We’re at the very end of July now and I for one am trying to soak up as much sunshine as I can on the weekends. If you’re lucky enough to be going on holiday somewhere warm you’re also probably considering swimwear purchases, which isn’t always the easiest. And quite often a bit of a struggle from a sustainable perspective as they’re usually trend sensitive and too often of bad quality, which may mean they won’t last you longer than one holiday/summer. Swimwear is also mainly developed from synthetic fibres that are bad for the environment.
But when looking a bit further than the high street, the world of swimwear is actually a rather interesting and exciting one. There are loads of innovative brands doing innovative things, developing swimwear from all sorts of materials that are way more environmentally friendly.
This conscious edit includes a few highlights, showing that you can look amazing on the beach whilst also being mindful of the planet.
Top left: Bikini by Amara, a brand manufacturing its fabric in a green energy facility, creating bikinis with quality and sustainability in mind. The fabric is made of recycled post-consumer materials, and the packaging is biodegradable, recyclable or reusable.
Top right: A reversible swimsuit by MYMARINI, made of 80% PA (Polyamid) and 20% EA (Elasthan) certified by the Öko-Tex Standard 100, free from toxins. The fabric is manufactured in Italy where an innovative chemical-physical waste water treatment plant ensures a minimum impact on the environment. They use methane gas for the production, the water used is treated to remove most pollutants, and the thermal energy emitted by the machines and equipment is reused to reduce CO2 and emissions.
Bottom right: Bikini by Elle Evans, created from recycled lycra and locally produced in Melbourne, Australia. Their swimwear is designed to end up with minimum fabric waste and they also use post-consumer waste fabrics that would otherwise go to landfill, discarded by bigger companies. They sew instructive washing labels into each piece to help reduce unnecessary energy consumption through washing and drying.
Bottom left: Gorgeous swimsuit with lace up back detail by In Your Arms in their signature knit fabric. They create high quality, timeless pieces, using recyclable materials and biodegradable packaging, and the ethically made knit is a fast drying lightweight knitted fabric unique to the brand.
Top left: Bikini by Hot As Hell, with a top that can be a front tie halter, a wrap top, and a bandeau all in one, helping you to style it however you want, which also hopefully means you’ll be able to use it longer as you won’t get bored too quickly. HAH uses eco-friendly digital and sublimation printing techniques that are computerised and require 95% less water than traditional screen and rotary printing. HAH has also partnered with their manufacturer to co-launch Extended Fabric Life, an innovative, eco-friendly, performance fabric that’s durable and resistant to chlorine.
Top right: Marble cut-out swimsuit by Auria, designed and developed in London, made of recycled fabrics from discarded fishing nets and other waste.
Bottom right: A classic style to last, bikini by Anekdot. Made from water resistant polyester / fabric with 4-way stretch technology from Speedo’s production leftovers, end-of-line jersey lining bought in London from Woolcrest Textiles, and elastic trimmings bought in London from a closing down factory (the product transparency on the website is excellent with detailed sourcing descriptions for each product).
Bottom left: Swimsuit by Underprotection, made from soft recycled polyester, which is one of the sustainable fabrics they use. To keep their production ethical they collaborate with a small factory in India, and obtained the Fair Wear Foundation young designer license in 2013.