Some swimwear designers, in an effort to be more environmentally conscious and green, have turned to more organic fabrics made from natural cotton or hemp fibers. But organic fabrics like this absorb and hold a lot of water and become very heavy when wet, so they really aren't always ideal for swimming, especially for children who aren't strong swimmers. Synthetic fibers are much more ideal for swimming since they are lightweight and don't absorb water the same way as natural fibers do, but the process to make them is definitely more harmful to the environment, not to mention that most of these synthetics are made from petroleum byproducts that are not biodegradable over time. Quite a quandary indeed.
Here are some recommended swimwear brands on the following pages that are doing a good job trying to use more sustainable and environmentally friendly fabrics & materials in their products.
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