Vitamin A Swim
Founded in 2000 by California native Amahlia Stevens, Vitamin A Swim combines feminine design with sustainable innovation. Vitamin A bikinis and bodysuits are designed and produced locally in California with exceptional attention to detail, in the signature EcoLux fabric - a technically and environmentally superior luxe fabric, made from recycled nylon. Vitamin A is all about effortless, natural sexiness and that laid-back West Coast vibe that is in its DNA. Vitamin A gives back a portion of proceeds directly to environmental organizations who help to protect our oceans.
Before Vitamin A, Amahlia worked on a design project with Patagonia founder and environmentalist Yvon Chouinard whose company’s use of recycled plastic bottles in their technical fabrics inspired her to attempt something similar in the swimwear space. However, when Amahlia began to research the options, she was told by fabric suppliers that there was “no market” for swimwear made from recycled fibers — so she decided to design the fabric herself, working with the top mills in Italy, Canada and California to create EcoLux™ — the first premium swim fabric made from recycled nylon fibers. Since then, the company has incorporated several more sustainable high-performance fabrics along with eco-conscious textiles like organic cotton, linen, recycled cotton and Tencel®. All materials are certified to meet the global Oeko-Tex standard for safe textiles. The most recent addition to the Eco fabric line is the plant-based BioRib collection.
Producing products locally dramatically reduces emissions for shipping and transporting raw materials. It also allows the label to take the time to get to know the people who make the goods. Vitamin A takes pride in the fact that they know firsthand that the manufacturing teams maintain the highest standards of workplace ethics and environmental responsibility. Whenever possible, the label works with vertically integrated facilities where everything from dyeing to knitting is done in one location, further reducing the products’ carbon footprint. And since Vitamin A produces and does business in California, which has the strictest environmental laws in the nation, they are held to the highest possible standards. For some of the products that cannot be made in California, VA partners globally with fair trade artisans to produce the materials ethically, providing women with fair-wage jobs in safe working conditions. VA visits these factories regularly and remains in constant contact with their partners to ensure that they are meeting these same high standards (such as clean and safe working conditions). The production process is geared to reduce waste and energy use wherever possible and the aim is to ensure all workers receive fair treatment and compensation.
For the majority of the prints digital printing is used. Compared with traditional wet printing, this process reduces water use (since it requires less wash and rinse cycles) and fabric waste (since a print can be adjusted to fit a garment]. There are also no screens or colorant baths that need cleaning.
Vitamin A is committed to sustainability in every aspect of operations. A variety of measures have been implemented at the headquarters and warehouse to reduce the overall environmental footprint:
Every lightbulb has been replaced with LEDs, reducing electricity demand by as much as 90%.
Every individual office has its own Nest thermostat to provide intelligent heating and cooling based on occupancy.
Solar cooling fans in the warehouse provide off-grid cooling when the sun is shining and internal temperatures are above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Smart weather-controlled irrigation based on actual ET (evapotranspiration) of the plants, weather and soil type.
All water fixtures, including toilets and faucets, are low-flow.
Occupancy sensor lights are placed wherever possible to reduce energy usage.
No disposable eating products for onsite lunches are provided — only reusable glass, flatware, and dishes.
All paper products are made of 100% recycled post-consumer waste.
All appliances are Energy Star rated.
Filtered water produced onsite is provided to eliminate disposable plastic water bottle usage.
A heat reclamation system from the server room is used in the winter to heat the office space.
Working from home instead of commuting is supported when possible — creating less congestion and pollution.
VA is as vigilant about the packaging as they are about the garments themselves. The most sustainable materials are researched and sourced and never is more used than needed, especially when shipping. All mailers are 100% recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable, made in the USA. Each of the garments comes in a flap and seal bag that’s 100% biodegradable, recyclable, and backyard compostable. Here today, gone in a few.
Vitamin A partners with organizations and people that protect the environment. This means both donating a portion of the sales and using their voice to mobilize the community and support of their cause. As a swimwear company, it makes sense to want to keep the oceans healthy. Through the partnership with 1% For The Planet a portion from every sale is given back to organizations that protect our oceans.
Based: Laguna Beach, California, USA.
Ships to: Worldwide.
Products: Sustainably produced luxury bikinis, swimsuits and beachwear
Mission: To achieve 100% utilization of non-petroleum based yarns and fabrics.
Vision: Aiming to continue to improve sustainability standards at every level of our process, and hopefully transform the swim industry, by pushing the mills to innovate and also empowering new eco-friendly brands.
