If you’re looking for sustainable women’s swimwear in the UK, there’s more to consider than simply finding a swimsuit made from recycled fabric.
Where was it made? What is it made from? Who made it? How long is it designed to last? And, perhaps most importantly, will you actually love wearing it?
For wild swimmers and open water swimmers, swimwear gets used. A lot.
It gets exposed to salt water, chlorine, lakes, rivers, sunshine and countless rinse-and-repeat adventures. So choosing something that combines sustainability with comfort, durability and performance matters.
Here’s what we think you should look for.
What makes swimwear sustainable?
There isn’t one single definition of sustainable swimwear.
Instead, look at the whole journey of the product.
Things worth considering include:
The fabrics used
Where the swimsuit is manufactured
How far it has travelled
Whether it is produced in smaller or larger quantities
The quality and durability of the garment
The company’s approach to packaging and waste
Whether you’re likely to wear it again and again
A swimsuit that you genuinely love and use for years is very different from something bought for one holiday and forgotten at the back of a drawer.
Look at the fabric
Many sustainable swimwear brands now use fabrics containing regenerated or recycled fibres rather than relying entirely on virgin materials.
At Own The Adventure, sustainability was one of the principles we established when creating the brand.
As outdoor swimmers, it seemed strange to build a business inspired by lakes, rivers and oceans without thinking about the environmental impact of what we were producing.
But fabric is only one part of the story.
Consider where your swimwear is made
If you’re buying swimwear in Britain, choosing a British-made swimsuit can support local manufacturing and reduce some of the distance involved in the production journey.
It also helps preserve specialist manufacturing skills and British jobs.
Own The Adventure swimwear is proudly manufactured in the UK.
That was never the cheapest or easiest route when we started the business.
It was simply important to us.
We wanted a British outdoor swimming brand to have a genuine connection to British manufacturing.
Buy something you'll actually wear
Sustainability isn't just about labels.
It is also about longevity.
A beautifully sustainable swimsuit isn't particularly useful if it spends its life in a drawer because you don't feel comfortable wearing it.
Fit matters.
Comfort matters.
Confidence matters.
And that's particularly true in outdoor swimming, where you're often standing on a beach, lakeside or riverbank in little more than your costume.
Choose something that makes you want to get in the water.
Look for swimwear designed for real swimming
Wild swimming can be tough on swimwear.
Your costume may regularly encounter:
Salt water
Chlorine
Sunlight
Sand
Rocks and pebbles
Repeated washing
Changing outdoors
Look for swimwear that feels secure, gives you the coverage you want and allows you to move comfortably.
You shouldn't be halfway across a lake worrying about whether your swimsuit is staying where it should.
Sustainable swimwear shouldn't mean boring swimwear
This one matters to us.
Sustainable doesn't have to mean beige.
Outdoor swimming is full of personality, colour and people who are prepared to do things a little differently.
Your swimsuit can be the same.
At Own The Adventure, our costumes are deliberately bold and colourful because we believe adventure should feel fun.
Where can I buy sustainable women's swimwear in the UK?
There are a growing number of independent British brands offering more sustainable approaches to swimwear, so take time to look beyond the large high-street retailers.
At Own The Adventure, we create colourful women's swimwear for wild swimming, cold water swimming and open water adventures.
Our swimwear is:
Proudly made in Britain
Made with sustainability in mind
Produced by an independent small business
Available in inclusive sizes 8–26
Designed specifically with outdoor swimmers in mind
Independently vetted by Breast Cancer UK
You can buy Own The Adventure swimwear online or visit one of our UK stockists.
Buy less. Choose well. Adventure more.
We don't think sustainability needs to be complicated.
Ask questions.
Look at where something comes from.
Choose things you'll genuinely use.
Look after them.
And when you find a swimsuit that makes you want to throw your towel in a bag and head for the water?
That's probably a pretty good place to start.
See you in the water.
Own The Adventure.
FAQ
Where can I buy sustainable women's swimwear in the UK?Sustainable women's swimwear is available from a growing number of independent UK brands. Look for information about fabrics, manufacturing location, durability and production practices rather than relying on the word "sustainable" alone.
Is British-made swimwear more sustainable?Manufacturing in Britain does not automatically make a swimsuit sustainable, but local production, responsible fabric choices, smaller production runs and creating durable products can all form part of a more considered approach.
What should I look for when buying sustainable swimwear?Look at the fabric, manufacturing location, durability, fit and how frequently you're likely to wear the swimsuit. A well-made costume you use repeatedly can be a better choice than frequently replacing cheaper swimwear.
Can sustainable swimwear be used for wild swimming?Yes. Choose a swimsuit that combines the sustainability credentials you're looking for with a secure fit, comfortable coverage and durability suitable for regular open water use.
BLOG SIX
SECTION: Swimwear & Kit
Why Choose British-Made Swimwear for Wild Swimming?
There's something wonderfully British about wild swimming.
Cold lakes.
Windy beaches.
Flasks on the shoreline.
Standing in a car park trying to put your trousers on while maintaining some semblance of dignity.
And, inevitably, someone saying:
"It's actually quite warm once you're in."
So when we started Own The Adventure, we wanted our swimwear to be British-made too.
What does British-made swimwear actually mean?
For us, it means our swimwear is manufactured here in the UK rather than being produced thousands of miles away and simply sold by a British brand.
It's an important distinction.
We wanted to support local manufacturing and the skills and jobs associated with making garments here.
It isn't necessarily the easiest way to build a swimwear company.
But it was the right way for us.
Supporting British manufacturing
The UK has a long history of textile and garment manufacturing.
Choosing products made here helps support the people, businesses and specialist skills that keep that industry alive.
For a small British brand like ours, it also means the people making our products are much closer to the business we're building.
There's something we love about that.
Designed with British outdoor swimmers in mind
We didn't create Own The Adventure after sitting around a boardroom discussing swimwear trends.
The idea came from the water.
Cold water, specifically.
After signing up for two English Channel crossings — having barely experienced water below 18°C for about 20 years — I suddenly found myself immersed in Britain's outdoor swimming community.
Lakes.
Seas.
Rivers.
Early mornings.
Freezing changing rooms.
Long training swims.
And some of the best people I've ever met.
Own The Adventure grew from that community.
So our swimwear wasn't designed simply to look good beside a swimming pool.
It was designed for women who actually get in the water.
Fit matters when you're wild swimming
Outdoor swimming involves movement.
You're walking into waves, climbing out of lakes, swimming longer distances and sometimes navigating slippery or uneven entry points.
The last thing you want to think about is constantly adjusting your costume.
Good wild swimming swimwear should feel:
Secure
Comfortable
Supportive
Durable
Easy to move in
And it should give you the coverage you feel comfortable wearing.
British-made doesn't have to mean boring
Definitely not around here.
One of the things we love most about the outdoor swimming community is the complete lack of uniformity.
You'll find every age.
Every shape.
Every ability.
Every reason for getting in.
And usually quite a lot of colour.
Our designs reflect that.
Bright. Bold. A little unconventional.
Because if you're voluntarily getting into freezing water before breakfast, why wear something boring?
What about sustainability?
Where a product is made is only one element of sustainability.
Fabric choices, manufacturing practices, production quantities, durability and how long a garment remains in use all matter too.
From the beginning, we wanted Own The Adventure to combine British manufacturing with a more sustainable approach to swimwear.
After all, the places we swim are the very places we want to protect.
Why is British-made important to Own The Adventure?
Because our story began here.
Own The Adventure was born through my return to Britain, discovering cold water swimming and finding an extraordinary community around lakes and coastlines across the country.
Creating a British brand but manufacturing our costumes elsewhere never felt quite right.
We wanted to make something that represented the community that inspired it.
Fun.
Independent.
A little bit bonkers.
And proudly British-made.
Choose the swimsuit that makes you want to swim
Ultimately, that's what matters.
Whether you're preparing for your first wild swim, heading down to the beach with friends or training for something enormous, choose swimwear that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
Because the costume isn't the adventure.
It's simply what you're wearing when the adventure begins.
Own The Adventure.
FAQ
Where can I find British-made swimwear for wild swimming?Several independent UK businesses manufacture or source swimwear in Britain. Own The Adventure's women's swimwear is manufactured in the UK and designed with wild, cold water and open water swimmers in mind.
What should I look for in a wild swimming costume?Prioritise comfort, secure fit, freedom of movement, durability and the level of coverage you prefer. For outdoor swimming, bright colours can also help with visibility, alongside appropriate open water safety equipment such as a brightly coloured swim cap or tow float where suitable.
Why buy British-made swimwear?Buying British-made products can support UK manufacturing, jobs and specialist garment-making skills. It can also provide greater transparency about where a product is manufactured.
BLOG SEVEN
SECTION: Swimwear & Kit
How to Care for Your Swimsuit So It Lasts Longer
Your swimsuit has a fairly tough life.
One minute it's hanging happily in your wardrobe.
The next it's being plunged into cold salt water, dragged onto a beach, stuffed into a wet bag and forgotten about while you drink coffee.
Sound familiar?
Whether you've invested in sustainable swimwear or simply found a costume you absolutely love, looking after it properly can help keep it looking and feeling good for longer.
And it's surprisingly simple.
Rinse your swimsuit after swimming
This is probably the single easiest habit to adopt.
After swimming, rinse your swimsuit thoroughly in cool, clean water.
This helps remove salt, chlorine and other residues left behind after your swim.
Even if you can't wash it properly until you get home, giving it a good rinse is worth doing.
Don't leave it screwed up in your swim bag
We've all done it.
Swim.
Coffee.
Chat.
Home.
Life happens.
Wet costume discovered several hours later.
Try to remove your swimsuit from your wet bag as soon as reasonably possible.
Leaving damp swimwear bundled up for long periods isn't ideal for the fabric and can also encourage unpleasant smells.
Wash it gently
Swimwear doesn't generally need an aggressive wash.
Follow the specific care instructions on your garment, as fabrics differ.
Where recommended, gentle hand washing in cool water can help reduce unnecessary stress on stretch fabrics.
Avoid assuming that hotter and stronger means cleaner and better.
Your swimsuit may disagree.
Be careful with heat
Heat can be hard on the stretch fibres used in swimwear.
Follow your garment's care label regarding washing and drying, and avoid exposing it unnecessarily to very high temperatures.
That means resisting the temptation to blast your costume dry because you want to swim again in an hour.
Owning two costumes suddenly sounds extremely sensible.
We may be slightly biased.
Dry it properly
Once rinsed or washed, allow your swimsuit to dry properly according to its care instructions.
Don't leave it sitting wet in the bottom of your bag overnight.
Apart from anything else, nobody wants to discover that smell at 6am before a swim.
Watch out for rough surfaces
Outdoor swimming can involve sitting on rocks, concrete steps, pontoons, pool edges and rough wooden benches.
These surfaces can catch or abrade swimsuit fabric.
Put your towel underneath you before sitting down where possible.
Your bottom and your costume will thank you.
Sunscreen and your swimsuit
Sunscreen is essential when you're swimming outdoors, but oils and lotions can come into contact with swimwear.
Apply sun protection properly and follow the instructions for the sunscreen you're using.
Afterwards, rinsing your swimsuit helps remove residues from sunscreen, salt or pool chemicals.
And don't skip sun protection simply because you're worried about your costume.
Your skin wins that argument every time.
Rotate your swimwear
If you're swimming regularly, having more than one costume can help.
It allows each swimsuit to be properly rinsed and dried before you wear it again rather than being repeatedly worn while still damp.
It also gives you an excellent excuse to own several completely different prints.
Again, we may be biased.
Why caring for swimwear is part of sustainability
Sustainable shopping isn't only about what we buy.
It's also about what happens afterwards.
Extending the useful life of clothing means getting more wear from the things we already own.
So rather than treating swimwear as disposable, look after the costumes you love.
Rinse them.
Dry them.
Follow the care instructions.
Repair where appropriate.
And keep taking them on adventures.
A swimsuit should collect memories, not sit in a drawer
Your favourite costume might eventually remind you of your first cold water dip.
The lake you never thought you'd cross.
The beach where you met your swimming friends.
The event you thought you'd never finish.
Or simply hundreds of ordinary mornings when getting into the water made the rest of the day feel better.
Look after it.
Then get it wet again.
See you in the water.
Own The Adventure.
FAQ
How should I wash sustainable swimwear?Always follow the care label for your particular swimsuit. In general, rinsing swimwear promptly after swimming and using gentle washing methods appropriate to the fabric can help protect it.
Should I rinse my swimsuit after every swim?It's a good habit, particularly after swimming in chlorinated or salt water. A cool freshwater rinse helps remove residues left on the fabric.
Can I put my swimsuit in the washing machine?Check the garment's care label first. Different swimwear fabrics and constructions have different washing requirements, so the manufacturer's instructions should take priority.
How can I make my swimming costume last longer?Rinse it after use, avoid leaving it wet and bundled up, wash and dry it according to the care label and protect it from unnecessary abrasion on rough surfaces.
Is looking after swimwear more sustainable?Extending the useful life of clothing can reduce the need to replace items as frequently. Choosing a swimsuit you'll wear regularly and taking care of it are both useful parts of a more considered approach to clothing.