Water Bottles Make Chic Boardshorts
Naila, a new contemporary swimwear brand based in New York, is putting a chic, Italian spin on eco-friendly boardshorts. Action-sports brands have made boardshorts out of recycled materials for some time, but Naila is among the first upscale swim companies to adopt the technology.
Handmade in Italy, three select styles of boardshorts are available in a custom-printed Japanese plaid polyester fabric made of recycled plastic bottles. In turn, the boardshorts are themselves recyclable, said designer Naila Chbib.
The trunks, which feature inseams of varying lengths and a hidden back pocket, wholesale for $99 in the traditional Lycra fabrication and for $130 to $159 in the recycled-polyester fabrication. The recycled fabric is quick-drying, Chbib said, and offers the wearer UV protection.
Having debuted in July at the SwimShow trade show and on the runway during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami, Naila’s recycled boardshorts are just the beginning of the brand’s eco-friendly efforts. According to Chbib, while she has not found an eco-friendly fabric suitable for her women’s collection, which wholesales for $65 to $135 per set, the company strives to lower its carbon footprint in other ways. Using recycled paper stock in hangtags and marketing materials, minimizing packing materials, and a pledge to donate a percentage of profits to environmental charities round out Naila’s eco efforts.—Erin Barajas
