The weather doesn’t always seem to agree, yet officially, we’re right in the middle of the summer and thus, we’re in holiday season. Especially if the sun doesn’t show itself where you live (for example in Belgium, just to name a place), you might want to travel to a sunnier place to get some much-needed vitamin D. Because there’s no better place to forget all your troubles than on a tanning bed, on the beach, next to the sea – right? Even just spreading your towel next to a swimming pool can take you to a more relaxing place in your head, but no matter which of those two scenarios you choose, you’ll need a swimming costume.
And of course, you want to look good in it too. And you want it to correspond with your belief system, meaning you prefer not to buy it at a fast fashion store. Instead, you’re looking for a more local, sustainable option. Yet with all the brands out there, where to begin? How to find what you’re looking for on the very wide world wide web? Don’t worry, we did the work for you and selected five swimwear brands you can turn to with a conscious mind. The only thing left for you to do is buy that swimsuit and book a holiday.
1. Nénés Paris
Fun fact: “nénés” means “boobs” in French so you immediately know you’re dealing with a funny brand here. If you’re a fan of vintage swimsuits but you just can’t find one in your size, Nénés is what you’re looking for. Their models are based on the seventies – think great prints, high-cut briefs and just playful models in general. All their collections are made in Portugal (which keep their carbon footprint to a minimum) and made out of OEKO-TEX certified recycled polyester. We can already picture ourselves lying on the beach at Saint-Tropez, pretending we’re Brigitte Bardot…
2. Rivea
Looking for a vintage looking pair of swim shorts instead? Don’t worry, we’ve got something for you too. Rivea’s fabrics seem to be coming straight from a fancy man’s closet, but, better yet, they’re totally eco-conscious as well. Every pair of shorts represents 10 plastic bottles, removed from the Mediterranean Sea. And on top of that, for every purchase, 1 Swiss Franc is donated to support the work of Oceaneye. As you might have guessed, the Swiss brand gets its inspiration at the Riviera and the dolce vita lifestyle that goes with it. Whether you go for a striped number or a paisley print, with the simple and timeless cut, you’re always looking fresh as hell.
3. Stay Wild
Fancy an eco-conscious swimsuit with a bit more of a sporty style? Then Stay Wild’s collections will be just for you. The brand is located in London and even produces all its swimsuits in a local factory, embracing a zero-waste approach to fashion. All suppliers are ethical and all deliveries are carbon-neutral, so it’s pretty hard to do better. The collections are simple, sporty and elegant, perfect if you want to combine that sunbathing with some actual swimming. And on top of that, you’ll find that they’re very inclusive when it comes to their sizing. In short: a swimwear showing how it should be done.
4. We Are We Wear
You find sustainability very important, yet you’re on a budget? Look no further, We Are We Wear has got your back. The London-based brand is not only quite affordable but also pretty bold in its designs, something we can only support. Sometimes, you just want to make a statement. The Eco edit is made in Italy from unwanted waste materials such as fishing nets, industrial plastics and fabric scraps and is available across all sizes. We especially like the fact that they’re offering different styles of tops and bottoms within the same print, as we simply don’t all have the same body type and the same preferences when it comes to swimwear.
5. Riz
If you’re a bit of an eternal eclectic, Riz will have just the swimming shorts of your dreams. Their prints are bold and out there, and so is their sense for sustainability. As part of their collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society, the brand collaborates with them for beach clean-ups and for every pair of trunks sold, 1 pound goes towards the society. As far as the shorts go, they’re made out of 100% ‘rizcycled’ and ‘rizcycleable’ materials and once your pair is worn out, you just take them back to Riz and in return you get a 25% discount. Pretty good deal if you ask us.
