In recent years, recycling awareness has heightened around Global Recycling Day on 18 March. Now, we don’t play favourites, but among ethical brands, those that clean beaches and transform waste into wearable pieces may just be our favourites.
Here’s a curated selection of some of the coolest activewear and swimwear from brands that have taken it upon themselves to craft their collections from recycled and responsibly sourced materials, spreading the message as they go.
You’re very welcome.
Note: Affiliate content with Immaculate Vegan are marked with the circle logo with the discount code. Using our code VFR10 gives you a 10% off all products (except gift cards) and supports Vegan Fashion Repository in promoting vegan and ethical fashion. Using affiliate links alone (without code) does not get you a discount (just use the code).
The Ouse Reversible One Piece Swimsuit by Sūndar Swim (UK) at Immaculate Vegan
Material(s): ECONYL®
About the brand: Sūndar Swim is a one-woman brand founded by Tanya Netherway, a feminist and environmental activist. The swimwear is produced at the Bali Swim factory in Indonesia, and each piece is wrapped in a beautiful drawstring bag made from sari off-cuts manufactured in Goa, India. After researching numerous material options, the brand concluded that ECONYL® yarn — a 100% regenerated nylon derived from pre- and post-industrial waste, including landfill and ocean waste — was the most responsible choice.
Regular price: £90.00
Gina Sports Leggings (Gym To Swim®) by RubyMoon (UK)
Material(s): ECONYL® regenerated nylon
About the brand: This is a brand for women who love clean beaches as much as they love our planet. The team has been cleaning the oceans since 2010, transforming collected plastics into swim and activewear. Impressively, 100% of the brand’s profits go towards micro-loans for women entrepreneurs worldwide.
Regular price: £65.00
Sunset Glow Leopard Leggings by Ambiletics (Germany)
Material(s): 80% recycled polyester (PET bottles) + 20% recycled elastane
About the brand: Founded by passionate runner Giulia Kröber in 2018, this brand manufactures all its products in Portugal using GOTS-certified materials. Their leggings and sports bras are crafted from 100% recycled PET bottles and local waste, with durability at the forefront—after all, endlessly buying new items is never truly sustainable.
Regular price: €98.00
Impact Gym Leggings by V3Fit (UK)
Material(s): ECONYL® regenerated nylon
About the brand: Tracking plastic waste from both land and sea, V3FIT turns it into athletic clothing and has even developed its own traceable yarn, Fibre Print®. For every order, they plant ten trees to offset their carbon footprint. Additionally, they support NURDOR, the national association of parents of children battling cancer in Serbia, where most of their products are made.
Regular price: £49.95
Laguna Luxe Paneled Unitard by Girlfriend Collective (USA)
Material(s): 77% recycled water bottles (RPET) + 23% spandex
About the brand: Girlfriend Collective produces activewear using its own range of fabrics made from post-consumer water bottles, all certified to Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex, the world’s leading authority on fabric safety. Alongside its transparent sourcing and production practices, the brand runs the ReGirlfriend recycling programme, accepting garments from any brand in exchange for store credit. Shipping for recycling is free—circularity doesn’t get much easier than this.
Regular price: $148.00
High Waist Leggins Wild Classic by Inaska (Germany)
Material(s): 78% ECONYL® regenerated polyamide + 22% elastane
About the brand: Inaska, founded by three women determined to rid the world’s seas of plastic, has already removed over 8.6 tonnes of waste since 2016. The brand’s swimwear and activewear are 78% ECONYL®—a regenerated nylon made from discarded fishing nets and carpet remnants. For lining fabric, they use Q-Nova®, a regenerated nylon made from yarn remnants. Q-Nova® is GRS (Global Recycling Standard), EU Ecolabel, and High Index certified. Remarkably, it all started with the simple desire for stylish swimwear.And to think about it, it all began with a desire for some nice swimwear.
Regular price: €85.00
The Astronaut Bikini Bottom by AMARA Tulum. (Mexico)
Material(s): 78% ECONYL® Regenerated Polyamide + 22% Lycra® Xtra Life™
About the brand: AMARA Tulum. is a slow fashion swimwear label founded in 2014 by Lisa Jackson. Designed in Tulum and made by local artisans, the brand operates in accordance with Permaculture Design Principles and land stewardship values. Its minimalist, reversible pieces are crafted from ECONYL® — regenerated nylon recovered from the oceans through the Healthy Seas initiative.
Regular price: $160.00
Mykonos Yarn Cross Back Swimsuit by 1 People (Denmark) at Immaculate Vegan
Material(s): 78% ECONYL® yarn (100% regenerated nylon fibre) + 22% Elastane
About the brand: Founded in Denmark by Rea Tjoa Algreen, 1 People is a luxury vegetarian brand of handcrafted products for women. The company supports Business for Planet by donating a minimum of 15% of its revenue in the form of financial contributions or team hours. Its FREE sustainable entrepreneur programme helps emerging social businesses get off the ground by providing advice, networking opportunities, micro-loans, and more.
Regular price: $184.00
Explore more vegan clothing in our Directory.