Sustainable Summer Swimwear!
- Words by Peppermint
Been taken by surprise by the sudden onset of summer sunshine? Want to hit the beach in some of the coolest and kindest sustainable swimmers around? Want no more, because we’ve rounded up a bunch o’ the very best togs to take you right through the hottest season. Race you to the shore!
Kowtow
The big hitters of the ethical clothing league, Kowtow have released a range of art-inspired swimwear (think Hockney and Matisse) that’ll have you dashing to the surf every chance you get. Made of Econyl – an Italian-made nylon crafted from pre-and-post-consumer waste including carpets, plastic scraps and recycled fishing nets – the range includes simple bikinis, one pieces, tees and sarongs, and is perfect for long days at the beach.
Youswim
Something of a swimwear sensation, Youswim do one thing and do it well – making a super comfy, super stretchy one-size swimsuit that grows and shrinks with the wearer. Designed to last and last, the Youswim suit is ethically woven, dyed, cut and sewn in England using European-sourced nylon and elastane, and comes in five classic colours. Colour us intrigued!
Camp Cove
Love retro prints? Then you’ll lurrrve Camp Cove, whose new range (above and main image) offers prints inspired by Australian native flowers and the Australian landscape. All of Camp Coves’ dreamily patterned numbers are handmade using recycled fabrics in their linings, and are offered in a variety of high waisted bottoms, tops and one-pieces. Swoon!
Vege Threads
If you like your clothes simple and sustainable, chances are there’s a Vege Threads piece or two in your wardrobe. The brand’s new swimwear offering is a minimalist mermaid’s dream, with Econyl once again used across a bijou range of simple wrap one-pieces and separates.
Abby Rose
Another one made from 100% regenerated pre and post-consumer waste, Noosa-based Abby Rose is a sustainable label ‘inspired by all things wild and free-spirited’ – think leopard print and tropical patterns a-go-go across a range of bikinis that arrive to you in home compostable packaging.
Baaby
Designed and made in Australia, Baaby’s pieces are crafted from Econyl (hello, popular kid on the eco-block) and include both skimpy and sturdier bikinis and one-pieces in block colours and spots.
Zazi
Zazi’s feminine swimwear is yet another Econyl dream come true, using the fabric across a range of delicate bikinis and one-pieces with a definite 90s vibe – tiny sunnies, Discman and Spice Girls fandom, optional.
Burrows and Co
Intentionally designed to be the comfiest things you’ll ever wear, Burrows and Co’s range uses recycled fabric Vita Lycra to deliver a range of super stretchy, super comfy bikinis that don’t sacrifice style for comfort.
Cosmo Crew Kids
If your kids need new togs, hit up Cosmo Crew Kids – their selection of ethically made rashies and bathers uses recycled and organic fabrics, and they’re all super cute to boot – ideal for some serious sandcastle-building!
The Coral Empire
Menfolk, don’t feel left out – you too can hit the beach bedecked in Econyl goodness, courtesy of The Coral Empire’s high quality boardies. Surf’s up, dudes!
Baiia
Not only does Baiia hop on the Econyl train to produce its glam range of swimsuits and bikinis – they also donate 10% of all profits to environmental and women’s charities. Love!
Red Dolly Swimwear
For those beach bombshells out there, look no further than Red Dolly’s US-based, handmade-to-order swimwear. Featuring 50s and 60s style bathers in delightfully bold retro prints, these pieces will have you standing out of the beach-bound crowd in no time.
Shapes in the Sand
As well as using our friend Econyl, Shapes in the Sand has applied sustainability to every single area of their swimwear business – from their wood-pulp dissolvable hygiene liners to their recycled and regenerated packaging, swing tags and care labels.
Re-Swim Club
Giving new life to discarded fabrics by using offcuts, remnants and designer surplus – along with a new print collab with local Adelaide designer Chiranjika Grasby printed on yep, Econyl of all things – Re-Swim Club’s range is ethically handmade in Adelaide. Dive in!
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
