The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Swimwear Brands – Summer 2023

It’s summer! Time to head to the nearest waterbodies and chill. But, wearing what? Here are some stunning sustainable swimwear brands for summer. These aren’t your regular swimwear brands; these are brands that use eco-friendly + sustainable materials and transparent supply chains and business practices. Pair them with your ethical shorts, and make a splash at the beach!

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But, wait. What is wrong with the “regular” swimwear brands? 

First of all, the fashion industry is one of the biggest industrial polluters in the world, so we should look into the details of every fashion item we purchase (of which swimwear is one) before we buy. Secondly, until quite recently all swimwear items were made of nylon and polyester, both of which are non-biodegradable synthetic materials made from petrochemicals. Looking for swimwear companies that do better is important – more important than finding the best bikinis!

And, last but not least, approximately 1.4 BILLION pounds of trash goes into the ocean each year. Our fashion choices are poisoning our oceans and food supplies, and it’s only right that when we go to the seaside, we do all we can to minimize our negative impact on the seas.

Also, to go with your ethical swimwear, why don’t you check out ethical sunglasses made from recycled fishing nets? Curb ocean waste and get your fashion fix in one go! And if you’re looking for plus size options, these gorgeous sustainable swimwear in plus size are perfect!

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40 Sustainable Swimwear Brands for Summer

Let’s get started. This is a list of ethical swimwear brands in alphabetical order.

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1 // Aquadiva  | Australia

2 // Auria  | United Kingdom

3 // Azura Bay  | USA

4 // Batoko | United Kingdom 

5 // Beach Access | Indonesia 

6 // Bombshell Bay | Australia 

7 // Camp Cove Swim | Australia

8 // Cecile Swim | Australia & Indonesia

9 // Davy J  | United Kingdom

10 // Deakin and Blue | United Kingdom

11 // Elle Evans | Australia

12 // Faherty | USA

13 // Finisterre | United Kingdom

14 // Galamaar | USA

15 // Good Studios  | Australia

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16 // Jessica Rey Swimwear | USA

17 // JETS Swimwear | Australia

18 // Koru Swimwear | New Zealand

19 // Kowtow | USA

20 // Liar the Label | Australia

21 // Loop Swim | China

22 // Mara Hoffman | USA

23 // Mona California | USA

24 // MYMARINI | Germany

25 // Nettle’s Tale | Canada

26 // Novah Swimwear | Bermuda 

27 // Ocean ZEN | Australia

28 // Outdoor Voices | USA

29 // Patagonia | USA

30 // Reformation | USA

31 // Ruby Moon | United Kingdom

32 // Saltsuit | New Zealand

33 // Shapes in the Sand | Australia

34 // Stidston Swimwear | United Kingdom

35 // Summersalt | USA

36 // Swoon Swimwear | USA

37 // Tropic of C | USA

38 // Undersea Bikini | Hungary

39 // Vitamin A | USA

40 // Zulu and Zephyr | Australia

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What is Sustainable Swimwear?

Do these “ethical” swimwear brands actually manufacture their products responsibly? From what I could make out, these bathing suit companies either source natural materials or repurposed plastics (a lot of which is from fishing nets). In fact, many of these brands use ocean plastics as one of their starting materials! Econyl, for example, is a material that’s made from ocean plastics that have been sorted and broken down, and melted into soft threads. This thread is used in brands such as Speedo’s H2O Active, Outerknown and many others. 

While the material these brands use may not be perfectly sustainable, what we should look for is that they do the most that is possible to make their businesses and products sustainable and ethical, treating both workers and the environment as much more vital than simply turning a profit every quarter. In this ultra-capitalistic world of ours, this is what we can do as individual consumers. We do need swimsuits – unless there’s a nudist beach close to where you live – and the best thing we can do is to buy swimwear as infrequently as is humanly possible, and buy from businesses that follow at least some of the values that we ideally ought to be looking for in all businesses.

Besides, these brands also focus on making swimwear that lasts. A relief from the fast-fashion strategy of use and throw.

Finally: one extra reason to check out these ethical swimwear brands? They look gorgeous!

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Recycled Swimwear & Secondhand Swimwear

Trying on secondhand swimwear items may sound weird, but it’s not that horrifying if you shop on Depop, Poshmark, or ThredUp, where they have options for swimwear items that have never been worn. If you’re looking for more affordable swimwear, secondhand is your best bet.

You can also check out Etsy for more like these amazing ethical, handmade swimsuits made with recycled materials (including this pretty bikini made from “sustainable scuba jersey fabric reclaimed from the fast fashion industry”).

Of course, if you aren’t icky about pre-owned swimwear items, there are thrifted options galore.

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Swimsuit Care

As much as buying ethical and eco-friendly stuff is important, it’s also important to take good care of your swimsuit. After your swim, rinse your swimsuit gently in warm water and allow it to air dry (you can handwash it at home with a non-toxic detergent). This will not only lengthen its life, but will also limit the number of micro and nano plastic particles that eventually end up in the ocean. Read more detailed instructions on washing your swimsuit.

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NOTE: All brand photographs belong to the respective brands/businesses.

If you liked this post on ethical swimsuit companies, please share it with your friends. Thank you!<3

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