As vacationers everywhere take to the shores, it’s only natural to wonder how we can do more to preserve our beautiful beaches. While we have little control over the oil spills, consumers can make the choice to make their clothing as eco-friendly as possible. The very suits that are worn to enjoy the sun and the sand are often made from non-biodegradable materials that use a great deal of petroleum to make and also emit harmful gases into the environment as they’re produced. A new awareness of the environment brings about a new look at swimwear – is it possible to enjoy the beauty of Mother Earth while doing as little damage to it as possible?
A group of swimwear designers answers that question with a resounding YES and have gone beyond the usual polyester fabrics to make eco-friendly swimwear.
Aaron Chang already made a name for himself on the surfing scene. By combining his passion for keeping his beloved waters clean and fashion design, he has created a swimsuit line that uses polyester yarn and recycled soda bottles. And all of his swimwear has a common theme of natural elements, including plants, animals and of course, the beach.
Becca Swimwear takes advantage of soy pulp, a byproduct of tofu soy oil production. While the byproduct is normally discarded, Becca Swimwear spins it into a soy fabric for their swimwear collection. The styles range from sporty to sexy and have been featured in Glamour, Sports Illustrated and Vogue.
Niksters refers to its line of swimwear as the “sexier side of green” and it offers bandeau-style tops and Brazilian cut bottoms. Not only are these suits made from earth-friendly fabrics such as soy, organic cotton and bamboo, but they also feature the funky accent of bamboo rings. And with each purchase, a portion is donated to worthwhile environmental causes such as saving the sea turtles.
Eco Panda Swimwear diverts waste from landfills in order to make its swimsuits from 100% recycled fibers. Composed of MIPAN regen recycled nylon, mostly created from post-consumer fishing nets, these suits are colorful and fun. And by using recycled fibers, there is a 28% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 27% drop in petroleum use.
And not to worry guys, there are plenty of choices for you as well. Arbor, a small company out of Venice, California, is expanding their business to include bamboo swimwear. For the past few years they have focused on building snowboards out of all wood top sheet s and other environmentally-friendly materials but now they want their apparel to be as green as their boards. They now offer fun and funky bamboo board shorts that take advantage of the natural softness of bamboo to offer a comfortable fit for those fun days at the beach.
Make sure to accessorize your eco-friendly swimwear with bamboo clothing from Green Earth Bamboo! They offer swim coverups, organic tees and bamboo towels that are all perfect for your day at the beach. And for more information on the advantages of bamboo materials, visit Green Earth News section on Bamboo Fabric.
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Check out the new line, CurleeBikini… we offer Eco-Friendly swimwear and bags, as well! Not only do we use recycled, scraped and vintage materials to produce the suits… our suits are also handmade in an Eco-Airstream Design Studio!
Visit our online store… http://www.curleebikini.etsy.com
Be Mindful of Mother Nature! <3.
If you looking for something less expensive than silk, but still very comfortable, you could try with bamboo fabric. Surprisingly, bamboo fabric is natural and very eco-friendly. You don’t need to worry for bamboo trees because they regenerate themselves. Bamboo trees are growing very quickly.
I always thought cotton was the best compromise , it’s natural , breathes well and good on the skin but i am well aware that bamboo grows at amazing rates , if you can use this for material it seems like a good idea : )
I found your blog on yahoo and will bookmark it now. Keep up the nice work.