So many designers and brands care deeply about ethical fashion and sustainability in their swimwear supply chains. All this attention creates a demand and financial incentive for suppliers to provide a higher level of concern for the safety and health of their employees, as well as more environmentally friendly options for manufacturing processes and supplies. We have to respond accordingly.
Unfortunately, however, where there are financial incentives, there are also incentives to change the rules. This leads to a "greenwashing" effect, where suppliers can easily use these labels to lead consumers into believing they are contributing to something great, when in fact it's just something older. When a customer asks for organic cotton. Who knows? Customers can't really know, so they have to trust the tag. The label must trust the manufacturer, the manufacturer must trust the factory, the factory must trust the filament supplier, they must trust the cotton growers! The link is too long, and there will always be people who want to make unfair profits from it.
A product or process produced in balance with the world and with the best intentions. There are plenty of complex things to consider: the ecology affected by material procurement, the life cycle, the waste disposal process and, of course, the complex lives and needs of the people who produce them. If you go down the rabbit hole far enough, you will find flaws in every product and ways in which the supply chain is unbalanced with the positive intentions of the customer.
Unfortunately, however, where there are financial incentives, there are also incentives to change the rules. This leads to a "greenwashing" effect, where suppliers can easily use these labels to lead consumers into believing they are contributing to something great, when in fact it's just something older. When a customer asks for organic cotton. Who knows? Customers can't really know, so they have to trust the tag. The label must trust the manufacturer, the manufacturer must trust the factory, the factory must trust the filament supplier, they must trust the cotton growers! The link is too long, and there will always be people who want to make unfair profits from it.
A product or process produced in balance with the world and with the best intentions. There are plenty of complex things to consider: the ecology affected by material procurement, the life cycle, the waste disposal process and, of course, the complex lives and needs of the people who produce them. If you go down the rabbit hole far enough, you will find flaws in every product and ways in which the supply chain is unbalanced with the positive intentions of the customer.
The most important thing is to come up with a strong, unique concept that people want to wear. If you have more experience, you might want to try changing the structure of the clothes themselves -- a design that leads to higher manufacturing costs, but can also be more profitable because you can create a unique high-end look. Using eco-friendly materials in your designs will help keep your swimwear ethical.
If you're a talented sewer, you can do it yourself, but the process is labor intensive and not a long-term business strategy. When small-scale manufacturing becomes mainstream, it is difficult to balance the need for large quantities of swimwear with ethical supply chains that do not exploit any community. However, as the need for ethical fashion has entered the public consciousness, more and more companies have sprung up to work specifically according to these standards. Make sure you do your due diligence when researching which company to choose, as this choice will have a huge impact on the ethical nature of your own business.
Starting a swimwear line isn't an arcane field -- it's as complex and achievable as starting any other product-based business. If you do your research and work with the right company, you can approach it in an ethical way, starting with an ethical fashion swimwear line of the highest standard.
