We've finally reached the point of the year when the summer holiday countdown is underway, meaning the following things are imminent: sandy toes, basket bags and an excellent holiday capsule wardrobe. And second to deciphering how to condense your favourite summer holiday outfits into flight-approved luggage comes the complex question of swimwear.
Between impenetrable size guidelines, bust support levels and fabric options, there's much to decipher when it comes to swimwear. Amongst the most frequent questions I get asked as a fashion editor are where to buy the best bikinis and swimsuits, which shapes suit which body types (the ones that make you feel the best) and the justification for the price disparity between what's on the market.
Above all things, I advise thinking small. Shopping small, that is. The past few years have graced us with myriad swimwear brands that focus on sustainability, from eco-conscious materials to slow and thoughtful releases; it's the very antithesis of fast fashion.
Emma Hoareau wears a Cooke Swim bikini
Since 2021, we've witnessed a rising interest in high-end, high-quality swimwear, spearheaded by brands like Hunza G. The brand's fuss-free crinkle swimwear set the benchmark for elevated styles that are often synonymous with sustainability. The customer mindset is shifting; people are investing more heavily in budget and brands, and are eager to learn about textiles and innovation within the industry.
Lucy Williams wears a Boteh bikini top
So, what makes a swimwear brand sustainable? If you regularly read my content on Who What Wear UK, you may be aware of my love for independent brands and natural materials, but these fabrics have limitations. Swimwear fabrics are akin to those of most high-performance clothing: water-resistant, elasticated, fast-drying and functional, and there are a handful of fibres and resins that fit the criteria. More often than not, sustainable swimwear is made from one of three: Econyl (regenerated nylon, typically sourced from landfills and oceans), Repreve (a durable fibre made from recycled plastic bottles) or recycled synthetics, such as post-consumer recycled polyester.
On occasion, recycled materials may be melded with virgin textiles to maintain integrity and ensure durability. Particularly scrupulous brands will ensure the continuation of the sustainable process across manufacturing, with considered dyes, attachments and fastenings; and some have attained Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) accreditations.
Marianne Smyth wears a Hunza G swimsuit
Investing in premium-quality brands which uphold values and work with transparent production is a refreshing approach to sustainable shopping that I favour. Shopping for sustainable swimwear often equates to condensed and limited stocks, which is another powerful tool when tackling overconsumption in the fashion industry.
Francesca Saffari wears a Faithfull bikini
If you're keen to refresh your arsenal with a sustainable swimwear pick, you won't be disappointed with what you find. In my experience, they're made to withstand plenty of wear and fleeting trends alike. Continue reading to discover 16 of my favourite sustainable swimwear brands. Each makes considered, contemporary pieces fashioned with forever in mind.
Monikh wears Matteau
Shop the Best Sustainable Swimwear Brands:
1. Maygel Coronel
Style Notes: Maygel Coronel's designs are locally made in Colombia. The brand merges Latin American influences with a contemporary essence denoted through adorable adornments, frilled detailing and ruched sleeves. What results is a sumptuous aesthetic made for tropical climates.
Shop Maygel Coronel:
I have it on good authority that 2025's butter yellow is set to dominate summer wardrobes for years to come.
A vintage-inspired piece awash with a spirited hue.
Meet your new favourite two-piece.
2. Tona
Style Notes: Championing the female body in all its glorious forms, Tona is charged with empowerment, unapologetically. This inclusive swimwear brand doesn't scrimp on its sustainability efforts, either; all pieces predominantly comprise Econyl or organic cotton (see its towelling designs). From the high-leg bikini bottoms to the low-slung balconette, the collection is one part spirited and the other classic. Choose between inspired tie-dye prints and monochromatic textures.
Shop Tona:
A low-cut bikini designed for bigger busts is revolutionary in the swimwear arena.
This checkerboard style will liven up your holiday capsule.
This towelling fabrication is extremely comfortable.
3. Cooke Swim
Style Notes: Over the past decade, I've learnt that Australians are experts in swimwear. They are ocean-bound, after all. Tastemaker Olive Cooke hones in on thoughtful designs inspired by the female figures in her life, aka her muses. Whilst you're browsing this Australian swimwear brand, you'd be remiss not to check out her wider fashion collections, spanning barely-there slip dresses to pareos.
Shop Cooke Swim:
The adorable metallic adornment sets this style apart from the rest.
This blown-up cherry print is delicious!
No woman's swimwear collection is complete without a classic one-piece.
4. Away That Day
Style Notes: Established in 2019, Away That Day was founded with a focus on crafting stylish, high-quality and eco-friendly swimwear and apparel. The brand's mission to prove that joyous styles can exist on the sustainable market is an evident success.
Shop Away That Day:
Complete with a deep neckline and in a timeless polka-dot print.
A chic bridal-inspired set ahead of wedding season.
Innovated with biodegradable elastane, the Cannes one-piece is a modern classic.
5. Vanessa Sposi
Style Notes: Designed in Paris, weft in Italy and crafted in Portugal, Vanessa Sposi is a proudly European brand playing with vintage-inspired silhouettes awash with an intentionally modern colour palette spanning jewelled emerald and peppery red to versatile neutrals. I love the Non Padded Cup Top. This shrunken top has barely-there straps and a striking underwired design.
Shop Vanessa Sposi:
Why not opt for a splash of colour?
This hue is so rich.
This retro silhouette reminds me of the athleisure of the '80s.
6. Borneo Paris
Style Notes: Inspired by the minimalist and functional lifestyle of sailors, Borneo Paris hones in on timeless and easy-to-wear swimsuits and bikinis. The brand prides itself on its many sustainable practices, including (but not limited to) limited production runs and an OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.
Shop Borneo Paris:
Where functionality meets fashion.
The thicker straps are fuller-bust friendly.
A high-leg '90s fit.
7. Ysé Paris
Style Notes: B-corp brand Ysé is beloved in France. It was conceived with emboldened lingerie styles and naturally expanded to include swim and resortwear. Expect to find puckered textiles and ditsy florals.
Shop Ysé Paris:
Textured fabrics have proven to be a popular choice with beach-goers.
So pretty.
This season, you'll spot a sea of polka-dot print.
8. Matteau
Style Notes: Matteau is renowned for its refined offerings. Another sustainable swimwear brand hailing from Australia, the brand knows exactly what makes the perfect swimwear. Years on, the formula is undefeatable. It has mastered the design, so what follows are rousing colourways and prints. Like its apparel, the brand produces a swimwear capsule of classic silhouettes made with forever in mind.
Shop Matteau:
Whilst it may be a small detail, the square neckline is directional.
The exposed bustier detail is a wonderful swimwear feature.
This print is inspired.
9. Jade Swim
Style Notes: Jade Swim is fully committed to sustainable practices and values bold and fashionable designs in equal measure. It's the place to find youthful designs in abundance, from peek-a-boo perforations and ruching to asymmetry.
Shop Jade Swim:
Old Hollywood starlets would have approved.
This sunshine yellow is bound to lift the spirit.
This Grecian ruching is inspired.
10. Youswim
Style Notes: Dubbed as creating one of the most comfortable swimsuits on the market, Youswim has a stellar reputation amongst the fashion set for its take on swimwear. The brand boasts a unique approach to sizing, with just two sizes to eliminate the complexities. Size I fits UK sizes 6-16, whilst Size II fits UK sizes 18-28. Reserve your energy for choosing between the myriad styles on offer.
Shop You Swim:
Asymmetric styles will always look directional.
The twisted bikini top is a great design.
An evergreen piece in the brand's collection.
11. Form and Fold
Style Notes: Exclusively designed in Australia for bigger busts, Form and Fold is a brand to know for those who are a size DD+ or above. Unfortunately, there's a real lack of trendy swimwear for fuller busts, but Form and Fold more than makes up for this gap in the market with its sophisticated styles.
Shop Form and Fold:
The exact style of swimwear tastemakers wore in the 1950s.
Sparkle isn't just for party season.
You can't go wrong with a classic black swimsuit.
12. Dora Larsen
Style Notes: Lovers of Dora Larsen's candy-hued lingerie will be pleased to know that since spring/summer 2024, the independent brand has offered a concise swimwear edit too. You'll find the same spirited colourways from lilac to powder blue, which is part of the brand's DNA.
Shop Dora Larsen:
Trust Dora Larsen to introduce vibrant colours into the mix.
A bold colour will never steer you wrong.
So comfortable, you'll feel like you're wearing underwear.
13. Faithfull
Style Notes: Look to resortwear brands like Faithfull for swimwear that aligns with current trends, but in a considered, ethically made way. For spring/summer 2025, the brand has leaned into the romanticism trend, spearheaded by Chloé, which is evident in the below pieces.
Shop Faithfull:
The double-bow hip fastening and gathered bra make this design exceptionally sweet.
Ruching is a coveted feature this season.
The string feature is adorable!
14. St. Agni
Style Notes: Yet another Aussie swimwear brand (there's a theme here), St. Agni explores contemporary style made for warmer climates. Granted, the extended collection is swoon-worthy, but its swimwear is also worthy of praise. With a less-is-more philosophy, this is the brand to make a beeline for if you're a minimalist hankering for clean lines.
Shop St. Agni:
The scooped neckline and high-leg cut borrow elements from '90s silhouettes.
A two-piece you'll keep for years.
A unique colourway.
15. Marysia
Style Notes: With a background in sports and performance, Founder Maria Dobrzanska Reeves sought to amalgamate her love for Italian-inspired scalloped edging with functional swimwear. Many pieces comprise Q-NOVA stretch-polyamide, a regenerated fibre that reduces CO2 emissions and water consumption.
Shop Marysia:
The scalloped-edge trim is a playful addition to a classic cut.
The seersucker textile feels inherently nautical.
A vintage-inspired print.
16. This Belongs To
Style Notes: Lovers of Y2K, look no further than This Belongs To for unique and convertible swimwear designs handmade in London. Between buckle bustiers, cut-out swimsuits and bold splashes of animal print, it lends itself to noughties styles of the past.
Shop This Belongs To:
This swimsuit can be worn in many different ways.
A denim swimsuit is quite the statement.
The contrast stitch is a wonderful design feature.
