Ethical and Sustainable Swimwear
As the world has learnt to adapt and live with the current global pandemic, the founders of Monte & Lou discuss how they used their extra time since the March lockdown to fully implement recycled material into their swimwear collections.
For Kay and Lynne, sustainability is more than a seasonal trend but has always been a core value of their brand. As Kay tells it, “We have always been mindful of our environmental impact and the ethics of our pieces from start to finish”.
Kay and Lynne’s passion for their craft and the importance of their impact on the world was made even more obvious after visiting their Sydney based warehouse. Monte & Lou are not just a company that say they are environmentally conscious but prove this to be true from the factory floor to the doorstep of their customers.
The pieces of swimwear which are silky to the touch and with the style and bespoke patterns that are signature to Monte & Lou are now made with Recycled Nylon yarn and are Quick Dry fabric. Not only do they look fabulous and feminine without soaking through your clothes after a swim, they now offer customers luxury fashion which helps to clean the oceans.
As people become more aware of the damage that fast fashion and even long-established brands are inflicting on the environment, we are now looking for brands that are trying to make a difference. At Monte & Lou it is clear to see that they make every piece with this in mind and are doing all they can to reduce their global footprint.
They stand out as a company due to their drive in every aspect of their business; from using digital printing in order to reduce water wastage through to making sure first-hand that the factories have good conditions with fair wages all the way up to the finished product being delivered in both a reusable plastic bag in biodegradable packaging.
Monte & Lou have always used digital printing to create their beautifully intricate patterns, which in turn has saved the oceans from the harmful toxins and dyes that come from traditional screen printing. Kay and Lynne regularly visit supplier factories, as Lynne states, “We want to make sure that everyone is treated fairly and to really get to know them so we can build a great working relationship built on mutual trust and respect”.
Too often the fashion industry does not pay attention or care where their products are being made, something Monte & Lou have made sure is not the case. Even the packaging can be placed in the compost bin and the reusable plastic bag was made with the intention of being perfect to place wet swimwear in as not to stop you swimming until the last moment of your holiday.
