Bold colours are brilliant. But what about the fabric underneath?
At Own The Adventure, we're rather fond of standing out. Bright colours, fabulous prints and cossies that refuse to blend into the background? Absolutely!
But when it comes to choosing swimwear, we believe what you can't see matters just as much as what you can, especially as your cossie sits right against your skin, and that makes the fabric worth thinking about.
What is OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100?
You might have spotted the name OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 on clothing or fabric labels.
But what does it actually mean?
It's an independent textile certification system that tests materials for harmful substances.
The testing considers a wide range of substances, including certain dyes, heavy metals and other chemicals that may be harmful at particular concentrations and particularly relevant to swimwear - the more direct the contact a textile has with your skin, the stricter the applicable testing requirements.
Why does this matter for swimwear?
Think about how much time your swimming cossie spends against your skin.
Whether you're a year-round outdoor swimmer, a summer sea dipper or someone who simply loves being in the water, your swimwear is an important part of the experience.
Choosing fabric that's been tested against recognised standards provides additional reassurance about the materials used. Of course, certification doesn't mean a textile contains absolutely no chemicals. Everything is made of chemicals! It means the certified material has met defined testing requirements for harmful substances and that's a much more meaningful claim than simply calling something 'chemical-free'.
Beautiful on the outside. Thoughtful on the inside.
At OTA, we believe swimwear should be about more than looking fabulous — although we certainly don't object to that!
Our approach is built around colourful British-made swimwear, confidence, adventure and encouraging women to look after themselves.
That's also why our women's cossies include a little reminder to check your breasts.
It's a small detail, but one that reflects something important to us: feeling good in your cossie and remembering to take care of the person wearing it.
A word about sustainability
We think it's important to be clear about what certifications actually mean.
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 focuses on testing textiles for harmful substances. It isn't, on its own, a certification that fabric is organic, recycled, biodegradable or sustainably manufactured.
Those are different claims that need their own evidence.
We believe being thoughtful about swimwear means asking questions, understanding the answers and being transparent about the materials we use.
More adventures. More confidence. More colour.
You shouldn't have to choose between a cossie that makes you smile and asking sensible questions about how it's made.
So here's to fabulous prints, thoughtful fabric choices, British-made swimwear and getting out there to enjoy every adventure.
Because you were never meant to blend in.
Explore the Own The Adventure swimwear collection