It’s summertime! My favourite season. I love the heat. Anything above 25 degrees Celsius is ideal for me. I always tell people hot weather is being in a warm hug all the time. Doesn’t that sound nice?
Anyways, summer also means beach weather. If beaches are slowly opening up in your country, then it’s the perfect time to head to the beach! (While being safe, of course!). There’s nothing better than just relaxing by the water and leaving all your worries and stress behind. For many, it’s also a way to show off their stylish swimsuits or breezy summer dresses.
I’ve compiled a list of five brands that sell sustainable and ethical swimsuits, beach accessories, and summer dresses.
Vitamin A Swim
Amahlia Stevens, designer and founder of Vitamin A Swim, spent three years developing the sustainable fabric EcoLux, the first premium swim fabric that is made from recycled fibres.
Vitamin A Swim uses other sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, linen, Tencel, and recycled cotton. They make most of their products in California, with their swimwear solely made in the U.S., but for other items that can’t be created in the state, they partner with fair trade artisans to create ethical materials.
They also provide women with fair wages and a safe working environment. They also donate a portion of their sales to organizations such as Oceana, Heal the Bay, and Surfrider Foundation.
Vitamin A Swim has a wide variety of swimsuits and other beachwear in their collection that come in various colours and patterns.
I absolutely love their Sunny Duster. It looks so comfortable, breezy, and is the perfect cover-up for the beach.
Kowtow
Kowtow was founded in 2006 by Gosia Piatek. The brand uses organic cotton that’s certified organic by the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). They also source fair-trade organic cotton through a transparent supply chain. They use sustainable Tencel and ethical merino wool, and their swimwear is made from ECONYL. Each of their clothes is also dyed with an organic wash recipe that’s certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
Kowtow works with Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) certified manufacturers in India. Their garments are made at SA8000 organizations that guarantee workers receive minimum wage, pensions, and medical insurance, among other benefits.
Kowtow has classic and casual pieces that have a modern twist. Their clothes have interesting shapes and silhouettes that are perfect for those who are fashion-forward.
The Painter Dress is an example of a simple dress with an interesting shape. It has a relaxed, baggy fit, which is perfect for hot, summer days. You can easily throw this on top of your swimsuit, or just wear it as is if you don’t want to go into the water.
Passion Lilie
Passion Lilie was founded and is designed by Katie Schmidt. The brand offers fair wages, safe and healthy working conditions, and long-term employment for their artisans in India. They believe in the importance of keeping ancient artisanal dyeing and weaving traditions alive in India.
Passion Lilie is a fair-trade and eco-friendly company. They are a member of the Fair Trade Federation. Their products are made with organic, pesticide-free, non-GMO cotton. They also use azo-free, organic, and natural dyes.
Passion Lilie’s clothes have beautiful patterns and prints. The silhouettes are classic with vintage and retro feel to them. I love the Organic Jersey Wrap Dress. It’s very vintage-inspired and something I would definitely wear. I’m not super into bold patterns, but I like the subdued print of the dress.
Arrow + Phoenix
Kayla Bell started Arrow + Phoenix when she was 16 years old. The brand’s bikinis are created from 100 per cent recycled materials, 100 per cent recycled yarn, and uses 75 per cent less energy to create. Their fabrics are eco-friendly, and all their swimsuits are made in Nevada.
The brand has its own recycling program where you can get a discount off of your next purchase with them by sending them your old bikinis. They also donate $5 from their swimwear and t-shirt sales to the Coral Restoration Foundation.
Arrow + Phoenix’s swimwear range from classic to sexy. They have a wide array of styles that come in several colours. They have a style that will suit anyone.
One of the bikinis that stood out to me was the Larsen Top, due to the color and style. I love anything pink, and the hot pink looks super flattering. And I like how it ties in the front instead of the back, making it super easy to adjust.
Outerknown
Outerknown was co-founded by former pro surfer Kelly Slater. At least 90 per cent of the fibres they use are organic, recycled, and regenerated. They are a fair-trade company that is accredited by the Fair Labor Association (FLA). They will also repair, replace, or recycle their S.E.A. JEANS if they are torn or damaged to keep them out of the landfill.
Outerknown is very transparent on what they’re doing to be a sustainable and ethical company. They have created a 2030 roadmap plan for the planet. The roadmap is their commitment to circularity by preventing their clothes from ending up in landfills.
Outerknown’s style is very simple, casual, and classic, with a lot of timeless pieces that will never go out of style. Personally, their clothes are right up my alley. I love pretty much all of their designs and I could see myself wearing a lot of their clothes.
Their Meraki Wrap Dress is a great outfit to wear over your swimsuit. It’s perfect for the beach. I would wear it in a heartbeat.
classically casual 