Is the Summer in front of the door, the focus shifts back to a very special kind of Garments: Swimwear. Be it a bikini, swimsuit, monokini or classic swimming trunks - there are new and exciting ones every year designs.
Since these mostly react to current trends, the question arises every season as to which swimwear should be worn this time for the pool, the lake or the beach. This year, however, it looks a little different. Sustainable swimwear is the current trend.
Top swimwear trend: rescue the ocean
Instead of short-lived fast fashion pieces, since the beginning of this year at the latest, it's not just about wearing beautiful, but also environmentally friendly, sustainable swimwear. For this reason, more and more brands are producing fair swimwear that is environmentally friendly, durable and can easily hold a candle to conventional variants in terms of design.
Why should swimwear be sustainable?
The harmful effects of the fashion industry on the environment are known. COXNUMX emissions , resource exploitation, waste production, and water and energy waste are some of these impacts that threaten the future of our planet. And the production of swimwear is no exception.
Fast fashion brands in particular produce tons of new swimwear designs every season to maximize profits. Since these are based on short-lived trends and are usually of poor quality, they often do not survive for more than a year and end up directly in the landfill. There they are burned, which in turn has a negative impact on the environment. In view of the advancing climate change, the boom in sustainable swimwear is accordingly a pleasing and urgently necessary trend.
What exactly makes swimwear sustainable?
Whether sustainable swimwear for women, men or children - the main thing is that it was produced without negative environmental effects. If you are about to buy ethical swimwear, there are three important questions:
- How was the swimwear made?
- How many collections and how many pieces are produced each year?
- What materials are the swimwear made of?
How was the swimwear made?
The production of sustainable swimwear contrasts with conventional, environmentally harmful practices in the fashion industry. For example, resources are protected by the processing of previously used materials, material cycles are closed and the Zero waste philosophy tracked.
A clear plus point rrecycled materials is also that the extraction of these substances is often associated with actions to clean the environment. In addition, productions should value water and energy efficiency and preferably produce locally. Ethical working conditions must be a matter of course.
How many collections and how many pieces are produced each year?
Most sustainable labels choose to launch only a limited number of collections each year. Conversely, these only include a limited number of pieces. The reason for this is the possibility to guarantee quality and sustainability. On the one hand, this means that more time can be invested in developing and refining details. A quality feature for durable pieces.
On the other hand, limited collections ensure that natural resources are not overused and can be produced in an environmentally friendly way - for example with minimal CO2 emissions. A clear statement against mass and overproduction in the fast fashion scene.
The fact that craft artists therefore work under fair conditions is an important, positive effect. In this sense, few collections with limited pieces speak for fashion that is fair to the planet and people - including sustainable swimwear.
What materials are the swimwear made of?
The question of which materials swimwear is made of often clearly points to its quality and thus its durability. Sustainable swimwear mostly consists of recycled and regenerated materials. This is how resources are protected.
Although synthetic fibers are often criticized, their durability and elasticity make them recycled as a productive basis for swimwear. For example, sustainable swimwear often consists of plastic garbage from the ocean. Because synthetic materials are not biodegradable, they do not decompose. Instead, they harm marine organisms such as mussels and fish and can even burden the entire food chain by consuming them. Sustainable swimwear works against this, because their manufacture is responsible, environmentally friendly and of high quality.
These are the most commonly used materials for ethical swimwear
Upcycling polyester
Sustainable swimwear for men and women is particularly often made from recycled polyester or polyamide. This consists, for example, of old PET bottles or plastic production residues from landfills. It is called a high-quality product from a discarded resource upcycled. With regard to pollution of the oceans, fishing nets are often used in a new way as fair, sustainable swimwear.
Econyl
In addition, a material which is popular among high-end luxury brands such as Prada or Burberry promises high-quality swimwear: ECONYL®. It is a sustainable and XNUMX% recycled nylon fiber for the production of which an innovative cleaning and regeneration process was developed. Impressive balance: XNUMX barrels of crude oil are saved for the production of XNUMX tons of ECONYL®, which in turn avoids XNUMX tons of COXNUMX emissions.
Conventional versus sustainable swimwear - what are the differences?
The most impressive advantage of fair swimwear is the obvious one of sustainability. But also in terms of functionality and design, the fair swimwear can always keep up with the conventional variant. Due to their robustness and elasticity, these are made of nylon, polyester or Lycra - in short plastic.
Since sustainable swimwear is often made from recycled plastic, it has the same functionality in terms of durability, water resistance and quick drying. While this is primarily environmentally friendly, when it comes to fair swimwear, care is also taken to create timeless pieces. These are of higher quality and designed in a way that is considered aesthetic for more than a year. Win win.
Which quality criteria should be considered?
- 100% recycled materials & zero waste
- Water and energy efficient and preferably local production (e.g. sustainable swimwear from Germany)
- Limited collections or production on request
- Transparency regarding material procurement and production processes
- Social commitments such as participation in sustainable and ethical initiatives
Due to the increasing social interest in sustainable fashion, more and more brands for sustainable swimwear for children, women and men are meeting these quality criteria. They manufacture the entire spectrum of swimwear. From classic swimsuits and swimming trunks to bikinis and sports bikinis, there are variants for every taste and occasion. And always under the uncompromising claim of sustainability.
Selection tips - How to find the perfect, sustainable swimwear
There is a perfect swimwear for every figure. And also as an environmentally friendly variant. To make the right choice, just a few simple tips must be observed.
1. Comfort through courage to the smaller model
This tip applies especially to sustainable swimwear for women. If you assume that the slightly wider model can be worn with a more feel-good factor, you are wrong. Since fabrics such as recycled polyester or lycra expand in the water, it is advisable to buy bikinis or bathing suits made of this material rather crunchy and tight. This prevents swimwear from flattering or slipping after a refreshing swim.
2. Choose materials cleverly
If a firm fit of sustainable swimwear is particularly important for wearing comfort and the feel-good factor, you should opt for a piece made from ECONYL®. This is considered to be particularly firm and stable. Despite its elasticity, it can therefore also be used to flatter the figure. For example, fitted bathing suits made of ECONYL® can conjure up a feminine figure and highlight your favorite part of the body with the right cut.
3. Become aware of the use
Before buying a bikini or swimming trunks, the buyer should be aware of what the swimwear is for. When it comes to sustainable swimwear for men, it is therefore important to differentiate, for example, between more casual surfer styles and tight pants. Depending on the intention - whether a relaxed afternoon on the beach or a swimming competition - a certain model fits better. And the use of sustainable swimwear for children is also important: models with long sleeves can, for example, protect children more effectively from the sun when they go on vacation.
4. Everyone can stay true to their style
As with everyday fashion, everyone can stay true to their style with fair swimwear, conceal problem areas and emphasize certain parts of the body. It is important to set the right accents here. For example, if you want to emphasize your legs in particular, but do not want to show a lot of stomach, you can opt for a modern swimsuit or monokini with great attention to detail. Shaping seams and sophisticated patterns look almost like shapewear.
5. Calculate for the future
Sustainable production methods are often more expensive than conventional manufacturing processes and the fact that mass production is not used means that sustainable swimwear is often more expensive than fast fashion pieces. However, this should not be a reason to decide against it. If you think long term, you can see that fair, sustainable swimwear is more durable than conventional models due to its quality and timeless design. So it can be avoided to buy a new part from season to season - a principle that pays off in the end and even saves money.
Top brands for sustainable swimwear for women
For inspiration, we show our top brands for sustainable swimsuits, pants and bikinis. Including exclusive labels for sustainable swimwear from Germany!
- MYMARINI
- OCEAN CHILD
- INASKA
- allSisters
- Narah Soleigh
- Flying love birds
- Hunza G
- Mara hoffman
1. MYMARINI
Puristic design in a perfect fit - MYMARINI
Origin: German label, produced in Croatia
Suitable for: Women & children, leisure & sport
Equipment: Regenerated ECONYL® (Oeko-Tex Standard 100 & Global Recycling Standard)
Positive commitments: Fair working conditions, sustainable production, CO2 reduction
Favorite potential: Each part is reversible and thus has two designs, while the innovative "Mini Shape Effect" looks like conventional shapewear despite wearing comfort.
Source & Copyright by MYMARINI
2. OCEAN CHILD
Ethical, sustainable, modern: sophisticated cut-outs and attention to detail - OCEAN CHILD
Origin: German label, made in Germany
Suitable for: Women, leisure & the perfect choice for beach parties
Equipment: 100% recycled polamyide
Positive commitments: sustainable and local production, donations to Save the Ocean
Favorite potential: All bikinis are mix & match, which is why there are an infinite number of creations in which everyone feels sexy and self-confident thanks to their sophisticated cuts.
Source & Copyright by OCEAN CHILD
3. INASKA
Sustainable swimwear and sports fashion with perfect comfort - INASKA
Origin: German label, produced in Portugal
Suitable for: Women, leisure & sport
Equipment: 78% regenerated ECONYL®
Positive commitments: Reduction of the greenhouse effect by 80%, low energy consumption, donations to Surfrider EU
Favorite potential: The comfortable pieces combine functionality and aesthetics, whereby the bikinis are sustainable along the entire value chain - including shipping.
Source & Copyright by INASKA
4. allSisters
High-end swimwear and activewear for modern, responsible women - allSisters
Origin: Spanish label, produced in Barcelona
Suitable for: Women, leisure & sport
Equipment: Regenerated ECONYL® (Green OEKO-TEX®)
Positive commitments: sustainable and fair production, no chemicals, in cooperation with WWF donations to 1% For The Ocean
Favorite potential: allSisters proves that sustainable swimwear and activewear can also be high-end - uncompromisingly luxurious, aesthetic and sexy.
Source & Copyright by allSisters
5. Narah Soleigh
Slow fashion swimwear, ethical production, positive environmental balance - Narah Soleigh
Origin: German label, produced in Portugal
Suitable for: Women, leisure & sport
Equipment: Regenerated ECONYL®, recycled polyester, organic cotton
Positive commitments: sustainable and fair production under the supervision of Fair Wear Foundation, Zero Waste, 100% CO2 neutral shipping, 100% environmentally friendly, recyclable packaging, official member of the nature conservation group of the Rainforest Trust
Favorite potential: All ethical and sustainable pieces are simple, but flattering. For every body type. The modern prints are always trendy.
Source & Copyright by Narah Soleigh
6. Flying Love Birds
Ethical Green Fashion: fair & sustainable surf & yoga fashion by surfers for surfers - Flying love birds
Origin: German label, produced in southern Germany
Suitable for: Women, surf & yoga wear
Equipment: Raw materials from certified organic cultivation (organic cotton GOTS certified), recycled polyamide and polyester
Positive commitments: Natural coloring based on Oekotex 100, sustainable production and supply chain, zero waste
Favorite potential: The label's holistic approach is not only sustainable, but also ethical - towards producers and consumers and the health of people and the planet have top priority.
Source & Copyright by Flying Love Birds
7.Hunza G
Ethically produced, comfortable cut, one size approach - Hunza G
Origin: British label, made in Great Britain
Suitable for: Women, leisure & sport
Equipment: Raw materials from certified organic cultivation (organic cotton GOTS certified), recycled polyamide and polyester
Positive commitments: UK local supply chain, low volume production, carbon neutral brand
Favorite potential: Right from the start, the brand has considered everything in terms of sustainability. And that without compromising on quality. This is why Hunza G also offers a 6 month guarantee on all products. In order to cause as few emissions as possible, the brand focuses on small productions and sustainable packaging.
Source & Copyright by Hunza G
7.Mara Hoffman
Closed fashion cycle, vegan and recycled materials - Mara hoffman
Origin: American label, produced in the USA, India, Peru and China
Suitable for: Women, leisure & sport
Equipment: Natural and vegan organic products, recycled nylon and polyester, regenerated ECONYL® and Repreve®, natural coloring based on Oekotex 100
Positive commitments: Sustainable production comes first, Blue Business Council Member,
Favorite potential: Social and ecological sustainability is in Mara Hoffman's DNA. Every material and supplier has been thoroughly checked and selected. So the brand knows what every item of clothing is made of. Online there are additional tips on how to properly clean fashion for a long life.
Source & Copyright by Mara Hoffman
