Hannah Ernst

The debate surrounding “sustainable swimwear” has begun to gain more public traction. While there is no perfect alternative to the stretchy synthetic fabric that nearly every swimsuit is made with, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some brands that are doing it better than others on the inclusivity front while also taking steps to minimize the environmental impacts of their products.

As a notoriously exclusionary industry, swimwear brands have long marketed a completely one-dimensional idea of who swimwear is even for. Fortunately, as fashion evolves into a more inclusive industry, there are brands emerging that are disrupting the status quo and ushering in a new era of acceptance and inclusivity within swimwear. In addition to creating bathing suits that are, for example, size-inclusive or gender-inclusive, many of these companies have taken steps to minimize the environmental impacts of their products by sourcing deadstock, or leftover, fabric that can no longer be used for its original purpose and those made from used plastic bottles, fishing nets and other recycled materials. While it is not an entirely holistic solution by itself, this more conscious use of fabrics is an important initial attempt to reduce the use of virgin oil-based synthetics or plastics within the product group of swimwear that is almost entirely reliant on these materials.

As conscious consumers, we want to take the secrecy out of our clothing and push for a more transparent and inclusive industry. Here are eight brands to check out in your search for sustainable swimwear this summer. In addition to their use of recycled and deadstock fabrics, these swimwear brands are also championing racial-, size- or gender-inclusivity.