Sustainable Women’s Swimwear
Sustainable Women’s Swimwear
Using regenerated, recycled, or biodegradable fabrics, sustainable bikinis and one pieces reduce waste that pollutes the environment. Look for recycled nylon options like ECONYL, which uses discarded synthetic materials to make new fabric.
Look for body-positive brands that use data to design swimsuits that fit real women. For example, Youswim creates their flattering suits in small batches to reduce waste and offers reversible and multifunctional styles.
Talia Collins
Talia Collins, a former Vogue Paris stylist, launched her eponymous brand in 2018 on a mission to harmonize her love of fashion with her concern for the marine environment. Her bespoke designs use block colouration and elegant rich hues. She uses ECONYL, a yarn made from regenerated ocean plastics and discarded fishing nets to craft her swimwear, which comes with sun protection and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
The label makes one classic style in a number of different colours, using a combination of Econyl and Xtra Life Lycra. They make all of their products in Europe to minimise their environmental footprint and ensure they are producing with the highest standards of ethical and environmental working conditions. They also use recycled polyester and paper for hang tags and labels and biodegradable packaging.
Galamaar
This sustainable swimwear company has taken social media by storm and made “sustainable fashion sexy.” Wolven is all about fair trade and sustainability, and they make sure to work with factories that have WRAP certifications. They also use OEKO-Tex certified cotton, are climate neutral, and have inclusive sizing for all women.
The Los Angeles-based brand designs chic, sixties-style swimwear that’s both flattering and eco. They pay their workers a living wage, use recycled hang tags and eco packaging, and utilize techno-fabric made from reclaimed ocean plastic and discarded fishing nets.
This sustainable swimwear brand is known for their neoprene styles that are made from a blend of limestone-based and petrochemical-free neoprene. They also use recyclable and sustainable nylon, and ship their orders through a carbon-neutral program.
Made Trade
With boldly-printed and figure-flattering one-pieces made from regenerated nylon, eco-friendly swimwear label Made Trade has you covered for beach days. They create small, sustainable runs of their sexy suits to avoid waste and ship their pieces in biodegradable post-bags and tissue paper.
Their regenerated fabrics like Repreve and ECONYL are sustainable women’s swimwear made from recycled pre-consumer waste (fabric scraps, discarded fishing nets) and post-consumer plastic bottles to help reduce landfill, ocean, and energy waste. The brand also focuses on empowering women and supporting minority-owned businesses.
The conscious online shop also offers carbon-offset shipping and is a member of 1% for the Planet. Arrow + Phoenix uses luxurious-feeling recycled fabrics to make their sexy bikinis and one-pieces in sizes XS-2XL that are designed to flatter. They also donate a portion of their profits to ocean conservation and tree planting initiatives.
TomboyX
TomboyX is a gender-neutral sustainable swimwear brand that offers a wide range of flattering and feminine swimsuits. Their swimwear is made from recycled materials, including ocean-rescued plastic bottles and chitosan—a fiber derived from the exoskeletons of crabs and shrimp. The company also donates to non-profit organizations that promote environmental protection, such as Girls Inc and Surfrider Foundation.
Carve Designs is another sustainable beach lifestyle brand that creates fashion-forward swimwear. They use regenerated Econyl fabrics, which are sourced from recycled and plant-based waste. Their swimsuits are designed with form-flattering styles to suit all shapes and sizes.
Other eco friendly bathing suits can be found secondhand, such as the swimsuits at REI. Just make sure to wash your thrifted swimwear thoroughly before wearing it. REI also sells a curated selection of sustainable swimwear from brands such as prAna and Nani Swimwear.
Summersalt
One of the most exciting sustainable brands on the market, Summersalt’s bathing suits are made with recycled textiles and offer UPF 50 protection. They’re also designed to be comfortable and incredibly stylish. The brand’s body-positive approach to fashion is an important message in a world that tends to view beauty as a narrow standard.
Their line is a mix of one-pieces and bikinis, and they use fabrics that are 78% recycled polyamide, made from post-consumer waste and nylon waste collected from old fishing nets. Plus, all their swimwear is ethically produced under WRAP and BSCI certifications.
The brand uses 1.5 million measurements from real women and a wholesale womens activewear patented fit process to make sure their swimsuits are a perfect fit. They offer sizes up to 2XL, and they also offer maternity and long-torso options.
REI
The textile industry uses a lot of water, energy, and chemicals to produce swimwear. It also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and has been known for unethical labor practices. It’s important to buy sustainable swimwear that prioritizes ethical production.
Ethical swimwear brands often use a variety of eco friendly fabrics to reduce their environmental impact. These include regenerated nylons like ECONYL, recycled polyester, and plant-based polyamides. These materials are not only good for the environment, but they also look great!
Sustainable bathing suits are available in a wide range of styles, colors, and sizes. They can be worn for years and last longer than fast fashion bathing suits that may only last one summer. These sustainable swimwear brands use organic cotton, recycled plastics, and other renewable resources. They also support ocean conservation, tree planting, and social impact non-profits.
Kitty & Vibe
Sustainable swimwear brands use recycled materials to reduce waste and pollution. Many of them also offer repurposed packaging and carbon-neutral shipping options.
Kitty & Vibe went viral for their first-to-market inclusive sizing system that measures bikini bottoms based on your butt size, not just your hips. The brand has sizes for “every booty,” ranging from XS to 3XL.
They design in NYC and digitally print in Botoga, Colombia. Their swimsuits are made in factories that meet WRAP, GOTS, GRS, and BSCI standards. This enables them to prioritize fair trade practices and sustainable production.