Last Updated on April 24, 2024
We’ve found sexy bikinis, full coverage one-pieces, and sporty sustainable swimwear to suit everyone. Also featured are size inclusive brands offering plus size eco friendly swimwear.
What makes a Swimsuit Sustainable?
We usually advocate for natural fabrics, however when it comes to a swimsuit synthetic fabrics offer benefits. Synthetic materials like nylon don’t retain as much water and dry a lot faster, making them more practical and comfortable for swimming – no one wants a soggy suit.
Look for good quality swimwear made from recycled materials like RPET (usually from plastic bottles) or Econyl (recycled nylon made from things like fishing nets). Also try to select a style you know you’ll get a lot of wear from and avoid trendy pieces that will only last a season.
For this roundup we also looked for sustainable swimwear brands who have a transparent and ethical supply chain with fair wages.
(please note: some affiliate links are used in this post which means we may get a small commission)
Londre
Show some skin with this sexy and sustainable swimwear.
Londre has a variety of minimalist yet unique and sexy swimwear cuts and versatile/multi-wear designs. Their swimsuits are made in Canada from recycled plastic bottles and they also have a take-back recycling program.
Read my review of their crossback one-piece.
Size Range: XS – 5XL
Values: Recycled and OEKO-TEX certified materials, recycling program, plus size, gives back, made in Canada
Ordering: Based in Canada, ships international
Psst. use Londre coupon code VERENA15 for 15% off!
Hackwith Design House
Cute styles, inclusive sizing, and fuller coverage options.
Hackwith Design House‘s swim collection is all made in-house at their studio in Minnesota from recycled polyester. Many of their styles are available in plus size.
Size Range: XS to +4.5
Values: Recycled materials, made in-house, made-to-order, plus size, made in America
Ordering: Based in USA, ships international
Wolven
Colorful, boho, and bright printed sexy and sporty styles.
Wolven is a swimwear and activewear brand with bright, kaleidoscopic prints and colours. Their swim collection is made in China (read more about their manufacturing) from OEKO-TEX certified recycled PET made from plastic bottles.
Size range: XS – XL
Values: Recycled and OEKO-TEX certified materials, carbon neutral certified, gives back
Ordering: Based in USA, ships international
Selfish Swimwear
Classic styles and fun prints, made to last.
A brand founded on body positivity, sustainability and quality. Selfish Swimwear takes a slow fashion approach, designing and producing swimwear to last years. They have a range of cuts depending if you want to show more skin or fuller coverage.
Their sustainable swimwear is ethically made in Montreal from ECONYL® (nylon made from recycled plastic). In line with their commitment to longevity, Selfish Swimwear also offers a repair service.
Size Range: S – XXL (+ made to measure for an extra fee)
Values: Recycled materials, made in-house, repair/mending, BIPOC-owned, made in Canada
Ordering: Based in Canada, ships international
BOLD Swim
Bright and bold colors and cuts.
BOLD Swim has sexy and classic styles with some plus-size designs. I wanted to include them in particular because, unlike the other brands who use recycled materials, they actually make their suits from a special “biodegradable” nylon fabric called Amni Soul Eco®. Like with most proprietary fabrics it’s very difficult to get more information about how exactly it works, but the brand claims it will biodegrade in landfills.
Size Range: S – 3X
Values: Sustainable materials, plus size, BIPOC-owned, sourced and made in Brazil
Ordering: Based in USA, ships international
Nettle’s Tale
Flattering styles for all body shapes.
Nettle’s Tale is all about body-diversity. They take fit very seriously and all their suits are locally made in Vancouver from recycled polyester. They are a great option especially for those looking for full coverage swimwear.
Nettle’s Tale is also one of our top 10 ‘Made in Canada’ brands!
Size Range: XS – 4X
Values: Recycled materials, gives back, plus size, made in Canada
Ordering: Based in Canada, ships international
Girlfriend Collective
Bright and size inclusive.
A favourite for sustainable activewear, Girlfriend has also added swimwear to their collection. They offer sustainable bikini and one-piece cuts in a variety of colours and have one of the most inclusive size ranges from an eco-conscious brand!
Size range: XXS – 6XL
Values: Recycled materials, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified fabrics, SA8000 certified factory, plus size
Ordering: Based in USA, also ships to UK, Australia, and Canada
Saltwater Collective
This sustainable swimwear brand uses ECONYL®, a material made from regenerated nylon that comes from abandoned fishing nets and other pre and post industrial plastic waste. Saltwater Collective‘s one- and two-piece suits come in a wide range of cuts and colours.
Size Range: XS – 3XL
Values: Recycled materials
Ordering: Based in Canada, ships to some international countries
REVVV Swim
Sustainable sports swimwear.
Looking for sustainable swimwear for water sports or surfing? REVVV set out to make swimwear that is both sporty and stylish – focusing on functional, comfortable and supportive designs. Their swimsuits are made in NYC from recycled nylon.
Size Range: XS – XL
Values: Recycled materials, made in America
Ordering: Based in USA, ships only within US
Minnow Bathers
Unique printed swimwear.
Sporty cuts in a variety of colours and artistic prints, Minnow Bathers designs one collection a year which is locally made to order with a focus on reducing waste.
Size Range: XS – XXXL
Values: Recycled materials, made-to-order, gives back, made in Canada
Ordering: Based in Canada, ships international
Jessica Rey
Sweet, retro, and full-coverage styles.
For those looking for fuller coverage or more modest swimwear, Jessica Rey has a great selection of feminine and retro-inspired styles – including swim skits and dresses as well as other more modest swimwear styles. Their suits are all made in a fair-wage factory in Los Angeles from recycled nylon.
Size Range: XXS – 1X
Values: Recycled materials, made in America
Ordering: Based in USA, ships international
Origami Customs
Sustainable swimwear custom made for ALL bodies.
Origami Customs is a purpose-driven, gender and size inclusive brand based in Montreal. All their pieces are made-to-order in their studio and they have the option for FREE custom sizing – made to your specific measurements and needs. They try to source deadstock and sustainable materials wherever possible.
Size Range: XXS – 5XL + custom sizing
Values: Some deadstock and recycled materials, made-to-order, plus size, gives back, made in Canada
Ordering: Based in Canada, ships international
Made Trade
Made Trade is a conscious boutique that carries a fantastic selection of ethically made and sustainable swimwear brands to check out, as well as other clothing and home goods.
Sustainable Swimwear Brands from Europe & the UK
Anekdot
Anekdot swimwear is made from upcycled surplus/deadstock fabrics and materials or ECONYL® recycled materials, either in their Berlin studio or a nearby Polish factory.
Size Range: XS – XL
Values: Upcycled and recycled materials, made in Germany or Poland
Ordering: Based in Germany, ships international
UND
An Italian brand with sleek cuts and mesh details, UND uses a recycled plastic lycra for the main parts of their suits and their suppliers are all part of an energy efficiency program.
Size Range: S – L
Values: Recycled and OEKO-TEX certified materials, made in Italy
Ordering: Based in Italy, ships international
Reset Priority
This Barcelona-based brand has a collection of colourful and unique swim styles. Some of Reset Priority‘s suits are made from recycled nylon, and they use OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified fabrics as well as Xtra Life Lycra® which prolongs the life of the garment.
Size Range: XS – XL
Values: Some recycled and certified materials, made in Spain and Italy
Ordering: Based in Spain, ships international
Tide and Seek
United-Kingdom-based brand Tide and Seek was founded by a surfer motivated to design swimwear using plastic waste. All of their suits use REPREVE fabric made of recycled plastic bottles.
Size range: XS – XL
Values: Recycled materials
Ordering: Based in the UK, ships international
Margaret and Hermione
A playful swimwear brand from Austria, Margaret and Hermione makes swimsuits with their own prints using ECONYL® recycled nylon and EVO®, a plant-based fabric. They use recycled and sustainable materials for all their packaging and their suits are all handmade in Croatia.
Size Range: 34 – 42 (XS – XL)
Values: Recycled materials, sustainable packaging, made in Croatia
Ordering: Based in Austria, ships international
Recycled Swimwear from Australia
Shapes in the Sand
This Australian brand makes sustainable swimwear styles in their own prints. Shapes in the Sand uses OEKO-TEX certified ECONYL® recycled nylon and EVO®, a fabric made from castor bean oil; takes a zero waste approach to their fabric cutting; uses plastic-free hygiene liners; and manufactures everything in Australia.
Size Range: AU/UK 6 – 14 (XXS – XL)
Values: OEKO-TEX-certified recycled and natural materials, zero fabric waste, made in Australia
Ordering: Based in Australia, ships international
Elle Evans
Elle Evans is an Australian brand also featured in our sustainable activewear roundup. They have a mix of fun prints and solids in ECONYL® recycled nylon, and all swimsuits are made to order (mostly by Elle herself!) in their in-house studio.
Size range: XXS – XXXL
Values: Recycled materials, made-to-order, zero fabric waste, made in-house, gives back, made in Australia
Ordering: Based in Australia, ships international
Emily
Check out Seea as well! They have amazing suits, great for surfing and swimming.
Lea
Reset Priority is definitely worth checking out!
Charlotte Head
It’s so cool to see more and more companies turning to recycled fabrics and materials. People often remember to shop ethically when shopping for things like food and drink, but forget about clothes and gifts- let alone swimwear! Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Kristyn
Great round-up!! My bikini pieces (I have 2 tops and 2 bottoms that can all be mixed and matched) are still in great shape but I am really looking forward to getting a more sustainable version when it needs replacement. I AM a wee bit concerned about having to shopping online though, swimsuit shopping is so hard as it is!!!
Verena Erin
If I’m shopping online for swimsuits I usually go for styles that have ties so they’re more flexible/adjustable, and definitely compare your measurements to the brand’s size guide and read any fit notes!