Craving time at the beach or by the pool? Check out these sustainable waterside duds.
Now is the time of year when everyone’s thoughts turn to beach vacations and sunbathing (or that diet you never started over the winter!) It’s essential for modern bathing suits, be they one or two pieces, to be both snug and easily dryable, so most are made from synthetic fabrics like spandex.
Aaron Chang's recycled two-piece
Unfortunately, spandex and other elastic fabrics are made with toxic chemicals that are not only bad for the environment, but also be irritating to your skin as well.
So, this summer, before you slather on the sunscreen, think about protecting the planet by trying one of these recycled swimsuit designs instead.
Aaron Chang
One of the biggest names on the surfing scene, Aaron Chang has always been committed to protecting the beauty of the oceans and beaches that he loves. It only makes sense that this artist and designer would expand his love for the planet into a line of sexy yet eco-friendly swimsuits. Made from polyester yarn from recycled soda bottles, Chang’s collections have a common theme of natural elements, including plants, animals and, of course, the beach.
Look for these swimsuits on Amazon, eBay or faeriesdance.com.
Anna Cohen
It doesn’t take much fabric to create a two-piece swimsuit, so it’s extra important that the fabric used be as eco-friendly as possible. Reusing is always better than buying new, which is why Anna Cohen’s unique triangle bikinis are worth a look. The designer uses surplus mill-end fabrics in her swimwear designs, as well as the usual organic cotton and bamboo. Her Teal Triangle Bikini is constructed from the leftover fabric once used to make Olympic speed skating uniforms.
Not to be outdone, mainstream designers like Billabong and Hurley are also getting in on the recycled swimwear scene. Billabong offers an entire eco-collection for spring and summer 2011, including these stylin’ board shorts for men. The All Day Recycler Platinum Quad X Stretch board short (right) features H2 Repel, strategic paneling for superior stretch and logo screen-print detailing. The best part? It’s made with 100% recycled polyester.
See more recycled fashions for men at Billabong.com.
