Summer is on its way to embrace Europe and America and many of us might long for a holiday at the beach. Maybe we have already in our minds played with our beach outfit and searched for new bikini brands, but hey, we want to stop you before you purchase anything and think about the following:

Swimwear materials

Swimwear needs to be able to quick-dry, hold shape and have a certain amount of stretch. This means that the materials used are often synthetic. Some of the synthetic materials are elastane (sometimes called spandex), polyamide (a kind of nylon) and polyester. Elastane is very elastic, came in the 1960s and is often blended with other fibres when stretch is wanted and needed. Polyester feels and look different depending on the type but is is normally used for durability, it is easily digitally printed on and the price is low. Nylon is softer than polyester and more “shining” but does not hold colour under UV light to the same extent and can be more costly. Synthetic fibres are by-products of petroleum and not biodegradable. They take a very long time to decompose and is therefore harmful to nature. Synthetic fibres have different capacities to be recycled, polyester is easier than nylon but the problem is that most textiles have mixed fibres and currently the technology to recycle textiles with mixed materials is not very developed. Further, the materials also require water and chemicals during production not to mention the amount of carbon emissions released during production. When synthetic materials are used and washed they also create microplastics ending up in our oceans. In Europe, 8% of the microplastics in our oceans comes from synthetic fibres.

Except the environmental problems of swimwear as a material, many swimwear fashion brands are still struggling with transparency in the supply chain, meeting human rights in the factories, poor quality and fast speed of new collections and high volumes of production where some clothes might never reach the consumers.

Before you buy swimwear, keep the environmental and social costs in mind.

How to take care of your swimwear

Swimwear are often exposed to sunscreen, body oils, pool chemicals and salt. These substances will take a toll on the materials. To make sure your swimwear last, make sure you rinse it after use. Preferably in cold water by hand. If you have time, let it soak for 30 minutes and rinse it again. To make sure all chemicals are removed you can wash it by hand with some schampoo before rinsing it again. If you want to wash in machine, it should be hand-wash settings and preferably in a washing bag. When air-drying your bikini make sure it is not directly exposed to the sun. Further, when storing your swimwear, make sure it is not hanged, since it is not good for the stretch and make sure it is in a place and bag where the material can breathe. If you but your swimwear in a plastic bag, bacteria can develop.

Purchase what you feel comfortable in

Don’t care about trends, colours, shape and so on when trying out swimwear. It is all about finding what you feel comfortable in. Be proud to pick whatever shape you need for your body. Maybe some of you need bikinis that hold up your breasts better or items you can swim in without feeling like your boobs are coming out. A day at the beach should be fun or/and relaxing, so choose something you can move and laugh in. Our body shape also changes throughout the years, so it is okey to buy a new one if last season doesn’t fit. Swimwear is something that is absolutely normal to circulate in your closet. When you can’t wear the one you used to have, ask a friend if they want it, maybe they want exactly what you used to have.

Find it second handed

If the swimwear has been looked after well enough, there is plenty of them on second hand. It might be more tricky to find, but at least have a look in your local store or at some of the common apps for circular fashion. Unfortunately, a lot of people buy swimwear they never use, so you might get surprise on how many beautiful things you can find on the second hand market. Check out your national Facebook group for re-sell and purchasing of second hand clothes.

Keep an eye on better materials

If you need something new be a conscious consumer and ask relevant questions related to production. Common things to look for when shopping ethical fashion is the business model of the company; Who owns it? Who makes a profit? Where are the clothes produced? How many collections and so on? It can feel like a lot, but when you find something that is more small scale and where the factories are listed transparently you are probably on the right path. Check the materials, certificates and standards.

Materials such as recycled polyester, ECONYL, hemp and REPREVE are commonly called sustainable materials. Recycled polyester is commonly made from PET-bottles and be aware of how much of the swimwear that actually contain recycled polyester. You will for example often found H&M clothes that only have a certain percentage of recycled polyester but are still called conscious. This is called greenwashing, since consumers are mislead to think they are making a 100% sustainable choice. ECONYL is a branded material made of recycled nylon. REPREVE is also made from recycled materials such as plastic bottles. Hemp is a natural material that requires very little water when being grown.

Each “sustainable” material comes with its advantage and disadvantage but you should be careful with the promises of sustainably produced clothes, because even though these materials might be a better offer, they still come with their challenges. Recycled PET-bottles is for example of course good, but doesn’t solve the issue with clothes made in synthetic fibres ending up in landfills.

Go for more ethical brands

But let’s not be too negative. We still want to help you to make a better choice. There are several brands out there offering something way more conscious than fast fashion. You can read our 10 recommendations here and the platform Good On You have 15 recommendations here.

Sustainable swimwear - what to think about