Sustainable swimwear brands in Australia, covering ethical labels, recycled fabrics, and locally owned businesses.
With some of the world’s most beautiful beaches in our backyard and a climate that practically insists on regular swims, it’s no surprise that we Aussies take our swimwear seriously. A good pair of swimmers is practically a national uniform.
But that’s also what makes swimwear a tricky category when it comes to sustainability.
What makes swimwear sustainable
Swimwear is one of those categories where “sustainable” rarely means natural fibres. To function properly, swimsuits need stretch, recovery and durability, which means synthetics are almost always involved.
What brands can change is where those fibres come from and how they make their swimwear.
Many Australian brands are turning to recycled or regenerated fibres such as ECONYL®, made from discarded fishing nets, carpet offcuts and textile waste, or Repreve®, which transforms used plastic bottles into new yarn. Both options cut reliance on virgin petroleum and give existing materials a second life.
Of course, there’s more to it than fabric. The way a brand makes its pieces (small runs, fair conditions for makers, quality stitching, and designs built to last) all contribute to a swimsuit’s real impact. A swimsuit that keeps its shape for years is almost always the lower-impact option compared to one that needs replacing every summer.
The pros and cons of recycled fabrics
Recycled synthetics typically require fewer raw resources than virgin nylon or polyester and help divert waste from landfill and oceans. In the case of regenerated nylon, like ECONYL®, the finished fibre is chemically identical to virgin nylon, meaning the stretch, feel and durability are much the same. That said, recycling isn’t a perfect fix.
These fabrics still shed microplastics over time, and the recycling process itself uses energy and chemicals. The recycling loop also isn’t infinite, synthetic fibres can only be remade a limited number of times before they lose strength. And while there’s not much public data comparing the lifespan of recycled versus virgin nylon, both have the same potential for shedding.
What most evidence suggests is that longevity comes down less to whether a fabric is recycled and more to how the swimsuit is constructed and cared for. A well-made recycled suit can last just as long as a virgin one, if it’s looked after properly.
How to make your swimwear last longer
Swimwear care is surprisingly simple, and it makes all the difference to the longevity of your favourite suit.
Rinse your swimmers in cool water after each use to remove salt, chlorine and sunscreen. Hand-wash with a gentle detergent, avoid fabric softeners, and dry flat in the shade rather than the sun. Rotating your swimwear between wears helps the elastic recover its shape.
Looking after what you already own is the easiest way to reduce waste, and it means you’ll buy less, less often.
A quick note about our brand guides
The Green Hub has been covering sustainable fashion for more than a decade. Our guides are put together by sustainability researchers and industry specialists, drawing on independent research and years of reporting on the space. We don’t include brands lightly. We consider material quality and how transparent a brand is about its production, with preference given to clothes designed to last.
We update each guide regularly as brands improve their practices, or new labels emerge.
The Australian Sustainable Swimwear Brands You’ll be Wearing For Years
Baiia Label
Baiia built its cult following on one idea — the wrap suit. Their incredibly flattering, reversible, multi-way pieces can be worn as a one-piece or as mix-and-match separates, giving you several looks from a single set. And most importantly, every piece is designed to fit and flatter a wide range of bodies. The fabric is recycled polyester woven in Italy from post-consumer waste and sewn by an ethical maker in China that prioritises fair work and quality.
Bondi Born
Founded in Sydney, Bondi Born makes luxe-looking swimwear and resort pieces designed to last. Their core fabrics — Sculpteur®, Singuleur® and Embodee™ — are developed by leading Italian mills and certified for low impact and exceptional durability, lasting up to ten times longer than standard swimwear. B Corp and Climate Neutral-certified, the brand keeps sustainability at the centre of every decision, from low-carbon materials to waste reduction and ethical partnerships with mostly women-run makers in Australia and abroad.
Peony
Peony’s known for its soft, vintage-inspired prints and romantic silhouettes, designed to mix and match across collections. Every piece is made from recycled nylon and polyester, including the linings, and printed digitally to save water. Designed at their Burleigh Heads studio and made in trusted, small-scale factories, these are swimsuits made for long Australian summers.
Salt Gypsy
Salt Gypsy grew from founder Danny’s search for surfwear that could handle powerful waves and long hours in the sun. What began with a single pair of handmade surf leggings in the Maldives has become a small, women-run surfwear label based on the Gold Coast. Each piece is cut and sewn locally by two experienced makers, designed for function, durability and comfort in the water. Still guided by its roots, Salt Gypsy is about confidence, community and staying out there as long as the swell lasts.
Marvell lane
If you’ve ever tried to squeeze into a swimsuit that wasn’t made for your body, Marvell Lane will change that. Based in Byron Bay, they make supportive, comfortable swimwear for fuller busts — from 8D to 16J — and offer fittings in-store to help you find the perfect size. The designs use thin straps, flexible bands and quality fabrics that hold their shape, all made ethically with care and attention to fit and function.
Camp Cove
Camp Cove Swim is for days spent between the beach towel and the surf. Known for its nostalgic prints and body-positive fits, the brand has been working with the same small team on the South Coast since 2014. Linings are made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon, prints are produced locally in Sydney, and offcuts are turned into smaller garments or passed on to other makers.
Spell
Spell’s distinctive prints and detailed designs have made them one of Australia’s most recognisable labels. Their swimwear carries that same spirit, made from regenerated ECONYL® nylon and produced through a transparent, traceable supply chain. Every piece is made to last, with mix-and-match styles that stay in rotation long after summer ends.
Shapes in the Sand
Shapes in the Sand is pure Australiana, with wildflower prints inspired by the bush and the coast that bring Australia’s landscapes to life. Each piece is designed and made in Australia using regenerated nylon crafted from ghost nets and textile waste, with prints produced locally through a water-free process. Collections are released in small batches with a focus on quality, longevity and care for the places that inspire them.
Matteau
Matteau’s classic cuts and neutral tones feel made for long, sun-drenched summers lazing by the poolside. Designed to last beyond a season, each piece is made in Australia in small runs using regenerated nylon crafted from recycled fishing nets and textile waste. They take a slow, considered approach to design, working with local makers and certified mills to ensure every piece stands the test of time, in both quality and style.
Liandra Swim
Liandra Swim celebrates Aboriginal culture through hand-drawn prints, each one telling a story from founder and designer Liandra Gaykamangu’s Yolŋu heritage. Made from regenerated nylon, the pieces combine contemporary design with meaning — connecting culture, community, and Country in every collection.
Patagonia
Patagonia set the standard for what sustainable fashion could be long before most of us knew what that meant. Their swim and surfwear are made from recycled nylon and polyester, often recovered from fishing nets and old gear, built to last season after season. They’ll even repair or resell your old pieces through their Worn Wear program, part of a decades-long push to keep clothes in use and out of landfill. A brand that’s been walking the talk since the seventies, and still leading the way.
Bondi Joe
Sydney-born label Bondi Joe makes swim shorts designed for all-day comfort. Built without the usual mesh lining, they’re made to take you from the beach to the bar without a quick change in between. Each pair is made from recycled plastic bottles and PET waste, with carbon emissions fully offset and packaging kept plastic-free.
Lé Buns
Lé Buns makes timeless swimwear designed to be worn your way. Each piece is made from regenerated nylon knitted in Italy and sewn by trusted makers in Indonesia and China, with transparency and fair work at the core of every collection. Their mix-and-match styles are made to last, reimagining the basics you’ll reach for season after season.
We hope you like the brands we recommend on The Green Hub. Our editors select each one independently. We may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.
Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and brands evolve over time. We do our best to keep this guide accurate and up to date, but certifications lapse and links occasionally break. If you spot something that needs a refresh, let us know.
The brands featured meet a range of ethical and sustainable standards, from certifications and living wages to transparent supply chains. That said, ethics are personal. This guide doesn’t cover every factor — like use of animal products or local manufacturing — so we always recommend checking a brand’s About page to see if their values align with yours.
