Bikinis & Swimsuits - Vegan Shopping & Its Pitfalls

Bikinis & Swimsuits must be the perfect mixture of brightly colored fabrics, quick-drying, and stretchiness. Typically, they are made of combinations of elastane, lycra, spandex, and polyamide. Swimsuits for competitive sports are also made with PU. These materials absorb very little water, dry very quickly and they’re flexible to conform to the body. Recent interest in sustainable material has also caused a boost in giving old materials a new life.

Fishing nets and other plastic waste found in the ocean can be transformed into fabrics such as ECONYL® regenerated nylon. Many swimsuit companies have taken these materials on board and have created fantastic designs that are fashionable, daring, sustainable, and perfect for Instagram

Not only designers for women have taken this on board, but there are also several companies creating sustainable boardshorts. These are typically made out of recycled polyester, namely RPET, which is made from post-consumer PET bottles.

Other vegan options for swimsuits include crochet bikinis, luckily these are typically made from cotton yarn, giving them some flexibility while providing a substantial possibility of colors.

Non-vegan materials:

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Vegan options include:

Cotton, ECONYL®, Elastane, Lycra, Nylon, Polyamide, RPET, Spandex