Materials Matter: Why We Choose Sustainable Fabrics

Island Ethos, by Flipflop and Treacle

What clothing is made from matters just as much as how it’s made.

In swimwear especially, fabric choice affects durability, comfort, environmental impact, and how long a piece will last. Living and working in the tropics has made that very clear to us.

This is why we’re particular about the materials we use, and why we don’t compromise on them.

Swimwear is traditionally plastic

Most swimwear is made from nylon or polyester. These fabrics perform well in water, but they’re usually produced from virgin oil and designed to be cheap, disposable, and fast to make.

That creates two problems:
• heavy resource use
• long-term plastic waste

In a place surrounded by ocean, that trade-off doesn’t sit right with us.

Recycled doesn’t mean lower quality

We use regenerated and recycled fibres because they perform just as well, often better than virgin synthetics.

Our swimwear fabrics are made using:

• ECONYL® regenerated nylon, created from discarded fishing nets and industrial nylon waste

• REPREVE® fibres, made from recycled plastic bottles

These materials reduce waste, lower the need for new oil, and still deliver strength, stretch, and longevity.

Designed to last, not to be replaced

A sustainable fabric only matters if the garment lasts.

We test our swimwear for:
✔ stretch and recovery
✔ chlorine and saltwater resistance
✔ comfort during surf, swim, and dive
✔ long-term wear

Pieces that fall apart after a season aren’t sustainable, regardless of what they’re made from.

Natural fibres where they make sense

For our underwear and clothing, we step away from synthetics entirely.

We use:

• organic cotton

• hemp

• bamboo
  

• and only plant-dyed or OEKO-TEX certified-dyed fabrics
  

These materials are breathable, skin-friendly, and far gentler on waterways,  especially important in places like Indonesia, where textile dye pollution has had a serious impact.

Using what already exists

We minimise waste by:

• cutting carefully

• saving offcuts

• repurposing fabric into smaller items

• keeping production runs small

Less waste is one of the simplest, most effective sustainability choices there is.

Better materials, better habits

Choosing well-made clothing in classical designs changes the way people consume. When something feels good, fits properly, and lasts, it gets worn more and replaced less.

That’s the goal.

In short

Sustainability isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about choosing better options when they’re available.

For us, that starts with materials.

Flipflop & Treacle