Peony Swimwear
If you’re a fan of pastel tones and quirky florals, look no further than Peony. Made from recycled ocean waste such as old fishing nets, carpet and fabric waste, styles range from skimpier triangle tops and side-tie bottoms to mixed fuller coverage ‘50s silhouettes. This season we are loving their ready-to-wear collection of organic cotton, hemp and linen cover ups and dresses too.
Monte & Lou
Founded by friends, Kay Howitt and and Lynne Tramonte who met while working with iconic ‘80s swim designer Brian Rochford, Monte & Lou has serious design credentials. Their latest collection, Off the Grid transitioned the brand to being 100 per cent sustainable (in COVID-19 lockdown, no less) where the duo scrapped their entire range of fabrics and replaced it with Global Recycled Standard certified nylon. Plus, you’ll also get your shopping in a compostable mailer.
Bondi Born
Not only are these swimsuits made from sustainable fabrics – think fabric with a carbon footprint that’s up to 10 times lower than conventional fabric made from recycled bottles – they’ll give you a nip and tuck at the same time. The smoothing styles are perfect if you need a bit more coverage and you can rest easy knowing they’ve also been ethically made in Australia.
Baiia
Reversible and multi-functional, you’ll never tire of your Baiia swimwear, simply because there’s so many ways you can wear it. We love that it’s inclusive – and flattering – for all shapes with sizes starting from Australian size 6 through to 22. What’s more, it’s ethically produced from recycled and Oeko-Tex certified fabrics. We love their vintage tropical and Australiana prints. The versatile signature wrapsuits can be worn up to three different ways while bikini tops and bottoms can be mixed and matched.
Palm Swim
Palm offers elevated designs with the environment in mind. They have recently introduced a made-to-order model, so your swimsuit will only be created once you’ve paid for what’s in your cart. With added UV and chlorine protection, it means unlike your regular swimmers, they’ll also go the distance.
Salt Gypsy
Founded by surfer Danielle Clayton, Salt Gypsy began with a humble pair of surf leggings and has expanded into rashies, crops, functional and full coverage bottoms and surfsuits. Made from ECONYL aka salvaged plastic, ghost fishing nets and carpet and textile off-cuts, styles are made for performance and as well as in the water and can be worn on soft sand runs or in the yoga studio. Like other brands, it too embraces the slow fashion movement with items made to order.
Spell and the Gypsy Collective
Byron born and bred Spell needs no introduction, but what you might not know is their swimwear is also crafted with sustainability in mind. It’s boho style bikinis and one-pieces – as well as its activewear range – are made from 100 per cent regenerated nylon that comes from sources like fishing nets. So not only do you get a cool cossie, you’re also helping to reduce landfill.
Shapes in the Sand
Hand made in limited numbers, each season Shapes in the Sand donates to environmental causes. This year, Koala Ark gets a shout out with the brand donating $10 for every swimsuit from the Blossom collection sold. They’ve recently added bio-based yarn, Evo (made from castor bean oil) to their fabrication mix and it has also designed a soluble hygiene liner made from wood pulp and non-toxic ink to replace the thick plastic liners found in conventional swimwear.
Jenny Ringland and Erica Watson, of Green + Simple, are marie claire’s new sustainability experts. Each week they’ll be posting weekly stories on the best green, clean fashion, beauty and lifestyle products, as well as interviewing industry game-changers and experts. Learn more here.
