Find an Eco-Friendly Swimsuit

Posted on June 19, 2008 by Allie

I bought a bathing suit several years ago, when I used to swim laps at the gym. It is hideously ugly. I find great joy in wearing it, because I think it’s hysterical.

It’s mostly orange, and it’s reversible. One side has bright tropical flowers and looks like something one of the Golden Girls would wear. The other side has crazy snapshot type images of everything from volcanoes to toucans. It is an assault on the eyes, but it was on sale for 14 bucks, it dries really fast, and I was just wearing it to swim from one end of the pool to the other.

And, I even got a compliment on it once. This nice elderly gentleman came up to me, poolside and said, “Wow, that is some suit!” At least, I think it was a complement.

Don’t buy a new suit if you like the one you already have.  Buying stuff you don’t need isn’t eco-friendly.  But if you’re in the market for a new suit and putting form above function you might want to check out these eco-friendly options.

Aventura has an amazing collection of recycled poly swim separates.  The Skyler Recycled Poly Tankini (top shown above) is on my wish list.

Aaron Chang designed an itsy bitsy, teeny weenie, yellow polka dot (reversable) bikini made from recycled materials for Victoria’s Secret, and it’s adorable.

Rawganic has a really cute hemp bikini top, but no bottom. Hrmm. Are there a lot of bottomless beaches out there? That’s a rhetorical question. Don’t answer.

BTC Elements has some cute suits.

Or you can knit your own. Check out some more patterns here.

Low Tee makes men’s bathing suits out of vintage shirts.

But, if you can’t find a suit you like, Green As A Thistle advocated swimming in the buff.

Source

3 Comments +

  1. We’re the ultimate swimsuit recyclers on the team. Sadly, daily swims and chlorine break down the best of suits. But when that happens, most of the women put the old suit on over a new suit, and keep on swimming. It creates drag, and that resistance helps with training!

    June 19th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
    Comment by Noelle
  2. I love it! That’s so resourceful!

    June 20th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
    Comment by Allie
  3. I think that those swimsuit drier things that they have in locker rooms really wear out my swimsuits a lot faster. Maybe avoiding it will help a swimsuit last longer? Just a thought.

    April 8th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
    Comment by Jess

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Tip of the Day

Bring Your Own Utensils

I carry a titanium backpacking spork around in my purse.  I know that sounds kind of weird, but it saves me from using disposable utensils when I eat out, and it’s so light, I never even notice that I’m carrying it.

Before the Industrail Revolution it was common for guests to be expected to bring their own utensils with them when invited to dine, because utensils were expensive, labor intensive items, and most people didn’t own extra sets.  Now, when it’s possible to buy a set of 1,000 plastic utensils for under $20, people don’t even think about bringing their own.

But think of the plastic waste that can be saved by slipping a fork from home in your purse on the way out the door.  You don’t need anything fancy.  Grab one from your kitchen drawer, or if you’re worried about loosing a piece of a set, pick up a few spare utensils the next time you hit a discount store, thrift shop, or yard sale.  It’s simple a simple way to cut down waste, and it’s always nicer to eat with real utensils anyway.

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