Make a sustainable splash in swimwear that’s as pleasing to the eye as it is to the planet.
A green swimsuit or bikini might not be the swimwear hue you’d traditionally opt for, but it might be time to reconsider.
But the colour order of the season doesn’t pertain to shades of pistachios or emeralds or limes – although big, bold and bright hues are indeed destined for big things in the fashion realm this summer – no, green relates to eco-friendly, conscious swimwear. The sort that looks good and does good too.
You may also like
Retro sunglasses: the 70s-style trend you need to know for summer
It’s needed, too, as plastic-based synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester are popular in swimming garb because they stretch well, wick moisture and dry quickly. But polyester and nylon – both of which are non-biodegradable – are also derived from petroleum and their creation requires a large amount of water and energy.
But fear not, for there’s an entire pantheon of brands developing innovative ways of scratching the stylish swimwear itch, while also making more conscious decisions in the craftmanship of said pieces. And the appetite is real: in the last month, searches for eco-friendly swimwear have spiked by 101%, according to fashion platform Lyst, with the word ‘recycled’ having surged an additional 100%.
So, as the sun puts – and hopefully keeps – her hat back on, test the waters with one of these sustainable swimwear brands without compromising on style. It’s a win-win.
Ernest Leoty
Ernest Leoty swimwear Earth-first brand Ernest Leoty has extended its eco-credentials to swimwear for the first time. The result? Seriously smart and timeless swimsuits and bikinis that are made consciously in Portugal.
Stay Wild
Stay Wild swimwear With a carbon-neutral delivery service, Stay Wild is taking sustainability to a whole new level. Not only are its couriers conscious, but its swimwear and the packaging it’s housed in is also crafted from entirely recycled materials.
We Are We Wear
Best sustainable swimwear: Yellow polka dot bikini from We Are We Wear We Are We Wear’s eco edit collection is crafted from entirely recycled yarns that were once fishing nets and other marine waste. The brand’s tagline is rubbish never looked so good, and we couldn’t agree more.
Peony Swimwear
Best sustainable swimwear: Peony swimwear polkadot swimsuit From ethical supply chains to recycled fabrics, Peony is conscious of all of its processes; even the packaging is biodegradable (made from plant based materials).
You Swim
Best sustainable swimwear brands: You Swim teal swimsuit You Swim is the purveyor of made in the UK swimwear that eschews airbrushing in favour of real women in its campaigns. For sustainable seersucker one-pieces and bikinis, look no further.
Away That Day
Best Sustainable swimwear: Mix and Match Away That Day Bikini In a bid to alleviate global deforestation, Away That Day has partnered with No Issue, which plants one tree in the world’s most affected areas for every order placed. Oh, and did we mention its pieces are made from Econyl, too?
More Than Swim
Best sustainable swimwear: More Than Swim snake print bikini More Than Swim is both functional and fashionable. Each piece is made to order and dyed using eco-friendly inks, which lessens water pollution caused by traditional dyes. With every order placed, the British brand also donates a percentage of profits to Plastic Ocean UK, a charity working to combat plastic pollution.
Fisch
Fisch swimwear According to Lyst, sustainable swimwear brand Fisch is one of the most searched-for on the internet, and it’s easy to see why. The brand is committed to “ocean up-cycling” which, to you and I, means the repurposing of ocean plastics to create its swimwear.
Vitamin A
Best sustainable swimwear: Vitamin A lilac bikini Another of the most popular conscious swimwear brands is Vitamin A, which uses recycled nylon and cotton throughout its collections and provides a sustainability report for each of the products it sells. The pictured bikini top, for example, saved 16.6 litres of water, and 34.6 grams of waste in its production.
Ayla
Best sustainable swimwear: Ayla blue printed bikini Ayla uses various innovative fabrics throughout each of its green swimwear collections. Case in point: this bikini is made from Repreve nylon which is 100% recycled and is created using a process which saves the equivalent of 6 million gallons of gas each year, which in turn reduces the carbon footprint.
Lead image courtesy of Vitamin A
All other images courtesy of brands