Your swimwear is probably plastic — 11 responsible alternatives

If your summer holiday is on the horizon, you might be surprised to learn most swimwear is made from petroleum-based fibres such as nylon and polyester. Swimwear has to stretch, endure salt, sun and chlorine, and it’s often the elastane in blends that wears out first.

“Better [swimwear] should first and foremost mean longer lasting and higher quality,” says Helen Lofts, founder of Davy J, noting that the quality and density of the weave determines how robust a suit will be. There are, however, many recycled and alternative fabrics in use, from brands such as Repreve, Econyl, NetPlus and Evo, and certifications like Oeko‑Tex signal lower levels of harmful substances.

Some materials are made from recycled fishing nets or bio-based castor beans, and more swimwear makers are offering repair, take-back and resale options. Platforms such as Reskinned work to keep pieces in circulation or feed them into emerging textile‑to‑textile recycling streams.

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