9 Best Sustainable Swimwear Brands For Summer
Are you looking for an ethical and sustainable swimsuit brand? Well, you are lucky because there is a sea of options to choose from! Be sure to check out all of our Why, What, and Watch Out considerations for ethical swimwear.
So before you hit the beach or pool deck, read on to discover some of the best brands making a splash!
Our top picks for the best sustainable swimwear
1. Do Good Swimwear
Fabric & Materials | Made from regenerated ocean waste like fishing nets, plastic bottles, and even old nylons.
Ethical Sourcing | The fabric they use is called Econyl. It's ethically made in Italy and sourced in Oregon and New York.
Corporate Responsibility | A portion of all profits is donated to ocean conservation efforts, tree planting, and empowering women in need by working with nonprofits that help girls and women stay in school, get vocational training, or even help microfinance their own small businesses so that they can thrive.
Price Range | $48+
Sizes Available | S — XL
Do Good Swimwear was born from the idea that there are creative ways to recycle, regenerate, and repurpose ocean waste/ plastics into beautiful pieces for active, ocean-loving humans everywhere.
Their Econyl® fabric is a beautifully soft, durable, comfortable material built to last!
When you hit their website's "shop" tab, you will find a colorful collection of bikinis, one-pieces, high-waist, low-waist, onesies, and even cheeky bottoms.
My Review: I tried the Island Time Kelia Top, High Waist Bottoms, and Tie Bottoms (pictured above) and the print is even prettier in person. The bottoms fit just right but the top is a little small because I have a larger bust so be mindful of that as you look for the right size. I also love that this brand is affordable but that the products are clearly well-constructed and durable. Products are carefully packed in a recyclable paper bag mailer with a protective plastic sleeve that is biodegradable.
2. Kitty and Vibe
Fabric & Materials | Over half of their collection is made from 82% recycled polyester.
Ethical Sourcing | They ensure ethical labor in all of their small family-owned businesses. They also are certified to comply with mitigating the environmental impacts of our activity. Plus, all of their eco-friendly packaging material is made from biodegradable bags.
Corporate Responsibility | The main message from Kitty & Vibe is to be kind to yourself, your body and others.
Price Range | $52+
Sizes Available | XS — 3XL
Before you check out their gorgeous selection, you must take the Kitty Size Quiz; it's all about making a "bikini bottom based on your butt size!"
UM, HELLO! YES PLEASE! They offer two butt size options for every hip size, which means the fabric will always fit and won't be too baggy or tight (but crack looking at you!) The quiz is 15 seconds, take it! Get $15 off too!
You’ll find every style you can think of, like string tops, scoop tops, underwire, front tie, plunge, you name it! The same goes for the bottoms: string, ruffle, midrise, etc. So many colors to choose from.
3. Boden
Fabric & Materials | Boden's sustainable swimsuits are made from recycled materials and some items are lined with recycled plastic bottles.
Ethical Sourcing | These gorgeous eco-friendly bathing suits are made ethically in China where the factories are SMETA audited and adhere to a Responsible Sourcing Commitment based on ILO and Ethical Trading Initiative standards.
Corporate Responsibility | Boden is working towards making their entire line of cotton be either organic, fair trade, or BCI-certified. They ship everything in 80% recycled packages and support HERproject, an organization that helps terminally ill children.
Price Range | $42+
Sizes Available | 2 — 22
Boden has you covered if you are looking for ethical swimwear for the whole family. Choose from 500+ pieces that have all been heavily tested by the team to ensure durability, not only that the lineup is pretty impressive with bold, fun colors and patterns in both one and two pieces which by the way you can mix and match!
Boden has made shopping so easy with their simple filter where you can pick the size, color, fit pattern, and price!
4. Bermies
Fabric & Materials | Recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets make up 90% of their eco swimwear with the other 10% coming from virgin lycra and spandex.
Ethical Sourcing | They are all about people and the planet. Everything is made and shipped from their Florida warehouse.
Corporate Responsibility | In partnership with PlantArg, for every order placed at Bermies, you are helping to plant and protect trees! And when your bathing suit arrives, expect it in a compostable mailer.
Price Range | $50+
Sizes Available | XS—XL
Looking for ethical men’s swimwear and trunks? Bermies has a huge selection of classic and short swim trunks for dudes and kids. They come in various fun colors and patterns. Think pineapple vibes tribal turtles, and more!
So cute, you might claim them for your own! They do also carry bikinis and one-pieces for the ladies!
5. Patagonia
Fabric & Materials | Most of their sustainable swimwear is made from soft, stretchy, and durable 83% recycled nylon/17% spandex (solids) or 83% recycled polyester/17% spandex (prints). Fair Trade Certified™ sewn.
Ethical Sourcing | Head over to their website and look at The Footprint Chronicles, a super transparent account of every stage of their manufacturing steps. It's super impressive and gives a real account of their sustainable measures.
Corporate Responsibility | As members of 1% For The Planet, they take extra steps to ensure that clothes stay out of landfills. With their Worn Wear program, you can trade your old Patagonia clothing for other second-hand duds. Win-win!
Price Range | $59+
Sizes Available | XS—XL
Patagonia has everything you need for ethical swimwear for women and men. They've got trunks, bikinis, one-pieces, and even wetsuits—surfs up, dude! They are all about fit, function, and style. Their cute patterns and solid colors that will go with anything!
You can read more about their sustainable practices in our posts on ethical winter hats, fair-trade clothing brands, must-have sweaters, and recycled/upcycled clothing.
6. Saturday Swimwear
Fabric & Materials | Each piece is made from regenerated nylon derived from discarded fishing nets, fabric scraps, and carpets. This material is blended with XTRA Life Lycra to achieve superior durability and 50+ UPF sun protection.
Ethical Sourcing | Hand-made and sourced in the USA!
Corporate Responsibility | They use recycled and curbside recyclable paper mailers and recycled paper hang tags with soy-based inks. Woman-owned.
Price Range | $60+
Sizes Available | XS—XXL
Designer Emily Laplume brings her recycled swimwear to life by hand! Each piece is sewn in her Oregon home, and the attention to detail is evident in her minimalist collection.This regenerated nylon reduces the impact of nylon production by 80% compared to virgin nylon production.
7. Bold Swim
Fabric & Materials | BOLD uses biodegradable nylon fabric manufactured in Brazil. The Amni Soul Eco® Thread/CO2 Light Fabric used in their swimwear is both eco-friendly and soft to the touch. It's also Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified.
Ethical Sourcing | BOLD Swim sources its Amni Soul Eco® material from Brazil—manufactured with a focus on ethical practices. They maintain close relationships with their partners and ensure that ethical standards are upheld.
Corporate Responsibility | BOLD Swim partners with The Better Packaging Company, which uses 100% compostable bags, liners, and labels. They also offset shipping emissions by planting trees through eco-drive and work with Made Trade to offer carbon-offset shipping. BOLD Swim is woman-owned.
Price Range | $69+
Sizes Available | S—XXL
BOLD Swim is a women-owned BIPOC business that creates size-inclusive, sustainable swimwear in various gorgeous styles and colors. It produces high-quality swimwear, promotes eco-friendly practices, and supports sustainable communities. In addition to its biodegradable fabric, BOLD Swim uses non-toxic dyes. Minimal water is used in the production process, and the fabric is intentionally designed to degrade in landfill conditions. Additionally, local artisans in Brazil use excess deadstock fabric waste to create upcycled rugs and mats.
8. Sensi Graves
Fabric & Materials | Made with Econyl or Repreve recycled fabrics. Econyl and Repreve are recycled/regenerated nylon fabrics made from plastic water bottles or plastic waste found in the ocean, including fishing nets.
Ethical Sourcing | All pieces are made in the USA by accomplished seamstresses earning living wages. Sensi Graves is a women-owned business with a mission to empower women in sports.
Corporate Responsibility | Members of 1% For The Planet! And, no plastic mailers here!|
Price Range | $54+
Sizes Available | XS—2XL
Another phenomenal brand to choose from! Sensi Graves offers recycled swimsuits that make you want to get up and move. The styles and cuts are so versatile and fun for anybody who wants to move around and knows nothing will fall out, if you get my drift!
Sensi Graves, a professional skateboarder, founded the brand, so that makes sense. There is a range of bikini tops and bottoms to choose from in designs that are as fresh as ever! And tested for high-performance
9. Summerssalt
Fabric & Materials | Summersalt's sustainable bathing suits are made from a blend of 78% recycled polyamide and Lycra, which provides four times the compression and shape-retention of regular swimwear.
Ethical Sourcing | Their factories are certified by WRAP, GOTS, GRS, and/or BSCI, ensuring that ethical and sustainable standards are met throughout the manufacturing process.
Corporate Responsibility | When your items arrive, expect them to be in recycled packaging + expect honest, transparent pricing.
Price Range | $95+
Sizes Available | 0—24
Looking for affordable and sustainable swimwear? Check out Summersalt's selection of stylish and colorful swimsuits.
With over 1.5 million body measurements taken from over 10,000 women, Summersalt ensures that every woman can find the right fit. They even offer maternity and kids' suits. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, SummerSalt also sells ethical cover-ups for your day at the beach.
The recycled polyamide is sourced from post-consumer waste and ocean waste, making these swimsuits a responsible choice for the environment.
Summersalt has conducted live wear tests in over 100 hours of chlorinated water to ensure that their swimsuits maintain shape and quality over time.
Why consider a sustainable swimsuit?
One word: plastic. You see most conventional swimwear brands are made using different types of synthetic materials (plastics) like polyester, lycra, spandex, and nylon, all of which come from the petroleum industry and are not sustainable.
And if you have ever owned one of these, who hasn't? You know they tend to stretch and fall apart very quickly. These suits are not biodegradable and can also shed tiny pieces of plastic called microfibers when you wash them!
And when you consider that an estimated 65 million tons of these plastic-based materials are generated yearly, this is not a good look.
Conscious swimwear is a conundrum because most brands (even the eco ones) use synthetic fabrics, but that's okay when done properly!
Fabrics like recycled polyester (also known as Repreve® and EcoLux™) and recycled nylon made from recycled fishing nets and called Econyl are common in the sustainable swimwear category.
There are benefits to using recycled materials (mostly spandex/elastane). In this way, we are reusing what already exists, which means fewer fossil fuels, and using recycled fishing nets keeps harmful plastic pollution from killing or harming marine life.
What is eco swimwear made from?
Anytime we invest in slow fashion, whether sandals, dresses, sneakers, or undies we want those items to last, and the same goes for sustainable swimwear brands.
As mentioned, most of the brands below offer suits made from Lycra spandex/elastane that come with certifications like Global Recycled Standard (GRS), OEKO-Tex 100, Bluesign, and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
What to be on the lookout for when shopping for sustainable swimwear
As with all the ethical fashion articles on The Eco Hub, we take the following four criteria into account:
The fabric and materials: are they sustainable? In the case of swimwear, are they coming from recycled products? Do they have third-party certifications like the ones noted above?
Ethical sourcing: where and how is the fabric sourced? Are the workers paid a fair wage and do they work in safe and fair conditions? Are the factories where they work certified by: ILO, Fair Labor Association, WRAP, Fair Trade, ISO 14001, SA8000, BSCI, SMETA, ETI, or GOTS?
Corporate responsibility: is the brand taking the extra mile with its packaging? Are they carbon-neutral, a B Crop? Do they work with charities?
Inclusivity: It's all about size inclusivity. ALL bodies deserve to look and feel fabulous.
Final thoughts on sustainable swimwear
Like anything where slow fashion is concerned, we want to invest in things that last. Sometimes, that means spending a little more money if you have it! We are not all lucky enough to be spending money on a bathing suit. We get that! But where you can opt for the more ethical choice goes a long way in protecting people and the planet's natural resources.
Do you have a favorite green swimsuit line? Share in the comments below! If you found this post helpful, please help someone by sharing this article.
