This blog post is about the best sustainable swimwear brands from Europe.
When the summer season begins, the stores are usually full of new swimwear. You see new colors and cuts and immediately think: I need a new bikini too! Maybe your old one is worn out and saggy, even if you used it for only one season. Or maybe you are bored of your old one because it’s from a cheap fast fashion brand and lacks originality and quality. Whatever the reason for wanting new swimwear, this time you may want to consider from where you buy it!
Because did you know that swimwear is made out of plastic? It isn’t made out of natural fibers because they absorb water, which obviously isn’t practical in swimwear. If you look at the label of your swimwear, it will often be made out of polyester, nylon or acrylic and a stretchy material like elastane or spandex. These are all synthetic fibers made out of plastic. This means that getting a new bikini every summer isn’t sustainable or earth friendly.
✧ Read: 27 ways to reduce your plastic waste
The most sustainable choice you can make is to either buy swimwear secondhand or from a sustainable brand that uses recycled materials. And in this blog post I will tell you about three sustainable swimwear brands from Europe that sell beautiful and good quality swimwear!
Why you should buy from sustainable slow fashion brands.
Buying from ethical and slow fashion brands is going to be more expensive than buying from fast fashion brands. But there are a lot of benefits from paying a bit more upfront!
Firstly, your swimwear will have a much higher quality, be more durable and therefor last longer. That means that you don’t have to buy a new bikini every season. And if you happen to get bored with it you could still sell it because of its high quality (been there done that!).
Secondly, when you have payed more for something, you are often more careful with it and appreciate it more. It will lead to that you treat it like a luxury item and take better care of it than something that ”was cheap anyways”. Also wearing something that you’ve carefully chosen and invested in will make you feel good and maybe also proud.
Thirdly, you will do the earth a favor. By buying from a sustainable swimwear brand that uses recycled materials you will not contribute to the ever growing plastic pollution, like you will if you buy swimwear (or any item) from virgin plastics.
And lastly: your money will go to a company that cares about the earth and makes an effort to lower their environmental impact. The world needs more brands (especially fashion brands) that not only care about making profit! Not only do these brands care about their environmental impact, but they also care about their ethics. This means that employees are treated and payed well.
The Best Sustainable Swimwear brands from Europe
Who thinks that sustainable swimwear = not fashionable? I used to think that! But I couldn’t be more wrong. When I went on the hunt for a sustainable bikini this summer, I was impressed by how beautiful sustainable swimwear could be!
Below you will find the best sustainable swimwear brands from Europe that I found. All of these brands have beautiful and high quality swimwear in different colors and styles. Lets check them out!
The Nude Label
* Unfortunately The Nude Label online store has closed. This is their explanation:
” After almost 9 years in business we have decided to take a break. These last years have been challenging for small independent business and ours is not an exception.
As a very small team we have poured very much into this venture, we now feel it’s time to take a break and look into new paths and adventures. We will be forever grateful for your love and support. It has been an amazing ride! ”
*
The Nude label is a brand based in Spain that sells organic cotton underwear and also swimwear. Their swimwear is minimalistic, supportive and classic. The pieces are really timeless and don’t go out of style. All their swimwear is mid to high coverage and comes in beautiful natural colors like black, olive and jasper.
Swimwear from The Nude Label is made from 80% of recycled polyamide and 20 % elastane. The recycled polyamide is called Q-Nova and is made from industrial waste from Fulgar, which is a manufacturer of different types of yarns and fibres for clothing. The fabric is sustainable, breathable, has UV protection and dries quickly.
The Nude Label only collaborates with factories that share the same vision as them: to create in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way. They also ensure that their items are made ethically. They do this by giving their workers a safe working space, pay a living wage and treat them with respect. If you take a look at their site you can read a bit about their factories and factory partners.
They also ship in 100% compostable packaging and the items come stored in a cotton bag which you can reuse. By buying your swimwear from The Nude Label you will have a beautiful sustainable bikini that will last you a long time!
Quick Facts about The Nude Label swimwear.
- Based in Spain.
- Slow fashion brand.
- Their swimwear is made of 80% recycled polyamide called Q-Nova.
- The whole production is local, which lowers their CO2 emissions.
- They only collaborate with factories that create in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
- Ethically made.
- Shipping in environmentally friendly packaging.
- Ships worldwide.
Away That Day
Away That Day is a sustainable swimwear brand from the UK. Their goal is to create stylish, high quality and sustainable swimwear so you can feel beautiful and feel good about your choice. This brand really shows that sustainability does not compromise sexy! They have cheeky bikinis with thin straps that are perfect for tanning, but also more supportive bikinis with stylish cuts.
Away That Day only uses regenerated nylon from plastic collected out of the ocean, called ECONYL. Fabric made from ECONYL is durable, luxurious and super soft. Also all the paper, labels and tags on the bikini are made from recycled materials!
Your order will be shipped in a 100% compostable package made from recycled materials. The bikini is also stored in an organic cotton bag which you can reuse.
The entire production of their swimwear happens locally in London and not in any far away countries. This results in lower CO2 emissions and ensures a high quality standard. Not only is swimwear from Away That Day sustainable but also ethical. They pay workers above minimum wage and can visit the factories regularly as they are all based locally.
Another cool feature from Away That Day is that you can send your old or broken swimwear to them to recycle and receive a 10£ voucher for you next purchase. The timeless designs and high quality will make you want to wear a bikini from Away That Day more than just one or two seasons!
Quick Facts about Away That Day swimwear.
- Based in the UK.
- They only use ECONYL, a fabric made from post- consumer waste like discarded plastic and abandoned fishing nets.
- The entire production happens in London for lower CO2 emissions and to ensure high quality standards.
- Shipping in 100% compostable packaging made from recycled materials.
- They request certification from all their suppliers to ensure the sourcing happens responsibly and ethically.
- You can recycle your old or broken swimwear (from any brand) to them and they will give you a 10£ voucher.
- They partner with canopy style to support global reforestation.
- There is an donation option at the check out to become carbon neutral.
- Ships world wide.
ASUYAMA Swim
Asuyama is a sustainable swimwear brand that focuses on creating beautiful, functional and high quality swimwear. They have beautiful minimalistic bikinis in pretty colors. This summer I bought a salmon pink bikini with thin straps that is perfect for tanning. I love that they have bikinis with unique cuts, pastel colors and low coverage so you can minimalize tanlines!
Asuyama swimwear is mostly made from a sustainable fabric called ECONYL. ECONYL is made from collected waste like discarded plastic and fishing nets found in the ocean. Fabric made from ECONYL is incredibly soft, durable and is really resistant to sun cream, oil, sweat and chlorine. Their swimwear is manufactured in Bali and workers have great working conditions.
Your bikini will also be shipped in a completely plastic free package. Even the tape on the package is made from paper! The bikini is stored in clear bags made from corn starch that are compostable and biodegradable. Also with this purchase you will get a 100% cotton bag which you can reuse and store your bikini in.
Some of their swimwear can be worn in different ways to create multiple looks from only one bikini! This will not make you grow tired of your bikini like one that can just be worn in one way. By getting your bikini from Asuyama you will ensure you get a well fitting and trendy bikini that will last for years because of its quality.
Quick Facts about ASUYAMA swimwear.
- Based in Finland
- Slow fashion brand.
- They mostly use ECONYL, a fabric made entirely from post- consumer waste like discarded plastic and abandoned fishing nets.
- A percentage of each swimwear piece manufactured goes to save the oceans through the R.O.L.E Foundation’s “Zero Waste to Oceans”.
- Some bikinis can be worn in multiple ways.
- Plastic free and sustainable package.
- Ships worldwide.
Conscious Shopping
There are of course more sustainable swimwear brands than the ones listed above. But these are the best sustainable swimwear brands that I researched so far and personally have and would buy from!
Also this post is NOT a collaboration with any of the brands above. I would however like to do a collaboration with them in the future and offer you an Earthy Vibes discount code!
Regardless if summer season is starting or almost over, there are plenty of activities all year round that will require swimwear. If however the summer season is almost over, you will have the benefit that most brands have a sale right now! So why not invest in a beautiful sustainable bikini and save some money at the same time?!
Goodluck with conscious shopping!
// Bo <3
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