While some people might just be seeing crocuses pop up out of the ground, we here in the south are heading towards summer. This week it will be almost 90 degrees and the pool opens in 2 weeks. Of course, summer for us means lots of time spent at the pool. Are you looking for a new bathing suit? There are a number of sustainable bathing suits on the market today that will help you green up your summer routine. I thought I would share a few brands that I have found, as well as some tips on how to care for bathing suits to extend the life of your swimwear. If you are wondering which materials you should look for in sustainable bathing suits, you have quite a few options!
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Best Materials for Sustainable Bathing Suits
With today’s population becoming more and more eco-conscious, there are a number of materials available when it comes to sustainable bathing suits. Here are just a few that you might want to investigate:
Speedo Eco One Piece Swimsuit
(made of recycled fibers)
- Recycled fibers: Many clothing companies are making sustainable bathing suits from recycled fibers. There are textile recycling facilities that turn old material into new. There are also companies that turn plastic water bottles into material as well. Try giejo swimwear that is made from vintage and reclaimed materials. They are also made right here in the USA.
- Soy: Soy isn’t just for tofu anymore! Soy bathing suits are made from soy pulp, which is a byproduct of producing soybean oil.
- Organic cotton: Cotton is one of the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crops in the world. Choose organic cotton for your next new bathing suit! Lux Collections is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standards and all products are manufactured in compliance with fair trade laws.
- Hemp: While some people in the US (ie lawmakers!) seem to think hemp is the same as marijuana, it isn’t! Hemp is easy to grow, requires few pesticides, and makes a sturdy material that has natural antibacterial properties.
- Eco-friendly dyes: Don’t just worry about the material the suit is made of. Check out the types of dyes used in sustainable bathing suits as well. They should be sustainably sourced and water based for minimal impact on the environment.
- Fair Trade matters: Don’t support companies that pay only pennies to their workers. Try to support brands that pay a living wage and are dedicated to a good work environment for employees. Try Azurabay or Vautecouture for fair trade bathing suits.
- Choose a company that cares: Look for a company that gives back a portion of its profits to environmental issues. Choosing a brand that is careful about using sustainable manufacturing techniques is also a great choice. Look for brands like Vitamin A that uses manufacturing methods that help conserve water.
Vitamin A Women’s Oasis Ecolux Swimsuit
(*made with methods that conserve water)
How to Care for Bathing Suits
Caring your sustainable bathing suits properly will ensure that it looks it’s best for as long as possible. Organic, hemp, or bamboo bathing suits are going to cost you more than traditionally mass produced swimwear. Don’t waste money by having to buy them new every year. Here are a few tips on how to care for bathing suits to make sure you get the most bang for your buck!
- Wash it right away: Make sure you wash your bathing suit as soon as you take it off. Leaving chlorine or salt water in the fabric for long periods of time will damage the material.
- Don’t use laundry detergent: You should never use traditional laundry detergent on sustainable bathing suits. It will cause the colors to fade faster than they should. Use a bathing suit wash made specifically for swimwear.
- Do not wring it out: By wringing out your bathing suit, all you are doing is stretching the material more than it needs to be. Gently squeeze the material dry.
- Hand wash and line dry: You should never toss your bathing suit into the washing machine or dryer. Make sure you hand wash it in cool water and lay flat to dry.
- Let it rest occasionally: Bathing suits have to have a bit of stretch to them in order to function properly. It actually takes about 24 hours to ‘reset’ the fabric. Try to let your bathing suit dry completely before you wear it again so that it doesn’t stretch out as quickly.
With summer coming up fast, I know a lot of people will be heading out to shop for bathing suits this month. I hope you can find sustainable bathing suits that will look good, feel great, and be gentler on the planet! While you are doing your eco-friendly summer shopping, don’t forget the natural sunscreen and bamboo beach towels!
Have you ever purchased sustainable bathing suits?
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Diane is a professional blogger and nationally certified pharmacy technician at Good Pill Pharmacy. She earned her BS in Microbiology at the University of New Hampshire and has worked in cancer research, academics, and biotechnology. Concern over the growing incidence of human disease and the birth of her children led her to begin living a more natural life. She quickly realized that the information she was learning along the way could be beneficial to many others and started blogging and freelance writing to share this knowledge with others. Learn more about her HERE.
How did you know I’m in the market for a new suit?! Water walking in the lazy river is only a couple of weeks away. Thank-you for all of the great recommendations. I’ll be a little smarter this year when I pick one out. Also for the washing suggestions. Who knew there was a better way?