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Summer is here! And we couldn’t be more excited. It’s by far our favorite season because it means long days for hiking, warm nights under the stars, it’s kayaking and paddle boarding time, and yes, it’s swimsuit season! But not all swimwear is created equal. Many of the options out there aren’t made in a sustainable or equitable way. So if you’re upgrading your swimwear this season, opt for sustainable swimsuits from responsible brands that are as versatile as they are functional and look good doing good. Just don’t forget the sustainable sun hoodie when you hit the water!
Looking for sustainable swim trunks for men? Check out this article.
Why pay more for quality swimwear?
There’s a motto we like to abide by here at Terradrift: Buy once, cry once. It means invest more money in higher quality items and then you won’t have to worry about buying them again next season (and the season after that. And the season after that). And like lots of other outdoor gear, quality swimwear is worth the investment. That’s because it’s generally made of better, more longer lasting materials, offers more privacy and coverage (i.e. it won’t be see through by the end of the summer), will stand up to rigorous use, and just feels nicer on. Plus, most of these brands ensure their manufacturing is responsible, they pay their employees a living wage and they use more sustainable materials. Meaning there’s no sweat shops here.
As a bonus, most are constructed in such a way that you can polar plunge, take an alpine dip, play in the ways, cannonball, and even surf without worrying you’ll expose yourself to the world. We call that a win. What’s more, I’ve had swimwear from many of these brands for years and none of them are even close to needing retired. So shop responsibly, don’t over consume (how many swimsuits do you actually need?), and have fun out there. Wondering where to find quality sustainable swimsuits? Keep reading.
Sustainable Swimsuits for Women
Carve Designs
We love both the cut and the Billie Blue color of the reversible Escondido Top and St. Barth bottoms from Carve Designs (royal blue on one side, navy on the other–but there are lots of other colors and patterns available). So much we’ve threatened to wear it under open button-ups just because it’s so cute, comfy and soft. This particular style is best suited for small chests, though; There’s no compression and no support (and no padding for extra privacy), so larger breasts aren’t gonna find what they need here. On the upside, the Carve Designs website lets you search for suit options based on the level of support you want so you can make sure to get what you need. Also good to note: while the tops seem to run true to size, the bottoms run large, so we recommend sizing down.
The Serenity One Piece is much more compressive and made with dense, stretchy, silky-soft high quality recycled materials. It is one of their more cheeky one-piece options, though, so keep that in mind. Also, there are no pads or extra lining in the bust. This suit also seemed to run on the small side, so if in doubt (and if you’re between sizes or want a slightly less cheeky fit), size up. Sizing for all styles isn’t super inclusive, but some styles do offer specific options for bodies with larger boobs, which is nice.
Patagonia
Patagonia has long lead the charge for sustainability in the outdoors. So yeah, they’re a brand you can trust when it comes to sustainable swimsuits. In fact, not only are all of their swimsuits for women made of recycled materials, they’re also Fair Trade sewn. All with an emphasis on active lifestyles, which means yeah, they stay put whatever you’re doing in the water. We love the Cami top with the Sunamee bottoms. They’re both made of the same super soft material (recycled nylon for solids, recycled polyester for prints) and available in several colors and patterns.
The bottoms are also available in a shorts style (the Bottom Turn top is also a sporty fave) but even the classic style Sunamee bottoms offer decent coverage (no ultra cheeky bottoms here). The Cami top has thin removable pads (although they slide around a bit and are kind of a pain to arrange) and offers plenty of coverage thanks to the high neckline, plus is comfy, too, and not overly compressive or restrictive. Just soft and stretchy (but secure). It stayed put when canon-balling into a pool and looks so cute and is so comfy we wouldn’t think twice about wearing it as a crop top in town after a beach day. It’s no surprise this was one of our favorite swimsuits.
See Her Swim
Designed by women for women, this small California-based brand was founded by a long-distance open water swimmer, so you can trust that these are purpose-built for adventure (and serious swimmers). In fact, most of the suits are competition-grade, meaning they’re sung, they’re compressive, and they’re ultra durable. We tested the design featured in Outside Magazine’s Gear Guide: the Butterfly. The coverage is modest, there’s plenty of stretch so you can practice your freestyle or butterfly or breaststroke with ease, and it comes in a slew of colors. The sizes are even tolerably inclusive!
The fabric is high-quality and thick. There’s no padding in the chest but it offers an impressive amount of privacy even so. And you can be sure there won’t be any wardrobe malfunctions with this one. A note on sizing: these suits seem to run short in the torso. There’s a very helpful and detailed size guide on the site with how to measure your body for the best fit, but we found they fit those with short torsos best. That said, if you don’t need competition-level compression, order the size that fits your largest measurement best for the most comfortable fit. The brand uses recycled polyester fabric and suits are made in LA by a mother-daughter-led sewing team. The brand also empowers women and youth to enjoy the water via open-water swim practices in the San Francisco Bay Area, which culminate in events like the Alcatraz or Golden Gate Bridge Swim. Use code TERRADRIFT for 15% off.
Outerknown
Outerknown may not make a ton of sustainable swimsuits for women (just one, actually), but this sustainable brand sure makes high quality ones! We dig the Origin for its slinky, compressive recycled ECONYL fabrics and cool, natural colors. Also, since it’s a one piece, we know a separate top and bottom won’t get hit by a wave and leave us exposed. That said, those who are more well-endowed may find there’s less coverage for them thanks to the low-cut neckline. Also worth noting: there are no pads in the bust, so depending on your preferences that could be an upside or a downside.
We love the strappy, wide-open back of this suit. The legs are cut high on the hips and the bottom is definitely cheeky, so take that into consideration (it was less butt-baring and stayed put better when wet than when dry). We think we could have sized up a little in the name of more coverage, so especially if you’re between sizes, size up instead of down. Bonus: Outerknown is sustainably-minded, Fair Trade Certified, and uses plastic-free packaging for shipments.
Finisterre
When we want to move freely and not worry about what may or may not end up exposed, we choose a sporty suit with plenty of coverage. And sporty has never looked better than with the Finisterre Sula Top and Aurora Shorts. The recycled ECONYL fabric made of ocean plastics is tightly woven and supremely high quality, so we’re not worried about it wearing out or wearing thin any time soon. Plus they stay put during activity. If you want even more coverage, there’s also a matching rash guard and other tops and bottoms available. We did find the shorts, which are single-layer, not double, may be better suited for wear over traditional swim bottoms for extra privacy (unless you’re rocking a Brazilian, if you get my drift).
Note: This is a UK brand, so sizing runs small. I found while I almost always wear the smallest size available in American brands, that size was too small in Finisterre swimwear, so consider sizing up, but definitely check the useful size guide on their website for the best fit. On the upside, the top has an adjustable hook-and-loop strap in the back for extra fit assurance. Most options are available up to a size 18. Finisterre is also a B-Corp and is steadfastly committed to sustainable production and supporting foundations that get more people in the water. One other swim option we love: a full-coverage Seasuit (which they often donate to individuals in need) for those whose personal or religious beliefs dictate more skin must be covered, even when in the water.
Free Fly Apparel
Free Fly, a B-Corp brand that makes several sun shirts we love, just lunched a line of sustainable swimwear this year, including the sporty but flattering Wavebound Scoop Bikini. The style is simple and classic and it’s only available in a few colors, but the materials are solid and high quality, it’s nice and thick, the sizing is on point, and the functionality spot on. There’s also a one-piece long sleeve suit available designed for surfing and a Wavebound short for more coverage than traditional bottoms.
The fabric is silky, the lining is super soft, and it stays put during water based activities–we were never worried about it sliding off, up or sideways. It’s made of mostly recycled nylon and has removable pads in the top so you can choose your level of coverage. It was compressive enough to feel supportive, but not so much that we felt squished. The bottoms even offered adequate coverage so we didn’t feel like our butt cheeks were constantly hanging out. Huzzah! Plus, the fabric is made of recycled fishing nets. Size options are available up to XXL.
Bottom Line
Ready to suit up and hit the pool/beach/springs/river/lake/whatever body of water is in closest proximity to you? Get out there and wander on! And do it in a more sustainable swimsuit from a more sustainable brand. Just remember to consume responsibly (how many pairs of women’s swimwear do you actually need?). Then check out our articles about sustainable sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen.
Looking for sustainable swim trunks for men? Check out this article.
