Searching for affordable sustainable swimwear is not easy! Finding a suit that’s flattering, timeless, made ethically from eco-friendly materials and is also not exorbitantly expensive is challenging, to say the least.
On my search, though, I’ve come across many incredible eco-friendly and ethical swimwear companies with fantastic quality suits at affordable prices.
Now, I will say that “affordable” is relative. I’m not going to show you “cheap” swimsuits but rather brands with great value that sell ethically made, quality swimwear for a fair price. Because let’s be honest—that $5 bikini will likely fall apart after a few wears anyway, if not sooner. (I once bought a cheap suit from Target that literally fell apart before I even wore it out of the house. Lesson learned!)
What is Sustainable Swimwear?
Well, for one, quality is key. Because the longer you keep your suit, the fewer you’ll need to buy in the future! It can be difficult to determine quality when shopping online, but I always look at what fabric is used (ECONYL® is a fantastic sustainable + luxurious material used in swimwear). Then, I try to find as many reviews as possible to figure out if that particular brand has long-lasting swimwear.
Also essential: eco-minded fabrics. You’ll see that most of the suits from these brands use regenerated and recycled synthetic fabrics. This is because though natural fibers are generally preferable, synthetics like polyester and nylon are sometimes required for performance, given where material innovation is at right now.
There are a few natural solutions on the market, though! I have an organic cotton and hemp suit from Natasha Tonic, for example. There are only 3 brands I know that create natural swimwear at a decent-sized scale but we are still seeing progress on this front which is great!
Just be sure to use a Guppyfriend Washing Bag so that microfibers don’t get released when washing your synthetic fabric suits!
And then bonus points if a brand has other sustainability initiatives. See if they use renewable energy at their factories, purchase carbon offsets for their energy use, or donate regularly to environmental nonprofits.
Where to Find Affordable Sustainable Swimwear
Check out these brands making sustainable affordable swimwear, from sporty one-pieces to beach-ready bikinis. Note that this guide includes partners and affiliates. As always, we only include brands that meet rigorous standards for sustainability we love — and that we think you’ll love too!
1. Do Good Swimwear
Do Good Swimwear creates colorful or neutral suits in classic, comfy cuts. The sustainable affordable swimwear brand uses ECONYL, regenerated nylon made from ocean waste like discarded fishing nets, and each suit is designed with timeless shapes, making them easy to mix, match, and love for many summers to come. Adopting a slow fashion mindset, Do Good Swimwear’s pieces are made in a local manufacturer for maximum transparency and minimal waste.
Do Good Swimwear also has quite a few give-back projects: they donate to Trees for the Future (plants trees and focuses on enriching soil), Surfrider Foundation (ocean conservation organization), and Tahanan (women’s crisis center in the Philippines), and Women’s Global Empowerment Fund (micro finance loans for women and education for girls).
Separates: $34+ | One-Pieces: $54+
Size Range: XS – L
2. Kitty and Vibe
Kitty and Vibe is a sustainable swimwear brand that went viral for being the first company to make bikini bottoms based on your butt size, not just your hip size. For every size they offer there’s an option for a smaller (choose the 1 option) or larger (choose the 2 option) booty so you don’t have to worry about having too much or too little fabric.
Their suits are made from 82% Recycled Poly and 18% X-Life Lycra and are ethically made in a woman-run factory in Bogota, Colombia.
Separates: $46 | One-Pieces: $88
Size Range: S – 5XL
3. Londre
Londre has high-quality and flattering separates and one-pieces made from recycled materials.
Not only are Londre’s affordable and sustainable swimwear pieces versatile (they can also be worn under bottoms as bodysuits!) and durable, but they are also designed to be fully recyclable at the end of their life.
Separates: $49+ | One-pieces: $98+
Size Range: XS – 5XL
4. Sensi Graves
Founded by a professional kiteboarder, Sensi Graves has high-performance sustainable swimwear designed for long-lasting comfort. The swimwear brand’s suits are designed to empower women in sports and are made with consideration of our planet.
Sensi Graves uses fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles and fishing nets and donates 1% of each purchase to environmental nonprofits.
Separates: $50+ | One-pieces: $88+
Size Range: S – XL
5. Wolven
Wolven creates eco-friendly swimsuits with fun, colorful geometric-inspired designs that will transport you to faraway tropical destinations without the carbon footprint. Each of the brand’s bold swimsuits is made with OEKO-TEX certified recycled P.E.T. fabric crafted from recycled plastic bottles.
The sustainable affordable swimsuits from Wolven are also versatile — many of their suits are reversible and/or can be flipped front to back for a different take on the same suit! This one-piece can even be worn eight (!) different ways.
Separates: $52+ | One-pieces: $128+
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Patagonia
Sustainably-minded outdoor clothing and adventure gear brand Patagonia also has a great collection of affordable eco-friendly swimwear. Their style leans athletic, but the fun prints and colors make their suits great for lounging at the pool as well.
Patagonia uses recycled nylon for their swimwear and some suits are made in Fair Trade Certified factories as well. I have a Patagonia bikini that I bought a couple of years ago and I’m definitely a fan—the fabric is comfy and the suit stays in place when swimming.
Separates: $49+ | One-pieces: $129+
Size Range: XXS – XXL
7. Saturday Swimwear
Saturday Swimwear has suits in colorful and neutral hues made from ECONYL regenerated nylon sourced from waste like discarded fishing nets. Each suit is thoughtfully handmade by owner Emily Laplume as she travels across the United States in her van!
The affordable sustainable swimwear brand packages their suits in completely biodegradable and compostable materials and uses recycled paper hang tags with soy-based inks.
Separates: $55 – $60
Size Range: S – L
8. Arrow + Phoenix
Arrow + Phoenix has sexy, sustainable swimwear all made in the U.S. using recycled fabrics like ECONYL®, an Italian eco-luxe fiber made from regenerated nylon. Every suit is shipped in recycled packaging, too!
The Arrow + Phoenix team sent me their Dauphine Top and Kali High Waist Bottoms to test out and I’m obsessed — the set provides just the right amount of coverage while also being flattering and the ECONYL® fabric makes it the most comfortable swimsuit I’ve owned to date.
Separates: $62+ | One-pieces: $110+
Size Range: XS – 3XL
9. Ohoy Swim
Inspired by the beauty of the ocean — and the need to protect it — Ohoy Swim is an eco-friendly swimwear brand prioritizing recycled materials, durability, and ethical production.
Their bikinis, rashguards, one-pieces and other sustainable swimwear is made from recycled nylon sourced from ocean waste like discarded fishing nets.
The European brand has recently switched to manufacturing in Portugal to further reduce their carbon footprint and increase transparency into their supply chain.
Separates: €30+ | One-pieces: €70+
Size Range: XS – XL
10. LIVELY
With combined experience of over 60 years in lingerie manufacturing, LIVELY understands how to make high quality bras, underwear, and swimwear.
The brand’s affordable eco-friendly swimwear — which is available in bright colors or classic colorways — is made from 80-85% recycled nylon. Another sustainability highlight is that LIVELY has a manufacturing factory entirely dedicated to them. So they’re able to avoid overproduction while also having better transparency and control to ensure good working conditions for their makers.
Separates: $45 | One-pieces: $75
Size Range: XS – XL
11. Carve Designs
Every single suit from Carve Designs swimwear collection — from rashguards to one-pieces and bikinis to tankinis — is made using recycled materials. The brand has recycled swimwear is solid colors and a range of prints, like floral and nautical. They also have reversible options if you want to maximize wear out of your suit. (Or in case you just can’t decide!)
Many of their designs offer full coverage, making Carve Designs a good option for more modest eco-friendly swimwear or for getting active in the water.
Separates: $52+ | One-pieces: $84+
Size Range: XS – XL
12. ColieCo
Ethically made in Europe using reclaimed Italian knit lycra, ColieCo is able to offer responsible and eco-friendly swimwear at affordable prices. The suits also come in recycled packaging and every order is carbon-offset.
Plus, each piece is handmade to order, which helps the brand not only to avoid overproduction and minimize textile waste but enables them to offer custom sizes.
Separates: $26+
Size Range: 2XS – 3XL
13. ALOHAS
Made in Portugal from recycled nylon or recycled polyamide, ALOHAS has eco-friendly bikinis and one-pieces in comfortable and flattering fits.
What’s unique about ALOHAS is that they operate with an on-demand production model, taking pre-orders before they start manufacturing. ALOHAS offers 30% off at launch before they start production, which means that you can find quality affordable eco-friendly swimwear (and other products) on their site, and ALOHAS can avoid overproduction. That’s a win-win we can get behind!
Separates: €29+ | One-pieces: €52+
Size Range: XS – L
14. Underprotection
With unique prints, chic cuts, and subtle feminine details Underprotection’s eco-friendly swimwear is far from ordinary. Each suit is made from 85% recycled PET bottles — the fabric is Global Recycling Standard certified too.
Underprotection’s recycled swimwear is made at a BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) and WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certified factory.
Separates: $17+ | One-pieces: $49+ (sale prices)
Size Range: XS – XL
15. Cleobella
A bit on the higher end of the price range in this guide, Cleobella’s flirty suits — from ruffled bikini tops and puff sleeves to cut-out one-pieces — are almost guaranteed to become your new favorite sustainable swimwear.
Each suit is ethically made in Sri Lanka from OEKO-TEX® and Global Recycled Standard certified fabric.
Separates: $98+ | One-Pieces: $198+
Size Range: XS – XL
More Guides For Sunny Beach Days:
Organic & Recycled Beach Towels for Sustainable Summer Fun
20 Eco-Friendly & Ethical Dresses for Any Aesthetic
15 Sustainable Sandals for Carefree Sunny Days
The post 15 Best Affordable Sustainable Swimwear Brands For Your 2024 Adventures (and Beyond) appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
15 Best Affordable Sustainable Swimwear Brands For Your 2024 Adventures (and Beyond)
Thoreau wrote in Walden that “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in,” which reminds us that life is short and nature fills it beautifully. What are you looking for that can’t be found during an afternoon in nature?
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Time Is but the Stream appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-time-is-but-the-stream/
Green Living
Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director of the Ocean River Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ORI works with residential lawn owners to heal damaged ecosystems by restoring coastal areas to lessen the destructive impacts of climate change. The benefits of a natural lawn reach far beyond reduced local water pollution, eliminating chemicals that can contribute to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cellular diseases. Natural lawns are also better for local pollinators and store much more carbon than heavily fertilized lawns. If you considered removing your lawn to play a part in the battle against climate change, this interview may change your mind — a healthy lawn is a powerful carbon sink.
The Ocean River Institute is recruiting Massachusetts communities, town by town, to take a pledge to follow natural lawn practices in the Healthy Soils for Climate Restoration Challenge. You don’t need to live in Massachusetts to participate and learn about the alternatives to the traditional, chemical-intensive lawn practices that use Roundup, a source of glyphosates that kills soil-dwelling fungi and local pollinators, and fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. You can learn more about the Ocean River Institute at www.oceanriver.org.
Rob has contributed many articles about climate change and the history of environmental change since this interview, including:
- Finding a Northwest Passage to the Sea
- Turning the Tide—How Land and Water Shape Our Climate Future
- Learning from Captain Scoresby’s Ten-gallon Fir-Cask
- Earth Savvy?
- Let the Ground Keep Falling Rainwater
- The Sultans of Swag Versus Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now
- Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
- Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 30, 2022.
The post Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-the-ocean-river-institutes-natural-lawn-challenge-for-climate-action/
Choosing your perfect gown can be one of the most exciting decisions for your special day, but for the eco fashionista, it can be a challenge to find a dress that fits your values and style — but these brands have exceptional sustainable wedding dresses you’ll swoon over!
Using earth-minded materials like hemp, cruelty-free peace silk, deadstock recycled fabrics and vintage lace, and producing consciously, either in small batches or handcrafting each individual piece made-to-order, the brands below meet high standards for transparency, ecological sustainability, and fair labor.
[For more sustainable wedding dresses, check out this guide to secondhand wedding dress sites!]
Note that the guide contains affiliate links. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Dreamy dress brand Christy Dawn does not disappoint with their romantic bridal collection! Each piece is more swoon-worthy than the next.
Their three sustainable bridal gowns are made from regenerative silk charmeuse —sourced through BOMBYX, an innovative silk producer using best practices — and colored in a beautiful pearl silk with non-toxic dyes. Each dress is ethically cut and sewn by makers in Los Angeles earning living wages, as with the rest of Christy Dawn’s collections.
The Britta Dress and Fitzgerald Dress are 1920s inspired while the Athena Dress is a more modern (but equally romantic) option. All of these dresses are made-to-order with an estimated timeline of 4 weeks.
Conscious Qualities: Regenerative silk and organic non-toxic dyes, ethically made-to-order in Los Angeles
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000
Size Range: XS – XL
2. Pure Magnolia
Blending the traditional with the modern, Pure Magnolia designs classic-inspired sustainable wedding dresses with contemporary touches. And each dress is made in their Canadian studio by seamstresses earning fair wages from eco-fabrics, such as organic cotton and hemp silk.
The brand sources recycled fabrics whenever possible as well, and recycles their scrap fabric through FABCYCLE.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, locally and fairly made, recycles scrap fabrics
Price Range: $845 – $3,300 CAD
Size Range: 0 – 28
3. Lost in Paris
Lost in Paris crafts each of their creatively designed bohemian-inspired gowns ethically in their Sydney, Australia studio. Unconventional yet undeniably striking, Lost in Paris’ dresses are made from vintage lace and cotton.
Investing in a dress from Lost in Paris is seamless — the brand offers at-home sample try-ons, offers train and sleeve adjustments on several styles, ships their dresses worldwide for free, and even accepts returns. Oh, and, if one of their ready-made sizes doesn’t work for you, you can get a dress designed to your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses vintage lace, locally made
Price Range: $950 – $3900 AUD
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing options
For More Slow Fashion Content:
4. Wear Your Love
Wear Your Love creates feminine, effortless dresses in their Northern California studio that are — in contrast to the majority of wedding dresses on the market — actually comfortable! The brand’s free-spirited designs are made with soft, earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton and each dress is made to order for each bride to their exact measurements.
There are also customizations available for each eco-friendly wedding dress such as train or no train, skirt or sleeve linings, back coverage, skirt style, and more.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model, locally and transparently made
Price Range: $680 – $1,700
Size Range: N/A; dresses are made to your measurements
5. Larimeloom
Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Larimeloom crafts exceptional custom-made dresses by hand in their atelier. The brand creates comfortable minimalist dresses from durable natural fabrics and colors them with natural or non-toxic dyes.
Larimeloom has also implemented zero waste design techniques, cutting their patterns strategically in order to minimize fabric waste.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, zero-waste designs, natural fabrics and dyes
Price Range: 650€ – 2,650€
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Sister Organics
Sourcing quality earth-friendly natural fabrics like organic hemp and cotton, Sister Organics creates classic, eco-friendly wedding dresses for UK-based brides.
Each dress is made to order in England, so you can select a pre-defined size, customize the length of a size, or get an entirely different dress made for your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model
Price Range: £125 – £390
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing
7. Indiebride London
Indiebride’s vintage-inspired sustainable wedding dresses are delicate and romantic yet free-spirited, offering a unique collection for the bride that wants to skip the conventional wedding gown and choose a piece that fits their individual style.
The brand’s conscious wedding dresses are handmade in London using majority natural fibers and can be altered or customized to your specifications.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses many natural fabrics, locally made
Price Range: £1,200 – £1,700
Size Range: 8 – 16 (UK sizes)
More Resources For Your Eco Wedding:
10 Secondhand Wedding Dress Sites for the Eco Bride
7 Ethical Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings
17 Brands with Conscious Dresses (great options for bridesmaid dresses in here!)
The post 7 Best Sustainable Wedding Dresses for Your Special Day appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
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