Madewell's New Swimsuit Line Is Both Sustainable and Affordable
Every piece is made from plastic bottles.

In recent years, fashion brands have placed increasingly emphasis on sustainability—from Stella McCartney, who pioneered the movement, to contemporary eco-friendly brands like Everlane and Amur. And now Madewell has joined the conversation with its first-ever line of sustainable swimsuits, the Madewell Second Wave Collection. Everything is this collection is made from recycled plastic bottles.
Here's how it breaks down: Eight plastic bottles are used for a one-piece swimsuit, while four plastic bottles make a bikini. In total, Madewell used approximately 50,920 bottles to make its Second Wave collection.
Not to mention, the swimsuits are pretty cute, too. The 32-piece collection comprises a mix of feminine and sporty one-pieces and simple—but elegant—bikinis in colors like sea blue and bright marigold. Since the silhouettes are so classic, you can buy them this spring and not have to worry they'll go out of style. Take a quick peek at some of my personal favorites from the Second Wave collection, below, and scoop one up. (I already know which one I'm getting.)
Shop Madewell's Eco-Friendly Swimsuits
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Marina Liao is the former fashion news editor at Marie Claire, where she covered celebrity style (from Meghan Markle to Katie Holmes), fashion trends, and shopping advice, plus conducted original interviews with industry insiders. She's now the Senior Commerce Editor at House Beautiful, where she owns coverage on deals and sales across home decor and accessories, in-depth product reviews on furniture and appliances, as well as news around new product launches since 2023. With help from leading designers and tastemakers, Marina spotlights quality products while tracking current design trends, a skill she’s mastered over six years in fashion media. Marina holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Stony Brook University, beginning her career in narrative-driven commerce coverage as an editorial assistant at PopSugar.
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