Because sustainability often plays a key role in one’s decision about just how to shop responsibly – and for what – we at Free People are always excited to explore new ways to support the cause. Through our Care FP initiative alone, we’ve been able to curate 1400+ items that bear this moniker, either because they incorporate responsible fibers, are artisanally made, or are repurposed/recycled/reworked.

Director of Swim & Surf, Harnie, along with Kelly, Assistant Design Director of FP Beach, are two such people, motivated more so by the life cycle and environmental impact of a product than by that product alone. And it was this inherent love of our planet, namely the oceans by which they both currently live and thrive (the Atlantic for Kelly, the Pacific coast of Australia for Harnie) that united them in their development of our new swimwear line, FP Beach Swim Collection, of which every piece is made with at least 50% of a certified material sourced with social or environmental impacts in mind.

OUR DESIGNERS’ PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE BEACH

Kelly:

The beach is where my heart is. Born in Hawaii, grew up at the Jersey shore (and back and forth to Hawaii), lived in California… It’s no surprise I’ve been called a mermaid all my life.

Harnie:

I was blessed to grow up on the beautiful beaches of Western Australia, one of the most magical coastlines in the world. Our love for the ocean and wanting to protect it influenced the fabric selection for this collection, all of which are responsibly-made, including our packaging. The sea possesses such a magnetic energy which gives an instant sense of calm and peace, and freedom. This collection was initially conceived to evoke the same feeling.

Each piece within FP Beach Swim is crafted with at least 50% responsible fibers – including recycled, recyclable, and degradable materials – a percentage that both Harnie and Kelly were adamant about maintaining throughout the line. In addition, the collection’s innovative production processes utilize less water, therefore reducing these suits’ “water footprint” – and yours.

HOW OUR RESPONSIBLY CRAFTED FP BEACH SWIM CAME TO BE

Harnie:

I took over Swim when I moved back to Australia at the end of 2020, with one of my goals being to launch private label swim as a new product category for Free People, which felt like a natural progression in growing the brand’s swim and surf business. Kelly was my number one partner pick – we have worked together for years. Kel is extremely talented, and I knew she had the aesthetic to design into what we were going after. Plus, we both would prefer bikinis over clothes any day, so we were the perfect match for this collection!

Kelly:

Ironically, during our first meeting about FP Beach Swim, Harnie and I brought the same beginning concepts alluding to a 70’s retro vibe mixed with a sunset surf kiss! I’ve always loved texture as part of developing and sourcing for FP Beach, so we knew we wanted a show stopping texture that would set us apart – something with a femme touch.

Free People is known for our awesome ability to mix prints and I knew this would be a very important component to build into FP Beach Swim. (I am SOOO pumped for everyone to see the beautiful prints we have in store.) Our starting point centered around a gorgeous floral vintage 70’s beach towel (I love that it was a beach towel – felt so fitting). In this collection we incorporate texture that takes color and print amazingly, especially a rib we call “retro rib” (due to its jacquard retro triangular pattern). Our Bayside Floral texture offers a classic FP femme touch and also ties back nicely with our floral prints but in a solid texture way.

OUR DIRECTORS’ FAVORITE FP BEACH SWIM PIECES

Harnie:

I want to say all! But if I had to pick one, it would be the Michelle bikini. It’s the ultimate itsy bitsy triangle bikini. We have multiple amazing fabrics launching in this style, in a mix of stunning colors and prints. It will be my go-to this summer!

Kelly:

The Pamela was the very first thing I designed, so it holds a special piece of my heart, and it’s so damn sexy! The most fun – and something I’m very excited to continue to build upon – is the Veronica Bikini top!! I loved the idea of translating the touch of convertibles I use in FP Beach into swim – you can wear the Veronica so many different ways; plus, it’s reversible (from print to solid). I can’t wait to see what our customers do with this top, as they shock me with the many ways they wear FP Beach convertibles. But I will personally be sporting the Farrah ALL SUMMER LONG!

A LITTLE ABOUT OUR ECO NYLON FABRICATION

Kelly:

Ensuring that the FP Beach Swim Collection is responsibly made connects it even more to what it is – swimsuits that maximize fun in the sun, but minimize their impact on the ocean. What better way to honor our relationship than launching an in-house swim line made with responsible fibers. We discovered our Eco Nylon by accident, but once we further explored and educated ourselves on the fabrication, we found it so fascinating and knew it needed to be a part of this. Innovation is an important part of how we move forward in the realm of responsibility.

A GLOSSARY OF FP BEACH SWIM’S ECO-CONSCIOUS FIBERS

Our Eco Nylon is part of a new generation of innovative, responsible, recycled yarns which allows not only for waste reduction but puts the end life of the yarn front and center. This eco-yarn, produced in Brazil, is made with an enhanced fiber composition that speeds up degradation to 3-5 years, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and impact on the planet. This degradability process begins only under anaerobic conditions (when not exposed to oxygen as it would be in a landfill), so you don’t have to worry about the eco nylon’s durability while wearing it. Oeko-tex certification also ensures it’s free of hazardous chemicals and safe for our bodies.

Our Recycled Nylon is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified REPREVE®, a recycled nylon fiber made of 100% recycled bottles and post-industrial waste collected worldwide. Repreve recycled nylon emits fewer greenhouse gasses in comparison to virgin nylon and promotes the recirculation of plastic bottles to keep them out of our oceans. Oeko-tex Standard 100 Class 1 yarn certification ensures it’s free of hazardous chemicals and safe for all.

Our Recycled Polyester is made from GRS certified Reborn fiber, and recycled materials including pre-consumer fiber and post-consumer PET waste. In addition to reducing waste via circularity, our recycled polyester’s production process requires less energy in direct comparison to traditional polyester, contributing to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.