As fantastic as I believe the growing popularity of sea-swimming to be, I do have one gripe: how this reconnection with sea and nature is being co-opted by consumerism. Beaches and piers have become a kind of catwalk to show off daring and wildly inventive swimming costumes. This (in my hippie opinion) directly contradicts the point of sea swimming which, for me, is about disconnecting from the material world and reconnecting to the natural world.

And the natural world doesn’t care how worn your swimmers are, how saggy the bottoms, how faded the bikini top, how ragged the towel. It simply wants you. Exactly as you are. Unshaven. Undieted. Un-Boohooed. Just open-hearted.

At the same time, baring our bodies is a daunting, if not terrifying, experience for many of us. Most of us carry the baggage of a lifetime living in diet culture where we are taught to feel shame, guilt and unworthiness for the flesh that encases us. And so, even though the sea doesn’t care how we show up for it, we do. We need a costume that won’t just prepare us for the baltic blast of the ocean but will protect us from the self-consciousness and sheer terror that is taking our clothes off in front of an audience.

And so, as much as the raging environmentalist in me wants you to avoid buying anything new at all costs; as much as I feel compelled to beg you to bring out the same bikini year after year until buying a new costume is a desperate need rather than an impulsive want, I equally understand the transformative, bolstering power of a really fantastic pair of swimmers. And I do want you to have it.

With these eco-conscious brands, you can. Saving plastic from landfill, reusing recycled fabric scraps, and ensuring worker’s rights are protected, these five small European brands are an investment that are as much a gift to the planet as they are to you.

Kahm

An Irish brand that champions authenticity, freedom and names each one of its beautiful swimming costumes after legendary Irish women? Hook it up to my veins. Kahm is a Donegal-based swimwear company producing costumes for men, women, and children. Founded by two swimmer sisters who wanted to create eco-friendly swimwear that could withstand the hazards of both sea and pool swimming, Kahm produces beautifully cut pieces for every size and shape, from ruffled necklines to sleek bodysuits in hues of emerald green, teal, canary yellow.

All of its products are made from ECONYL® – a regenerated nylon fabric manufactured from waste products destined for landfill such as old fishing nets and nylon waste. If you’re searching for a durable swimsuit that will provide a streamlined fit and keep its shape and colour without using virgin (and ghastly) synthetic materials like polyester, spandex, and nylon (the fabric most swimwear is made from), ECONYL® is the material you want to look out for. 

Revel in patriotic pride and support a small Irish business by checking out Kahm’s collection here.

Stay Wild Swim

Another female-run business is this collaboration between Zanna Van Dijk and Natalie Glaze. Stay Wild Swim also uses ECONYL® to create minimal collections that balance clean shapes and classic styles with pop colours of blue, red, yellow, and black.

Feminine and functional, its costumes marry practicality with pretty aesthetics that understand the comfort (and tanning) needs of every woman. It’s hard to find swimwear that can do both, and even harder to find pieces available in sizes 6-24: Stay Wild Swim nails it.

Both design and production happen in a small London studio where there is a zero-waste approach to garment production and high ethical standards. This significantly decreases the carbon footprint of a Stay Wild Swim purchase, which also happens to come with carbon neutral shipping. So, for almost guilt-free pieces that focus on quality over quantity, stay wild and swim here.

Organic Basics

Another sustainable string to this popular Danish company’s environmental bow is its Re-Swim range: a small and classic swimwear collection for men and women. Simple swim shorts in recycled nylon are available for men while women can shop classically cut bikinis and one-piece suits in ultramarine blue, mustard yellow, and black.

What I particularly like about Organic Basics is its transparent reporting on factory standards as well as the organisations overall environmental and social impact. It only works with certified factory partners that guarantee a respectful working environment free from child and forced labor.

However, I am less fond of its limited sizing. Though they are working to make their collections more size-inclusive, I still find it hard to stomach a brand whose largest size is a 14-16 (and has the audacity to call this XL). Shop Organic Basics here.

Underprotection

Another exceptional Danish brand delivering ethical and environmentally-friendly swimwear is Underprotection – a company uniting ethics with aesthetics. Frilly florals abound in Underprotections’s collection of retro bikinis, one-pieces and maternity wear. Using recycled polyester that’s vegan approved by PETA and both Oeko-Tex and GRS certified, this brand prevents plastic waste from going to landfill while using 53 per cent less energy in its manufacturing than virgin polyester production.

Underprotection is a certified B Corporation, which means that not only is it authenticated as a business that balances purpose with profit, it is legally required to consider and report on its social, environmental, and ethical impact. We love this!

However, I again need to flag the limited sizing of this company, which only stocks XS (UK 6) to XL (UK 16). Shop Underprotection here.

BATOKO

I love everything about BATOKO, from its bold prints to its size-inclusive sass. This independent brand turns rubbish into fun, flattering and super comfy swimwear in the north west of England.

Its vegan one-pieces feature vibrant colours and bold wildlife prints – from vermilion lobster suits to cerulean seascapes – and are made from recycled plastic waste in workplaces powered by renewable energy. Digitally printing its swimwear to ensure less wasting of resources, BATOKO is using striking art to both celebrate our planet’s diverse wildlife and remind us of its vulnerability. The aim is to reconnect people with nature and take more responsibility in protecting it, which is why the company annually donates some of its profits to grassroots organisations that are environment- and wildlife-focused like the Cornish Seal Sanctuary.

It also has an extensive care guide because, though it works as a microbusiness to cut down on any excess waste or pollution, BATOKO recognises that, as with all garments, a significant portion of their pollution and carbon footprint comes from how we, the consumer, wear, wash, and dispose of them.

This is a crucial point – one I’ve previously written about when it comes to our laundry habits. Our environmental footprint really only begins with a purchase. How we look after the items we buy is often as, if not more, important than the garment itself.

Unfortunately, even recycled swimwear cannot circumvent the inevitability of releasing microfibres into the ocean when they’re washed. So, to try and minimise microplastic pollution, handwash your garments in cold water as much as possible and treat them with all of the love and care that these brands have shown in creating them.

Follow Holly on Instagram @holly_hughes_words