Summary
Fashion and sustainability aren’t necessarily compatible concepts. If you shop or consume anything, you naturally contribute to waste. “This closeness to nature, especially the ocean, makes the narrative of sustainability resonate more profoundly with consumers,” said Sienna Gomez, CEO of Sienna Swim.
Most swimwear fabrics include raw materials like nylon, polyester, and elastane to make the suits comfortable, stretchy, and durable. As with other sectors of fashion looking to reduce their environmental impacts, recycling is a way to offset some of the effects of overconsumption.
Some brands utilize recycled synthetic textiles from nylon and polyester to create their swimwear. Recycled fabrics made from plastic bottles and discarded or abandoned fishing nets, also known as ghost nets. Lands’ End, Vitamin A, Bydee, Roxy, and even Speedo use Repreve fabrics.
Repreve has turned 40 billion post-consumer plastic bottles into usable resin. For swimwear, it’s essential that the fabric used, recycled or otherwise, can withstand sun exposure, water, heat, sweat, and movement. “Advancements in textile technology have enabled sustainable swim brands to produce high-quality products,” says Ezzedines.
Doubling the lifespan of clothes can reduce the industry’s emissions by as much as 44 percent, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. With simpler construction in swimwear, it can be easier to integrate sustainable choices into each step. The Baobab Foundation partnered with over 300 other foundations, academia, and companies to turn discarded textiles into other products.
Textile-to-textile recycling is a major frontier for fashion’s sustainable future. What that looks like, especially for swimwear, is knowing where to send or take garments you’re ready to discard and have the logistical support to do it in a sustainable way.
It can be difficult for brands to know where to start when it comes to sharing accurate information. Seaman Paper Company has replaced 125 million plastic bags by creating packaging out of paper. “When you do something good, you want to talk about it and tell your customers,” said Culbreath.
The cost of going sustainable or overhauling entire business models can feel too expensive. In the long run, sustainable methods are cost-efficient overall, from resource usage to waste reduction. “Quicker is better when changing to sustainable,” Gottex CEO Ron Grundland said.
Maximizing the lifespan of products will be game-changing, and if it can start with swimwear, these efforts can go anywhere. “Perfection kills progress,” said Gottex CEO, “You have to get started somewhere, and the journey will happen on its own.”
