FAIR LABOR:

• We conduct regular weekly visits where we are able to ensure first hand that the women producing our swimwear are working in safe conditions, are working normal hours (8 hours, 5  days a week) and are being paid fair wages.  
• Our factory is certified with the New York Department of Labor and must follow laws that protect workers’ rights and limit labor conditions.  
• We chose to manufacture in New York City for a multitude of reasons, one of them being the laws in place that guarantee our items are being ethically made. By law, employers in New York City must pay their employees a minimum wage of $15.00/hour. 
• Domestic manufacturing also encourages a healthy local economy, contributes to less pollution, and creates a smaller carbon footprint.

HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS:

We prioritize creating long-lasting products that can stand the test of time. To do so, we only use the finest materials and  partner with factories that specialize in swimwear pattern making and production. Swimwear  fabric can be tricky, so combining high quality fabric with high quality fit and construction results in a better product and gives our swimwear a longer life. The goal is to produce a  product that customers can wear for years to come, so they won’t end up in landfills. 

SUSTAINABLE & ETHICAL FABRIC SOURCING:

• We prioritize recycled fibers where possible and only use products that are made with sustainable practices.  
• We choose every supplier, manufacturer, pattern and material with care.
• We only use fabrics that offer the highest quality and are made with sustainable practices. Our suppliers monitor every single stage or our production’s cycle in order to reduce the use of water, energy, chemicals and waste.
• We also use fabrics made with ECONYL® nylon where possible. ECONYL® yarn is a 100% regenerated nylon fiber crafted from pre and post-consumer waste such as fishing nets, carpet flooring and industrial plastic. Using ECONYL® yarn instead of sourcing new nylon allows us to help the environment.

DIGITAL PRINTING:

• Our patterned fabrics are digitally printed. 
• Digital printing reduces fabric waste and allows for smaller runs of production. 
• There is a sufficient decrease in the amount of dye that is used with digital  printing (typically 90% less) compared to other traditional processes.  
• Digital printing uses less than 10 liters of water per meter, compared to 50  liters of water per meter that is required for screen printing. 
• Digital printing removes the need for excess water and energy during the  post processing, dye setting step. With digital printing, color is locked in heat fixating/steam only, not lengthy washing procedures.  

 DYES AND CHEMICALS:

Our products are Oeko-Tex Certified, meaning that the raw materials undergo extensive tests to ensure that no harmful substances or chemicals are used nor released. 

PACKAGING:

In our efforts to be more responsible, we have cut down on single-use and virgin plastics and use either recycled, biodegradable and/or compostable products for packing and shipping purposes instead. 

• Our hygienic liners are produced from wood pulp and are biodegradable
• We use 100% recycled garment flap and seal bags 
• We use 100% recycled poly mailers or certified compostable mailers that are fully biodegradable 
• Our bubble mailers are made with 50% recycled materials 
• We do not fill our outgoing packages with any excess paper, extra flyers, stickers,  tissue, etc. other than what is necessary.  

CARBON FOOTPRINT: 

In terms of reducing our CO2-producing behaviors, we have done the following: 

• We have replaced the use of virgin plastic in our hygienic liners, garment  poly bags and poly mailers, with either recycled, plant-based or compostable alternatives to reduce our carbon footprint.  
• We have switched to an online returns system, where returns are registered  electronically. This helps us reduce paper waste by not using paper return slips.  
• Partnering with manufacturers who are taking steps to lower their carbon emissions 
• Production takes place in New York City, where we are headquartered, so our garments do not have to travel far, reducing our carbon footprint.