Eco-friendly Swimming

By Melinda Toussaint

Swimsuit season is upon us therefore we are presented with another opportunity to bring green into our lives. Here are some top designers who have produced eco-friendly swim lines for us to support the environment with.

1. Aaron Chang International- Aaron has been a leader in the green industry created swimsuits from polyester yarn he made from recycled soda bottles. To see his collection visit www.aaronchang.com or www.faeriesdance.com.

2. Anna Cohen- Anna’s vision for her collection has always been to create products using sustainable resources through globally responsible business practices and she would like to inspire the fashion industry to do so as well. She created a swimsuit line using mill-end fabrics (fabrics at the end of their life cycle) as well as organic cotton and bamboo. Visit www.annacohen.com or www.btcelements.com for more.

3. Jungle Gurl- Jungle Gurl has made a name for itself with celebrities like Nicole Richie by making a swimsuit line from vintage fabrics around the world. With a variety of colors and sizes that range from 0-22 Jungle Gurl is setting the pace. It is however a little pricey, with suits that start just above $200. Visit www.junglegurl.com for a look at the entire collection.

4. Kelly B- Kelly is making suits from bamboo and organic cotton that is grown, processed, and produced without using pesticides or other harsh chemicals. For around $100 you can get a beautifully and responsibly made suit. Visit www.kellybcouture.com or www.faeriesdance.com.

5. Meadow- This line is made from hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, and soy and comes with a variety of designs. Priced reasonably around $100 as well you can view them at www.bymeadow.com or www.shopmodify.com.

6. Niksters- My personal favorite collection is made from soy and organic cotton as well as bamboo. They also donate a portion of their proceeds to worthwhile causes like saving the sea turtles. Niksters is also a little pricey with bikinis and monokinis starting around $100 to $130. Visit www.niksters.com for more information.

7. REI- Another great line of eco-friendly swimwear that is made from hemp, organic cotton, bamboo, or post-recycled materials. Not all of REI’s clothing will be but if it is made from those materials it will sport a tag saying it is “Eco-Sensitive” to let consumers know. For suits under $100 visit www.rei.com.

Swimsuit season has been kicked off in full force so make sure you are taking all the necessary steps to think green while you are diving into the blue. Everything from suits, to towels, to beach totes, to cover-ups can be more eco-friendly so take the steps to make them so. Now is a great time to be thinking about the environment while you and your friends are enjoying it.