is to reduce waste and create sustainable products. The company’s shoes and flip flops are made from upcycled tires that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators.
Indosole’s shoes are not only good for the environment, but they’re also stylish and comfortable.
The company offers a variety of styles for both men and women. And, because they’re made from recycled materials, they’re extremely durable and perfect for those beach days.
Patagonia
Characterized by their striking designs and unmatched durability, Patagonia clothing has found a special place in the hearts of explorers, hikers, and athletes alike.
But beyond just providing high-quality gear to better enjoy nature, the company is also deeply committed to protecting the very environment it encourages its customers to explore.
Through eco-friendly materials, sustainable production methods, and active involvement in environmental causes, Patagonia not only designs apparel but also fosters a relationship between its wearers and the world around them.
With each purchase of a jacket or pair of hiking boots, one can feel a part of something much bigger than simply acquiring new clothing – they join a community of like-minded individuals, united by a love for the outdoors and a mutual responsibility to preserve it for generations to come.
Patagonia offers several different styles of swimwear. This reversible, high-waist bikini bottoms have hidden mesh fabric sewn into the interior for body contouring and a secure fit during surf and watersports.
Made with 83% recycled polyester/17% spandex jersey (prints) or 80% recycled nylon/20% spandex (solid jacquards). Fair Trade Certified™ sewn.
Reistor
Reistor was created as a result of recognizing the compelling need for incorporating sustainability into every aspect of fashion – from sourcing to selling – in an otherwise traditionally run polluting industry.
Their beach to bar dress is a perfect all day choice for conscious consumers.
Reistor represents minimalistic fashion that is timeless and transformative, without diluting our social and environmental responsibility.
The focus is on reducing environmental impact (REI) by using sustainable fabrics like hemp, biodegradable trims and home compostable packaging.
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