Whether you’re posting up at your local pool or taking an end-of-summer beach vacay, it’s probably time for a new swimsuit.
Halt! Put down the car keys!
While the price and ease of a Target two-piece may sound appealing at first, I’m a firm believer in getting what you pay for.
How long did your last fast fashion suit last you? I thought so. This summer, make an investment in the vacations of summer future and get yourself some durable, flattering, eco-friendly swimwear.
This article may contain compensated/affiliate links. See our full disclosure here.
Table of Contents
Sustainable Swimwear Explained
Hold up. What is eco-friendly swimwear? What’s wrong with regular bikinis?
Well, the biggie is that most swimsuits are made from plastic – specifically, nylon and polyester.
Aside from stretching out and pilling pretty quickly (especially in 100% polyester suits), these fabrics shed plastic microfibers when washed, which will eventually make their way into our oceans. No bueno.
Many eco-friendly swimwear brands use recycled post-consumer products like fishing nets and plastic bottles to make their swim fabric. And while microplastics are unavoidable unless you get a suit made of natural fibers, most ethical swimsuit brands include a care guide that walks you through how to wash your suits to prevent washing microplastics down your drain.
And then there’s the production side of things. Fast fashion companies often make their swimsuits as quickly and cheaply as possible, without regard for worker conditions, production runoff, or the quality of the final product.
Ethical bathing suits are made in responsible factories that minimize pollution in their process and pay their workers fairly.
Top Eco Swimwear Brands
A few years back, it was quite the challenge to find cute, well-fitting, sustainable, and ethical swimwear brands. But nowadays, many sustainable brands have either evolved or sprung up to fill the gap in the affordable sustainable swimwear market.
So how is the average eco-minded gal meant to navigate all the options?
Not to fear, I’ve rounded up a list of my 22 favorite sustainable swim brands to help you make a splash this summer (and the next, and the next…you get it) guilt-free!
Psst.. Don’t forget your eco-friendly sunglasses and non-toxic sunscreen while you’re at it..
CARVE DESIGNS
Women-owned and created by mothers, Carve Designs operates on the principle that we’re borrowing the Earth from our children. It’s therefore our duty to preserve & protect it.
Their fun and practical range of swimsuits is crafted from sustainable fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles.
They also utilise earth-friendly packaging that’s 100% biodegradable and compostable, and they are members of the Ocean Conservancy.
My Pick: Sanitas Reversible Top in Frost Tie Dye/Eden and the Stinson Bottom in Eden
GIRLFRIEND COLLECTIVE
Leading the way in ethically made swimwear is US-based Girlfriend Collective.
Their line of fun, color-block bikinis and sustainable swimsuits are created out of recycled fishing nets and industrial waste that’s been recovered from the ocean. They also employ fair-trade factories for manufacturing, and all the recycled nylon fabric is tested to comply with Oeko-Tex standards.
Made to suit all bodies, Girlfriend Collective offer one of the largest size ranges around, with their designs coming in XXS – 6XL.
My pick: Marina Powell One Shoulder One Piece
WOLVEN
Sustainability has never looked so good! The swimwear line from Wolven utilizes recycled plastic bottles to create their range of playful designs.
Not only are they literally taking consumer waste out of the system, but they’ve also partnered with Climate Neutral to offset their carbon footprint.
And you can be assured your swimwear purchase will arrive in recycled packaging too.
My pick: Onyx Tie-Back One Piece
VITAMIN A
Calling all Cali girls. Vitamin A is a sustainable bikini brand that makes stylish swimsuits geared to the Instagram crowd. Their proprietary earth-friendly materials, EcoLux, EcoRib, and EcoTex suits are made in California from recycled and plant-based materials.
Vitamin A also donates a portion of its profits to 1% For the Planet, Oceana, Surfrider Foundation and Girls Inc. And they regularly host beach cleanups in their local communities.
My pick: Enya Top and Elena Bottom in Black.
LONDRE
With a minimum of 6 plastic water bottles recycled into each swimsuit, Londre is committed to producing high-quality swimsuits with the lowest possible environmental impact.
Not only are their flattering & comfortable swimsuits created using sustainable materials, you can also send them back at the end of their life to be recycled into new materials.
With a range of fun & flattering pieces, this is one of the best sustainable swimwear brands that you’ll love to support!
My pick: The Minimalist Swimsuit
OUTERKNOWN
I didn’t forget the guys! While it’s true that most sustainable swimwear brands are geared toward women, Outerknown makes board-worthy trunks from 100% recycled materials, thanks to eco-conscious surfer dude and Outerknown founder Kelly Slater. Needless to say, they’re beach boy approved.
They support fair labor, and, as an added bonus, they have the lofty goal of having 100% of their products ‘circular’ by 2030. This means nothing needs to end up in the landfill.
My pick: Nomadic Volley in Marine
PRANA
Made for an active, adventurous lifestyle, Prana’s yoga, climbing, travel, and eco swimwear have been sustainably made from the start.
Their fair trade swimwear is made to stay put during water-friendly activity and is made of ocean-cleaning ECONYL fabric.
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly bathing suit that flatters but can stand up to your surf lessons, Prana’s the brand for you.
My pick: Aurelia Top and Bottom
MADE TRADE
Made Trade curates sustainable and ethically made goods from small, independent designers and artisans. Their swim collection features cute and inclusive styling for a wide range of body types.
Most brands use ECONYL and some, like Bold Swim, use biodegradable, CO2-light nylon – which means their bikinis are compostable! Now that’s some smart product development.
My pick: Alexa Recycled Bikini Top and Lindsy Recycled Bikini Bottom in Black
OOKIOH
Ookioh is all clean lines, classic silhouettes, and bright colors. They also use only recycled and regenerated materials in their swim fabric.
This fun-loving and travel-inspired sustainable swimwear company advocated using their one-pieces as bodysuits and their bikinis as your all-day vacay baselayer – their fabrics are that comfy. Don’t mind if I do!
My pick: Tulum Top and Amalfi Bottom in Kiwi
SOLID & STRIPED
Solid & Striped has taken the Instagram swimwear game by storm with its flattering cuts and simple prints. Their sustainable collection offers a wide selection of cuts and colors made from recycled polyamide, and fabric scraps.
Sets are mix-and-matchable to your heart’s content, so you’re free to create your perfect top-to-bottom bikini combo, or choose one of their active lifestyle suitable one-pieces!
My pick: The Jourdan Swimsuit
COSABELLA
The Cosabella Swim collection is made in Italy with recycled materials. Eco-friendly swimwear doesn’t get much more enticing than this!
Created to make you feel and look fabulous, the range features designs to suit every shape. And they’re available in standard or curvy sizing.
My Pick: Vita Marina Curvy Strappy One Piece
PATAGONIA
Patagonia is the OG when it comes to ethically made swimwear. Their sporty styles feature technical fabrics made of recycled consumer materials that perform well season after season without sacrificing style.
All Patagonia recycled swimwear is also Fair Trade Certified, meaning you can feel secure in your swimsuit, physically and mentally. Namaste.
FAIR HARBOR
Fair Harbor makes stylish men’s swim trunks from recycled plastic bottles. Based on the ethos of the minimalistic Fair Harbor community on Fire Island, NY, Fair Harbor brings a northeastern aesthetic to its swim designs.
Their designs feature built-in compression underwear for comfort and mobility.
TOMBOY X
The makers of our favorite ethical underwear are also leading the way when it comes to making an inclusive, gender-neutral swimwear collection.
Ideal for those looking for something a little different to what the mainstream brands keep churning out, TomboyX designs are created with every body in mind.
Ethical manufacturing and sustainable practices are front & centre for this B Corp company. And each item is UPF50 for safety in the sun.
My pick: Racerback Unisuit in Black Rainbow
MADEWELL
Cult-fave brand Madewell has recently launched a collection of eco-friendly swimsuits made completely of recycled fabric. Their eye for design and playful prints extends into bikinis and one-pieces, featuring muted colors and practical cuts.
They also carry a few other sustainable swim brands, including Solid & Striped, Summersalt, Palm, Mara Hoffman, and Galamaar.
REFORMATION
The darling of eco-conscious Millennials who still want to be fashion-forward, Reformation was one of the first brands to make sustainability really cool.
Known for summery dresses, Reformation has expanded its offerings into a limited, but very cute, line of bikinis and one-pieces made of sustainable fabrics such as ECONYL (repurposed nylon) or recycled polyester. All product pages feature that item’s sustainability impact and wash instructions to minimize microplastic shedding.
My pick: Mandalay High Rise Bikini Bottoms
HÜLYA SWIM
Hülya’s motto is “cleaning the ocean one bikini at a time.” They strive to make it a reality by sourcing their swim fabric from ocean debris, and by partnering with 1% for the Ocean and the Coral Restoration Fund.
Their bikini styles are colorful solids in sporty cuts meant to hold up to all your oceanside adventures.
My pick: Wanderlust Top and Sonder Bottom in Blue Resort
DO GOOD SWIMWEAR
Made of recycled ocean waste and designed by surfer girls, Do Good swimsuits are for girls who love the ocean. Their classic cuts in fun colors are meant to be mixed and matched year after year, and part of their profits go toward ocean conservation efforts, carbon offsetting, and women’s education in poorer countries.
Do Good is a small, independent operation, so its collections are limited and sell out fast.
My pick: Tia Reversible One Piece
THE SALTWATER COLLECTIVE
Well-made basics in solid colors and classic silhouettes are the name of The Saltwater Collective’s game. Made of sustainable ECONYL from abandoned nets and landfill waste, Saltwater Collective’s suits are helping clean the ocean and improve body confidence.
Their flattering styles are designed to help women of all sizes feel confident in their skin.
My pick: Layla Top and Lucy Bottom in Lavender
HACKWITH DESIGN HOUSE
Hackwith Design House makes full-coverage look cute. Their ethical swimwear is designed with every body type in mind and most of their styles are tied or wrapped to fit a variety of shapes and moods.
Their muted colors and quality recycled fabrics mean you can wear your suit all summer long and stay chic.
My pick: Tear Drop Tie Top and Bikini Bottom in Chestnut
FRANKIES BIKINIS
Frankies is a Malibu-based bikini boutique with hype-generating “drops” and trendy new styles on the reg.
Their sustainable bathing suit brand is a bit more limited as far as selection, but if you’re looking for a fun string bikini, Frankies might hit the spot.
The sustainable bikini line is made from Amni Soul Eco polyamide yarn, which makes it biodegradable too.
My pick: Tia Waffle Triangle Bikini Top
SUMMERSALT
If you like color-blocking and clean silhouettes, the high-quality swimwear line from Summersalt has you covered.
Their bright and bold one-pieces and eco-friendly bikinis feature compression paneling that keeps everything smooth and comfortable for in-water activities, and the recycled polyamide fabric keeps the oceans happy.
They go one step further and use all recycled materials in their packaging too.
My pick: The Bow-Shoulder Ruched Sidestroke
Did I list your favorite ethical swimsuit brand? I hope you found one or two new brands to shop this season and beyond. Don’t wait till the last minute and pick up a bargain bikini at your hotel’s beachwear shop – plan ahead for a suit you love, and for the good of the planet. Now, let’s hit the beach!