20 Ethical and Canadian Swimwear Brands

Swimsuit season again, and this year we’ve done the legwork to get you beach ready, sustainably speaking, with our definitive list of ethical and Canadian swimwear brands you can feel really good about donning this summer. —Vicky Duong

selfish swimwear. Designed and produced in Montreal by Naomie Caron, Selfish was designed for women to embrace their perfect imperfections and, well, be self-ish. The ethical swimwear brand also focuses on sustainability by slowing down excessive production and consumption processes.

ūnika swim. Founder and designer Betsy Campos was born in Canada with a Brazilian heritage that’s reflected in her designs. Ūnika‘s website will make you want to book a vacation somewhere hot, with editorials that feature a range of body types (plus size is also available upon request).

imagine perry. Based in Vancouver, Imagine Perry designs swimsuits for women and children. We love the women’s design featuring a simple, fuss-free ruffle that’s perfect for lounging poolside with the kiddos.

fortnight. Known for lingerie, Fortnight‘s expansion into swimwear was a natural one. The top sizing is based on traditional bra sizing (A34 through F34), making it easy for everyone to find their perfect fit.

437 swimwear. This story starts with two BFFs who wanted to have pasta and also go to the beach while feeling confident in their swimsuits. Designed with curves in mind, 437 aims to accommodate all body types while offering trendy cuts and colours, including ultra-in neons!

saltwater collective. As seen on the trendiest gals on Instagram, these styles aim to get you poolside ready and set for your next impromptu photoshoot. Most recently, Saltwater launched a collab with one of our favourite featured influencers, Allana Davidson!

monashay swim. We may be jumping the gun on this one because Monashay‘s site is currently under construction so the amount of info we have on it is minimal. Still, its Insta feed showcases models showing off their rebellious streak in animal prints against a backdrop of muscle cars—we can’t wait to learn more!

honubelle. For the surfer chick in all of us, Honubelle does something different with the gals it uses to promote their lines. While other brands may use influencers with a large following, Honubelle dubs its ambassadors as "team riders" comprised of kickass women who actually wear the suits based on their functionality.

londre bodywear. With ultra-flattering cuts that can be wrapped, tied and criss-crossed every which way to create different looks, Londre is for the gal who’s looking for the ultimate transformative pool piece.

left on friday. Designed with the sporty gal in mind, Left on Friday makes the do-it-all swimsuit: functional in design with sporty necklines plus fashionable colours fabricated to withstand chlorine and salt water! What’s not to love?

june swimwear. The mantra of this brand is that it’s always, well, June somewhere! A female-run company, June Swimwear‘s site is easy to shop, featuring adjustable and non-adjustable bikini tops, three types of bottoms with varying coverage (depending on cheeky you want to get), one-pieces and even surf suits!

ocin. Purposely designed with the intention of being worn outside of the water as well, OCIN uses recycled polyesters and nylons to add versatility to its pieces. Also offered: a recycling program that takes back previously loved swimsuits and makes sure they are disposed of correctly (regardless of brand) in exchange for 10 per cent off your next order.

mimi & august. Mimi & August prides itself on being as sustainable and as ethical as possible while also promoting realistic body types by never using models. The brand practises mindful manufacturing by opting to produce limited quantities without following any fashion calendar to minimize excess product.

fenntessa. Perfect for those looking for simple silhouettes in updated classic hues, Fentessa manages to stay on trend without breaking the bank. Trending colours this season include rust and mustard and all of the scrap fabrics are used to make waterproof scrunchies!

nettle’s tale. Known for its inclusive campaigns and limited-ed prints (get ’em while you can!), Nettle‘s site also features real women in its swimwear and its size charts share the measurements of the women actually used in each campaign.

andrea iyamah. Nigerian designer Dumebi Iyamah’s swimsuits are an extension of her RTW line, which is strongly influenced by colour and ethnic cultures. Her printed swimsuits and edgy cuts are worth the splurge because the design is truly something special.

bikini empire. Launched on Vancouver Island, Bikini Empire is a collaborative brand by twin sisters Kelsey and Monica Rush, who grew up near beaches as competive swimmers (this gave them a profound love and respect for the ocean). As such, every aspect (even the zippers and elastic) of these swimsuits are sourced locally.

everyday sunday. This family company pays particular attention to versatility, choosing fabrics based on quality, softness and their ability to provide a "second skin" sensation.

minnow bathers. Focused on slow fashion and minimal-waste design, Minnow produces one collection each year, by hand, following along with customer demand to reduce unnecessary production and waste.

gattina swimwear. If you’re looking for something a bit more flirty check out Gatina Swimwear on Etsy. Extremely budget friendly with an impressive five-star rating average of more than a hundred reviews, Gattina is seeming a slam dunk. Its cute bloomer-style, high-waisted swim bottoms pair so well with its twist-tie tops, they’ll leave you saying "beach please!"

A version of this article was originally published on vickiduong.com.