image from Summersalt
The days are getting hotter, which means more time out in the sun and water! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite sustainable, ethical & eco-friendly swimwear brands for your next summer bathing suit. As a Florida girl, I live in my swimsuit, and knowing it has been sustainably-made from eco-minded materials makes my play time (aka laying out in the sun) all the more fun. Most of these brands use some sort of recycled polyester to create their fun swimwear collections. I know micro-plastics are still an issue, but when I find something even better, I’ll make sure to share on here!
Do Good Swimwear
Purchase with a purpose | Swimsuits made with recycled materials.
Materials: ECONYL®
Price: $38-50
Do Good Swimwear is a women’s surf collective offering eco, affordable & sustainably-made swimsuits. Not only are they accessible, but they give back to the plant, too! All swimsuits are made from recycled ocean waste such as fish nets, plastic bottles, etc. I wish you could feel how soft this fabric is! The colors are so vibrant and perfect for under the sun. Also, with each purchase, a portion of profits are given to ocean conservation efforts.
Boden
Gloriously British, timelessly stylish and ready to bring joy to your wardrobe.
Materials: ECONYL®
Price: $45-110
This colorful UK-based brand has a large range of swimsuits to choose from, but look carefully for the ‘Planet-Friendly’ logo at the bottom of the photo. Those are the swimsuits made from materials such as fishing nets and fabric scraps that would’ve ended up in landfill. I love their use of color blocking they create with the straps, and I’m partial to one-pieces, but they do have a couple 2-piece suits to choose from!
Made Trade
Materials: Amni Soul Eco® Thread / CO2 Light Fabric, Deadstock Fabrics, ECONYL®, Repreve
Price: $45-225
This place is such a good starting point when looking for sustainable swimwear. Made Trade is home to several brands who create sustainable swimsuits for every type of body. Many of their brands are woman-owned, and full of different fibers to choose from. The Amni Soul Eco® Thread used by BOLD Swim is so interesting because it’s a biodegradable nylon fabric! The bathing suit pictured on the left is from Altar which uses deadstock fabrics and has plus-size up to 3XL.
Mara Hoffman
Creating to empower and transform with care, love and attention to the planet and its inhabitants.
Materials: ECONYL®
Price: $38-290
If you are looking for a luxury, designer swimsuit, Mara Hoffman is your go-to. They aim to design and manufacture garments with greater care, while reducing impact and generating awareness. They even make the majority of their collections right here in the USA! Overall, Mara Hoffman designs are absolutely beautiful, and are perfect for your warm travels under the sun.
OOKIOH
Swimwear that makes you feel like the waterproof, beach babe version of you.
Materials: Recycled Polyamide
Price: $35-70
It’s always great to see big brands like Urban Outfitters create clothes with the planet in mind. There is still a lot of work to be done, but this is a start and I want to highlight that on here! Their swim line OOKIOH is too cute, and has some serious retro vibes. All the fabrics are sourced from an Italian mill from 100% regenerated materials with the goal of becoming a fully sustainable brand that helps the ecosystem, one swimsuit at a time.
Outerknown
They build products by making every decision with the highest regard for People and Planet.
Materials: Recycled Polyester & Spandex
Price: $68-145
I didn’t want to leave the men out of this list! Outerknown is such a great clothing brand so it only makes sense their swim trunks are just are great - and there are a lot to choose from! All of their swimsuits are “sewn in a Fair Trade Certified™ facility, which means the makers have been paid a premium for their work; they collectively decide how to use this extra funding to better their lives.” - outerknown.com
Patagonia
They’re in business to save our home planet.
Materials: Recycled Nylon & Polyester
Price: $55-179’
I think everyone will know this brand and their amazing reputation they have within sustainable fashion. From an active standpoint, this brand is probably one of the best to shop through. They create some of the best performance wear on the market, so if you love to surf, hike, boat, etc - you’ll find these swimsuits very practical! From rash guard tops to board shorts, they have you covered. Plus, all swimsuits are Fair Trade sewn, and they have a great collection of men’s swimsuits!
prana
Clothing for positive change.
Materials: ECONYL®
Price: $45-100
I’m loving the bold color trend so many brands are doing this year. prAna has a ton of beautiful colored swimsuits, and lots of differently styles. From matching sarongs to little shorts, you will be able to pair your beach outfit up nicely! “prAna’s Fair Trade Certified™ program has given back $400,000+ to 33,000+ workers around the world. With your support, we can increase this year over year and continue to help improve the lives of the people who make our clothing possible.” prana.com
Reformation
The sexiest sustainable swimwear.
Materials: ECONYL®
Price: $58-118
There are so many swimsuits I would wear from this brand in a heartbeat. I love the patterns, colors and styles! You can find some fun retro & sweet vibes within their sustainable swimsuit collection. Each bathing suit is made out of 100% nylon waste rescued from oceans and landfills like fishing nets, carpet fluff, and fabric scraps. They even have a little baggy you can purchase to throw in your wash to catch all the little micro plastics. I have a post about reducing micro-plastics here.
rei
Home to several performance, sustainable brands.
Materials: ECONYL®, Recycled Polyester
Price: $45-100
REI has a great curated collection of sustainable swimsuits from brands like prAna, Nani Swimwear (pictured left) and Patagonia. I am loving this color block one piece from Nani Swimwear, and is also referred to as the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" in a swimsuit; the side ruching and wide strap offer support for every body type. It is made from a fade-resistant recycled polyester/spandex with 4-way stretch and silky smooth feel. So adorable!
Summersalt
Designer Quality Swimwear
Materials: Recycled Polyamide
Price: $45-125
I’m so glad I came across this brand to add into this post because their swimsuits are too cute. They have so many different styles to choose from! “Our swimwear is made of a super compressive, luxurious fabric crafted from 78% Recycled Polyamide. These fabrics are crafted from recycled plastics, post-consumer materials and nylon waste—like old fishing nets—that are literally pulled from our oceans.” - summersalt.com
Vitamin A
Materials: EcoLux, EcoRib, EcoTex, BioSculpt
Price: $78-264
I’ve known this brand for well over a decade, but I had no idea they have so many great eco fabrics. “A superfine matte jersey with a silken texture that fits like a second skin, EcoLux is made from recycled nylon fibers. EcoRib is a sexy, stretch-ribbed swim fabric made from nylon fiber scraps, otherwise destined for the landfill, this lightweight and breathable textile is crafted by a mechanical regeneration system that uses no chemical materials. EcoTex emits fewer greenhouse gases and conserves water + energy in the production process. BioSculpt provides an organic alternative to fossil fuel based nylon fabrics.” - vitaminaswim.com
