Five Fair-Trade and Ethically Conscious Swimwear Companies

Hello sweet fair-trade friends!

Summer is drawing to a close and it's been a blazing hot one. I don't know about you, but August/September is the time of year when the only two places I really want to be is the pool or the ocean. When it comes to finding fair trade swimsuits, I know it can feel a little daunting for two reasons. Quality swimsuits already run a little expensive, so you slap on "fair-trade" and it often blows a budget right out of the water. Secondly, there are just not as many swimsuit makers as there are for other things. Don't you worry though! Being a California girl at heart, researching ethically mindful and sustainable swimwear companies was one of my first priorities. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you!

Why did I decide to write this post at the end of the summer and not the beginning? A little trick in how I have been able to afford fair-trade is by buying off season. Right now, swimsuits are going on sale as it is the end of the season. Does this make them any less desirable? NO! Also, because you are buying high quality, it will last you a good long while. You will be well prepared even through next summer if you shop right, right now. 

With that said, here are five trusted swimsuit companies that I love!

1. Patagonia

One of these day's I will go on a long rant about why I LOVE Patagonia, but today I want to talk about their suits! Patagonia has committed to shifting towards being a completely fair-trade company. There are a lot of logistics and qualifications that go into that title, but lets just say it is a BIG feat to take on as a company with such a large footprint. Over the last few years, as they have created new lines of clothing, they have been slowly able to improve their materials and supply chain in order to accommodate for these improvements. Good news for us, their swimsuits and board shorts are now offically fair-trade certified! 

Patagonia suits do definitely have a higher price point, but you get what you pay for! Patagonia is often geared towards the active individual so I always feel very safe and protected in all of their suits and bikinis (ladies you know what I'm talking about). Something unique about Patagonia's suits is that they use recycled nylon and polyester in order to help minimize waist! 

 2. Rey's Swimwear

This is really sweet company owned by a really sweet woman. I saw Jessica Rey, the founder and COO speak at a conference my senior year in college. Not only was she the Yellow Power Ranger back in the day (I fan girled a bit), but she has some really great insight into women's empowerment, healthy modesty, and the beauty of womanhood. She has a great TED talk I'd highly suggest. 

Rey's specializes in modest but oh so cute swimsuits for the ladies. They are also all ethically made right close to my home in California! 

3. Swoon Swimwear:

 When investing in something fair-trade, you often want it to be timeless. In steps Swoon Swimwear! We all know it's a bit hard to keep up with trends. Swoon makes swimsuits that, in my opinion, are romantic and sweet without being too trendy. Swoon ethically produces all their swimsuits in the Unites States. 

4. Albion Fit:

Albion Fit is a company I love for two reasons: they are SO stunning; they are a family owned business built on a lot of love and respect for their employees. Albion works exclusively with a factory in Guatemala where everyone in their supply chain receives fair wages and a great working environment. Albion has set a really positively high bar for the industry. The company is very transparent as to exactly how and wear your clothes are made. They have a really beautiful inception story that you can read here!

Personally I am a fan of their one pieces. Albion's prices are fairly competitive with some other big companies like Victoria Secrets. They are also unique and flattering for many body types, and sell a variety of really cute, functional clothing items! 

5. Kortni Jeane

Kortni Jeane is great because of the custom feel you get when purchasing one of her suits. She has so many different options for mixing and matching swimsuits. She really has the woman in mind.

Kortni Jeane also has the cutest suits for the little ones! Start your kiddos young on the fair-trade train with one of her suites. 

That is all for now, but I hope it has been informative and helped you get a little more stoked on fair-trade! 

Be conscious, buy smart, dress well.

Always,

Jess