Choosing a swimming costume?

Isn’t the summer wonderful? We can enjoy long evenings spent outdoors - honey bees buzzing nearby - and sleep with windows open, waking naturally to birdsong instead of unwanted abrasive alarm clocks!

Another defining feature of summer, of course, is the long and (hopefully) hot holidays. For many of us that means dunks in the paddling pool, visits to a swimming pool or even a trip to the beach for some sea swimming.

Whichever watery venue you choose, you’ll need some swim-gear. As with all clothing, shoes and accessories, thinking about how each item is made, and looking into the values of your chosen brand(s), is important: wise choices have a positive impact on the earth, as well as feel better on your skin.

Two things to look out for are i) how a costume or pair of trunks is made, and b) how long they might last - and do you really need twenty of them?

Let’s get the tough facts out of the way first, and then look clearly at the solution, which is to buy from a brand you trust.

One of the main materials found in the average cheap bikini, is plastic. More specifically swimsuits are most commonly made of synthetic fibres like polyester and nylon which are great for wicking away water and stretching across the body. They aren't great for our planet however, and that's an understatement. It's not just that plastic harms the earth on its way out / once you’re finished with it but also that, when washed, cheaply-produced swimsuits shed tiny microfibres of plastic. Those microfibres end up in the water system via your washing machine, and ultimately make their way into our environment, in our oceans.

So how can you help prevent or reduce the burden that swimwear places on our earth? As always, it's about being a conscious, thoughtful consumer and buying from those brands and businesses that are placing principles above profit and trusting consumers to make wholehearted choices rather than just going for a quick fix.

When it comes to children’s swimwear, Olga Valentine, is one such brand. Their self-proclaimed central focus is on ‘leaving the world in a better state than we found it’ and all fabrics used to make their swimwear come from recycled bottles and fishing nets. All off-cuts of the fabrics are donated to the Bali Life Foundation, a small charity with a big heart intent on offering women in poverty the opportunity to make and sell handicrafts and have a sustainable source of income.

Other adult swimwear brands with strong sustainability principles and vision include the 100% recycled range at Riz Boardshorts, and also BlueBuck swimwear and underwear. Check out the colourful costumes at Madewell, or Deakin and Blue, all made in a small London factory from ECONYL, a regenerated fabric that’s 100% recycled plastic and post-consumer waste and which, when washed and dried properly, lasts longer than other, nylon counterparts. For high performance sports gear with a conscience, check out Patagonia who have a self-imposed Earth tax meaning 1% of all profits go to environmental charities and organisations. They also tackle the climate crisis with their network of activists, events and resources and even offer grants for grassroots community projects.

Five more brands using recycled materials in their swimwear, with a focus on transparency and sustainability and/or giving back to good causes include: Mara Hoffman, Koru Swimwear, Vitamin A, Finisterre and Mangata London.

What can we do?

As always, though, we encourage Earth Cubs to do more research for themselves – there is far more to discover. Don’t just swim but dive! Get excited about the innovative things that human beings are doing, in this case via swimwear, to make our world a better place.

Learn, explore and grow. We hope you have a wonderful summer.