THE 13 BEST SUSTAINABLE SWIMWEAR BRANDS FOR A FUN, ECO-FRIENDLY SUMMER
In this blog post, I write about the 13 best sustainable swimwear brands to support for a fun, eco-friendly summer.
Whether you love going to the beach in the summer, have a pool in your backyard, or live by the seaside, a good quality swimsuit is a must-have in your wardrobe.
Unfortunately, these are not easy to find.
Most swimsuits on the market are sold by fast fashion brands and only last a few seasons at most, which is such a shame!
Not to mention that they are made from nylon or polyester, two of the most unsustainable fabrics out there!
So, how can we have fun at the beach this summer without hurting the planet with our swimwear?
In this blog post, I write about 13 sustainable swimwear brands creating swimsuits and bikinis you will feel amazing in!
I include options for women, as well as some for men and children.
Thanks to them, you’ll be ready to have a more eco-friendly summer this year!
This blog post contains affiliate links which means that if you buy something through such links, I will get a small commission without any extra cost for you. Please read my Disclosure for more details.
What are sustainable swimwear brands?
A sustainable swimwear brand makes its bikinis, swimsuits, and swim trunks with quality and the planet in mind.
The pieces are made to last for many years without falling apart.
The company takes steps to reduce its environmental impact, and sources eco-friendly materials.
Sustainable swimwear brands also make sure to be transparent and follow ethical practices in their supply chains.
They take care of their workers’ well-being and pay them fair wages.
What eco-friendly fabrics do sustainable swimwear brands use?
Ideally, it would be great not to have swimwear made of plastic.
However, synthetic fabrics have so far shown to be the most suitable to be used in saltwater or chlorine-filled pools.
But instead of using virgin plastic, sustainable swimwear brands produce their pieces from recycled materials.
They usually use recycled polyester made from old plastic bottles, or recycled nylon crafted from rescued fishing nets.
Many also ensure their fabrics are completely free of harmful chemicals and safe to wear.
These often have the OEKO-TEX certification.
The 13 best sustainable swimwear brands for an eco-friendly summer
1. Outerknown
For: Women & Men
Materials: Recycled Polyester
Founded on a total commitment to sustainability, Outerknown is a Fair Trade Certified brand selling clothes for men and women.
All of Outerknown’s swimwear is made from recycled polyester.
It offers a bikini top and bottom that you can buy separately and a one-piece swimsuit available in three colors.
It also has a surf suit, both of which will give you extra warmth and protection no matter your activity.
Men can choose from two different swim trunks, each available in a wide range of colors.
The brand is also a member of the Fair Labor Association, and it gives back to non-profits like The Ocean Cleanup, the Surfrider Foundation, and Ocean Conservancy.
It even has a reselling platform for pre-loved styles!
2. Carve Designs
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Polyester
Carve Designs is a sustainable beach lifestyle brand selling women’s swimwear made from recycled plastic bottles.
It has many feminine and flattering styles, as well as some more classic and timeless swimsuits.
You can choose from a variety of bikini tops and bottoms, one-pieces, tankinis, boardshorts, rash guards, and even swim skirts.
Many of the designs feature beautiful floral patterns, which are perfect for the summer!
Carve Designs even has a swimwear collection entirely made in the USA, and the proceeds from it are donated to the Changing Tides Foundation.
3. TomboyX
For: Gender-Neutral, Women, Men
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Polyester
TomboyX is a size-inclusive fashion brand making its products in sizes 3XS to 6X.
It sells a variety of swimsuits that you can get in beautiful colors or playful prints, from uni suits to swim tanks to board shorts and bikinis.
Its most coveted styles are made using between 5 and 16 recycled plastic bottles.
The fabric dries quickly and is OEKO-TEX certified, meaning that it is completely free of harmful substances.
Plus, TomboyX is a certified B Corporation, so it’s one of the most ethical and sustainable companies on the market!
4. Kitty & Vibe
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Polyamide
Kitty & Vibe is on a mission to make swimwear shopping easy and fun.
It has a unique sizing model offering two butt size options for every hip size, so you know your bikini bottom will have the perfect fit!
The brand designs its bikini tops, bottoms, and one-pieces in beautiful colors and mood-boosting prints.
You get to choose between cherries, palm trees, stars, flowers, snakes, and many more.
Some pieces also feature nice details like ruffles or front ties.
Kitty & Vibe produces its swimwear from recycled polyester and polyamide.
The fabrics are eco-processed using minimal water resources and provide SPF 50+ sun protection.
5. Boden
For: Women, Men, Children, Babies
Materials: Recycled Polyamide, Recycled Polyester, Polyester
Boden is a sustainable fashion brand creating beautiful pieces for each member of the family.
It has an entire swimwear collection for both women and men, as well as for girls, boys, babies, and toddlers.
The brand has an incredibly huge selection of styles for women, available in a wide variety of colors, prints, and designs.
Men can also choose among different swim trunks and board shorts.
The children’s and baby’s collections consist of cute rash guards, bikinis, one-piece swimsuits, swim shorts, and trunks.
They feature adorable, colorful prints your kids will love!
Boden makes almost all of its swimwear using recycled polyester and recycled polyamide.
It also has a recycling program and donates all its unsold clothing to charities and countries in urgent need!
6. Cuup
For: Women
Materials: Regenerated Nylon
Cuup creates comfortable, stylish intimates and swimwear with a modern, minimalist design.
Most swimsuits are classic styles of bikinis and one-pieces, but the brand also offers more unique pieces like bandeau bikini tops.
They are all made from ECONYL, a type of regenerated nylon crafted using fishing nets pulled from the sea and discarded fabrics.
The high-quality fabric provides UPF 50 protection and is resistant to fading, chlorine, sunscreen, and salt water.
Cuup also has several swim wraps made with a quick-drying fabric that is OEKO-TEX certified.
7. Londre Bodywear
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Polyester
Londre Bodywear designs high-quality swimsuits making sure they have the lowest impact on the planet.
The brand has a complete swimwear collection for women in sizes XS to 4XL.
Its one-pieces and bikinis are crafted ethically in Vancouver, Canada, using at least six plastic bottles.
Some styles are timeless, classic pieces, but others feature cool details like cross-backs, bows, ruffle straps, or belts.
Some of its swimsuits can even be worn multiple ways, which is perfect if you like changing things up!
Londre Bodywear works with a textile factory that is OEKO-TEX certified, and it produces its pieces in limited quantities to reduce waste.
It also ships its swimwear in compostable and recyclable packaging, and it regularly supports environmental and women’s health initiatives.
8. ASKET
For: Men
Materials: Recycled Polyester
ASKET’s goal is to stand up against fast fashion and encourage us to buy less, but better.
Its pieces are built to stand the test of time so that we can enjoy them for as long as possible.
The company has a small collection of men’s swim shorts that can be worn on and off the beach.
You can choose between four colors: blue, green, dark navy, and black.
The swim shorts are made in Portugal using recovered marine plastics and recycled plastic bottles.
Their fabric dries quickly and doesn’t fade over time.
ASKET is transparent about its carbon footprint and how its products are made and where.
It breaks down each piece into its raw components and origins and discloses everything on the labels!
You can even send back your worn-out or gently used ASKET clothes so that they can get recycled, resold, or remanufactured.
9. prAna
For: Women & Men
Materials: Recycled Nylon, Recycled Polyester, Organic Cotton
prAna was founded in 1992 to make sustainable, stylish fashion available for those who live active lifestyles.
The brand offers a wide variety of swimsuits for women, from bikinis to one-pieces to tankinis.
They are made from ECONYL recycled nylon.
It even has long-sleeve tops and one-pieces, which are ideal if you want a bit more coverage or sun protection.
Plus, prAna has a reversible swim top you can wear two different ways thanks to its 2-for-1 style!
Men can also choose nice swim trunks or board shorts produced using recycled polyester (one also contains organic cotton).
These are very practical thanks to their secure back pocket with Velcro closure and an internal key loop!
The company makes most of its swimwear in Fair Trade Certified factories and uses plastic-free packaging for shipping.
It’s also a Fair Labor Association-accredited brand and a partner of different environmental non-profits, like Canopy and the 5 Gyres Institute.
10. Bermies
For: Women, Men, Kids
Materials: Recycled Polyester, Polyamide
Bermies is a sustainable swimwear brand with a huge selection of swim trunks for men.
They are designed in different solid colors as well as many bold and stylish patterns.
The company also has cute swim trunks for women.
Pair them with your favorite bikini top, and you’ll be equipped to jump in and out of the water!
If you have kids, Bermies has them covered with its rashguards, breathable swim trunks, and one-piece swimsuits with ruffles and one-shoulder designs.
It even has several trunks that change color when exposed to different water temperatures!
While the girls’ one-pieces are made with polyamide, all the swim trunks are crafted from recycled polyester using discarded plastic bottles.
Bermies offsets its entire carbon footprint through reforestation projects and donates 10% of profits to help clean up oceans.
It also ships everything in compostable packaging.
11. Made Trade
For: Women, Unisex
Materials: Recycled Nylon, Biodegradable Polyamide, Recycled Polyester
Made Trade is a family-run online marketplace for all things sustainable and ethical.
You can find swimsuits and bikinis created by eco-friendly brands such as Mary Young, BOLD Swim, Sensi Graves, and Saturday Swimwear.
You can choose between different elegant one-piece swimsuits or go for a bikini top with cheeky, high-waisted bottoms.
There are also several unisex swim shorts!
The swimwear sold on Made Trade’s website is made from recycled nylon, recycled polyester, or Amni Soul Eco, which is a type of biodegradable polyamide.
Some fabrics are even certified by OEKO-TEX.
To top it all off, Made Trade is also Climate-Neutral certified!
12. Cleobella
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Nylon
Cleobella designs flattering fashion pieces celebrating traditional craftsman techniques from different places around the world.
It has a curated swimwear collection, all made from recycled nylon.
The bikinis and one-pieces feature unique designs with cute details, like puff sleeves, front ties, or belts.
Each piece will give you a very chic look!
Plus, its Tonne one-piece can be worn 3 different ways; how cool is that?!
Cleobella’s swimwear is ethically handmade by independent artisans in Sri Lanka.
The pieces are built to stand the test of time and they received the OEKO-TEX and GRS certifications.
Cleobella also makes sure to reduce overproduction and reuse its leftover fabrics.
Plus, it donates 1% of every purchase to a non-profit of your choice!
13. Vitamin A Swim
For: Women
Materials: Recycled Nylon, Recycled Polyester
Vitamin A is a sustainable brand making eco-friendly swimwear and bodysuits in sunny California.
It sells a wide variety of one-piece swimsuits and bikinis, available in many styles and designs.
You can even get long-sleeve swim tees!
You’ll love the cool details Vitamin A includes in its bikinis, like cap sleeves, metallic fabrics, wrap-around details, and more.
The brand makes its swimwear from recycled nylon, recycled polyester, or a blend of both.
All the fabrics also meet the OEKO-TEX standard as they are completely free of harsh chemicals.
Vitamin A produces its swimsuits locally.
This significantly reduces its carbon footprint and gives the brand more control over its supply chain.
It also uses digital printing for the majority of its prints, which reduces water use and fabric waste.
What’s more, it’s a member of 1% For The Planet!
Final thoughts on these sustainable swimwear brands
I hope this list of sustainable swimwear brands was helpful to you and that you could find the exact swimsuit model you were looking for!
Whether you plan on lounging on the beach or swimming in the pool this summer, their eco-friendly swimsuits, trunks, and bikinis will help you be more sustainable while having fun under the sun.
If you want to discover more ethical fashion brands making the planet their priority, check out the following articles:
- 9 sustainable & organic beach towels for an eco-friendly beach trip
- 20 sustainable clothing brands you’ll feel good about supporting
- 12 organic cotton underwear brands for all-day comfort
- 19 sustainable summer activities to enjoy the sun and the planet
What are your favorite sustainable swimwear brands?
Don’t forget to share this blog post with your friends to help them find and support the best sustainable swimwear brands this summer!
Looking for more non-toxic & sustainable brands? Check out the Ethical & Sustainable Brand Directory!
It features conscious brands in various categories, from home goods and furniture to fashion and clean beauty!
2 Comments
Vivi
My fave is this new brand called Solara Swim, they have great timeless styles and have an affordable price point.
Eva
I’ve heard about them, but have never tried their swimwear. Thank you so much for the suggestion! 🙂