Why opt for an eco-responsible swimsuit?<

Faithful summer allies that we proudly draw from the first swim of the season, swimsuits are among the most polluting pieces of our wardrobe. Made from synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, spandex, etc.), bikinis, swim shorts and other one-pieces release plastic microfibers into the water which dangerously damage marine flora and fauna. Made from materials that can be harmful to those who wear them, these garments are also difficult, if not impossible, to recycle.

A product thought out from A to Z

So we can reassure you: no, naturism is not the only option available to you to take full advantage of summer without hurting the planet and your body. More and more brands are offering more responsible and sustainable alternatives for going for a dip (or basking in the sun). We are talking here about an eco-responsible swimsuit - i.e. a swimsuit that respects the environment and people. Its manufacture and its impact have been thought out from A to Z, from its creation to its end of life, including its production but also its distribution to consumers, so that it pollutes as little as possible.

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This young French brand relies on a local production chain: all its models are made in France, in the Rhônes-Alpes region. “Our fabric manufacturer is based in Northern Italy 392 kilometers from the production facility. We send the parcels directly from Lyon,” she explains.

A fiber made from recycled fishing nets

Maline swimsuits have timeless cuts (guaranteed not to get tired of them after a season) and are available from size 34 to size 48. They are made of 78% recycled polyamide Econyl: a fabric fiber regenerated from fishing nets and industrial waste, which has been recovered from the oceans and other landfills.

At Maline, we also avoid “over-packaging”, by storing the swimsuits in cotton pouches. The packages are made of recycled paper, and the label is biodegradable.

Protect yourself

More and more French brands are getting into eco-responsible swimwear. Among them, Nayade, who signed an agreement with WWF Italia to safeguard the ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea. Or Esquisse, whose pretty swimsuits with romantic prints are made in a super-fine luxury knit, knitted in Isère and Oeko-Tex certified: a label that guarantees fabrics without toxic products for the body and the environment.

Anne Montecer, author of the blog Le Dressing Idéal, has already taken the plunge. “For mainly ecological reasons, of course, but also to protect yourself: a swimsuit is worn next to the skin, so choosing an eco-responsible model means so many fewer risks for our health”, confides this mother of two children.

She particularly recommends Posidonie, a French brand whose swimsuits are made from fishing nets recovered mainly in the Mediterranean - a way of helping to preserve the underwater plant that gives its name to the brand, and which is in danger. “Hassled by pollution, Posidonia meadows have shrunk by 10% in a century. By recovering and recycling fishing nets, we contribute, at our level, to its protection”, explains the brand.

Better paid (and better treated) employees

Because their manufacture requires innovative and more complex processes, eco-responsible swimsuits are, inevitably, offered at higher prices than those from major brands, and more particularly from fast-fashion boutiques. Especially since if the latter relocate their production to Asia, the ethical brands manufacture in Europe (or even directly in France), where the salaries of textile workers are higher. “French manufacturing is a way of contributing to the revitalization of the fabric French local economy, and revalorize textile expertise which has suffered a lot from relocation”, we explain at Maline. "It's a price that is justified, with a fair distribution of costs between the different partners who participated in the development of the product".

A higher budget, but a better investment

However, this purchase must be considered as a long-term investment: we will keep the eco-responsible swimsuit much longer than a very cheap. “You have to buy less but buy better,” says Céline Jean, the creator of the Esquisse brand. “An eco-designed swimsuit will keep for several years, it will last over time. Unlike one that will only last a summer, the color of which will have faded quickly and the elastics will have all relaxed... Quality has a cost!”.