Sustainable Swimwear: Brands Using Recycled Plastics

Shopping for swimwear used to present a difficult choice. You often had to choose between style, performance, or your conscience. Fortunately, the textile industry has made massive strides in recent years. Today, some of the most flattering and durable swimsuits on the market are actually made from garbage. Specifically, they are crafted from recycled plastic bottles and discarded fishing nets found in the ocean.

This shift does more than just clean up waste. It reduces the reliance on virgin petroleum to create polyester and nylon. If you are looking to update your summer wardrobe, here is a detailed look at the brands turning ocean waste into high-quality fashion.

Understanding the Fabrics: ECONYL and REPREVE

Before looking at specific brands, it helps to understand what you are actually wearing. Most sustainable swimwear brands rely on two primary technologies to convert plastic into fabric.

ECONYL (Regenerated Nylon)

This is the gold standard for sustainable swim fabrics. It is created by an Italian firm, Aquafil. They collect waste from landfills and oceans, specifically focusing on “ghost gear” (abandoned fishing nets) and industrial carpet scraps.

  • The Process: The nylon waste is cleaned, broken down, and regenerated into a new nylon yarn.
  • The Benefit: It performs exactly like virgin nylon. It is resistant to chlorine and sunscreen, making it highly durable.
  • The Impact: For every 10,000 tons of ECONYL raw material, 70,000 barrels of crude oil are saved.

REPREVE (Recycled Polyester)

While ECONYL focuses on nylon, REPREVE focuses on polyester. This fiber is made by Unifi and is primarily sourced from post-consumer plastic water bottles.

  • The Process: Bottles are collected, chopped into flakes, melted into pellets, and spun into fiber.
  • The Benefit: It keeps plastic out of landfills and requires significantly less water and energy to produce than virgin polyester.
  • The Usage: You will often find this mixed with Spandex or Elastane to give swimsuits their stretch.

Top Brands Leading the Charge

The following companies are not just greenwashing. They are using certified recycled materials and transparent manufacturing processes.

1. Summersalt

Summersalt has gained massive popularity for its “data-backed fit,” taking over 1.5 million body measurements to create their sizing.

  • Materials: Their signature fabric is 78% recycled polyamide (nylon), derived largely from discarded fishing nets.
  • Price Point: Most suits range from $45 to $95.
  • Key Item: The “Sidestroke” is their best-seller. It offers compression and support without uncomfortable underwires.
  • Sizing: Very inclusive, ranging from size 2 to 22.

2. Patagonia

Patagonia is often the pioneer in outdoor sustainability. They were one of the first to switch to organic cotton, and they have applied that same rigor to swimwear.

  • Materials: They use NetPlus, a material made from 100% postconsumer recycled fishing nets collected in South American fishing communities.
  • Durability: These suits are built for surfing and activity. They use Fair Trade Certified sewing, meaning the workers who made the suit earned a premium for their labor.
  • Warranty: They offer an Ironclad Guarantee. If the suit rips or fails, they will repair it or replace it.

3. Vitamin A

Founded by Amahlia Stevens, Vitamin A is widely credited with creating the “Little Black Bikini” of the sustainable world. Stevens actually worked with mills to develop her own fabric when she couldn’t find one that met her standards.

  • Materials: EcoLux is their proprietary superfine jersey fabric made from recycled nylon fibers.
  • Style: This is luxury swimwear. The cuts are sleek, minimal, and sophisticated.
  • Manufacturing: They produce their products locally in California to reduce their carbon footprint from shipping.

4. Girlfirend Collective

Originally famous for their leggings made from water bottles, Girlfriend Collective expanded into swimwear with the same philosophy.

  • Materials: Their swimwear line utilizes ECONYL regenerated nylon.
  • Circularity: They operate a program called “Recycle. Re. Girlfriend.” When you are done with the swimsuit, you can send it back to them to be recycled into new gear, and they give you store credit in return.
  • Sizes: They offer one of the widest size ranges in the industry, going from XXS to 6XL.

5. Batoko

Based in the UK, Batoko is a micro-brand that does one thing and does it well. They make simple, classic one-piece swimsuits covered in fun, loud prints.

  • Materials: All swimwear is made from 100% recycled plastic waste.
  • Design: You won’t find complex cutouts or hardware here. They focus on prints featuring lobsters, sharks, flowers, and even dinosaurs.
  • Transparency: They keep their operations small and slow to avoid overproduction, which is a massive issue in the fashion industry.

6. Outerknown

Founded by pro surfer Kelly Slater, Outerknown combines style with rigorous environmental standards.

  • Materials: They rely heavily on ECONYL and recycled polyester.
  • Focus: The brand focuses on “radically transparent” supply chains. They list exactly where their suppliers are located.
  • Trunks: For men, their “Apex Trunks” are famously durable, developed and tested by Slater himself for high-performance surfing.

The Microfiber Issue

While recycled swimwear is a fantastic step forward, there is a nuance you should know. When you wash any synthetic fabric (recycled or virgin), it sheds microplastics. These are tiny plastic fibers that can bypass water treatment plants and enter waterways.

To be a truly sustainable swimmer, consider how you wash your gear:

  1. Hand Wash: This is the best method. It is gentle on the fabric, preserves the elasticity, and causes the least amount of shedding.
  2. Guppyfriend Bag: If you must use a machine, place your swimsuit in a Guppyfriend washing bag. It captures the microfibers that shed during the wash so you can throw them in the trash rather than flushing them down the drain.
  3. Cold Water: Always use cold water. Heat breaks down the fibers, leading to more shedding and a swimsuit that loses its shape faster.

Why Price Points Are Higher

You might notice that sustainable swimwear generally costs more than a bikini from a fast-fashion retailer. A standard fast-fashion suit might cost $20, while a recycled suit from Vitamin A or Outerknown costs $100+.

The price difference comes from three main areas:

  1. Material Cost: Collecting, cleaning, and processing ocean waste into high-grade nylon is more expensive than buying virgin plastic pellets.
  2. Labor: Sustainable brands almost always pay living wages and use factories with safe working conditions. Fast fashion relies on keeping labor costs artificially low.
  3. Quality: Recycled nylon like ECONYL is often thicker and more resistant to pilling than cheap synthetics. You are paying for a suit that will last five seasons rather than one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is recycled swimwear hygienic? Yes. The chemical process used to turn the waste into yarn involves high temperatures and intense purification. The final product is chemically identical to virgin nylon or polyester. There is no bacteria or residue from the original waste.

Does recycled plastic fabric feel rough? No. Modern textile technology has advanced significantly. Fabrics like EcoLux or those used by Summersalt are soft, smooth, and have excellent stretch. You cannot tell the difference by touch.

How long does a recycled swimsuit last? If cared for properly, it can last for years. ECONYL is specifically engineered to resist degradation from chlorine, sun creams, and oils.

Can I recycle my swimsuit when I am done with it? This depends on the brand. Because swimwear is usually a blend of nylon/polyester and spandex (elastane), it is difficult to recycle at standard facilities. Check if the brand has a take-back program, like Girlfriend Collective. Otherwise, it should be disposed of in the trash, not your curbside recycle bin.