When the temperatures reach over 85F, I usually start thinking obsessively about the beach. You know what I’m talking about: breathing the clean salty breeze that tastes like waves, dipping the feet in the chilly water that jolts blood circulation and sends shivers of pleasure throughout the body, lying on the warm sand without a thought in the mind. With this picture in mind, bikinis are essential to enjoy beach life to the max, finally freeing the body from layers of clothing and letting the skin free to feel the elements: air, water and sun (with caution!).
Of course, I feel much better if I know that what I’m wearing to the beach has been produced not only without polluting the environment, but also in some cases by actually cleaning up poisonous plastics from the oceans. ECONYL, for example, is an increasingly popular nylon fiber among swimwear manufacturer and it is obtained recycling plastics like abandoned fishing nets and discarded carpets. Other manufacturers use blends of organic cotton and lycra.
So without much further ado, here is my selection of the best eco-friendly bikini for the summer 2016.
CHIC
I couldn’t make up my mind between these two so I selected both, they also represent the top swimwear trends for this summer: the color blocks with thick colored bands, and the criss-crossed, interlaced thin straps. Black is always elegant, and in these bikinis by Vitamin A by Amahlia Stevens it is superbly complemented by subtle metallic details. Not surprisingly, this brand counts Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna and Scarlett Johansson among its fans.
The Olivia Bronze Ambition, on the left, lives up to its name with the ultra-chic combination of the thick bronze strips and smooth deep black
The Amber High Neck, on the right, has fabulous details with the crisscrossed beaded strips in the back and on the side of the slip.
ECO-CRED: Vitamin A swimwear is made with EcoLux™ a matte superfine jersey produced from recycled nylon fiber. Prints use, when possible, waterless digital technology at factories specially chosen for their commitment to conserve electricity and water.
MODERN(IST)
If bold is your middle name and you like to stand out from the crowd with your own original style, then grab the Rebecca bikini from Luz Collections. The strong contrasting colors of the large bands and the unique horizontal cut bring to my mind some modernist paintings.
ECO-CRED: The jersey is composed of 93% organic cotton and 7% elastane. Lux Collections is certified by the Global Organic Textile Standards and all products are manufactured in compliance with fair trade laws .
TROPICAL
Steering away from more obvious garish tropical patterns, the pastel colored print of the Florida one piece swimsuit by Elle Evans brings me right there with turquoise seas and pink flamingoes. I know: this is not a bikini, but the criss-crossed laces on the right side almost make it one and they are an original detail, perfectly “on trend” for this summer.
ECO-CRED: Elle Evans works exclusively with post consumer waste fabrics (remnants discarded by bigger companies) or recycled lycra which uses 80% less energy in production than new lycra.
FLUO
Fluo is a great color choice especially if your skin tans to a golden shade of bronze. The Maaya+Jackson bikini by Now Then is available in bright lime green and a juicy coral pink, it features criss-crossed straps in the back and on the side of the bottom which add the flattering effect that makes it a must on the beach in 2016.
ECO-CRED: Handmade in Spain with ECONYL© recycled fabric.
BOHO
Let’s continue in the criss-crossed theme and let’s bring it up a notch with this intricate pattern by Maaji Swimwear. The beautiful laced-up neck and the artful combination of bright colored patterns, which is the trademark of this brand, guarantee you will not pass unnoticed at the beach.
ECO-CRED: Maaji actively promotes and participates in the campaign “Planting a Sea of Trees”. So far the project has planted more than 70.000 trees in Colombia, providing jobs and cleaner water to local communities.
RETRO
After a timid reappearance last year, this summer the 50’s inspired high waist short is going to be one of the hottest trends. So why not to go the whole way and get them in this great green leafed retro print by Greenlee Swim?
ECO-CRED: All Greenlee swimwear is designed and manufactured in Los Angeles using 82% recycled fibers.
MERMAID
Who has not dreamed at some point of being a mermaid? Exploring the depth of the oceans, living on a mysterious island, sitting with friends on a rock by the turquoise sea to sing enchanting spells for the passing sailors… For a perfectly whimsical eco-friendly bikini to go with this mood look no further than the new collection by Shapes In The Sand with its exclusive handprinted scaly pattern. It has been difficult to choose one, but in keeping with this year’s trends here is the cross-laced Waterangel model with the signature logo details.
ECO-CRED: 78% Polyester Recycled ECONYL® and 22% Italian Lycra, designed to last.
TRIBAL
The ethnic black and white pattern is an excellent counterbalance to brilliant hue of cobalt blue of this reversible bikini by Faherty. Aptly named Bali, it is ideal for hanging out at the beach after catching some waves.
ECO-CRED: Faherty has the largest catalogue of eco swimwear in the USA. Their swimsuits are manufactured using a premium innovative fabric obtained by blending recycled polyester from plastic bottles with Lycra, while their original finishing method ensures long-lasting color.