While the push for sustainable fashion has been gaining traction, traditional swimwear is often still made with toxic plastic fibers. Natalie Herzig joins Cheddar News to explain how her brand Argot Swim is sustainable from sourcing to shipping.

Cheddar's News Wrap

Swimwear Brand Is Sustainable From Sourcing to Shipping

Welcome back everyone to Jeter's news wrap. Today is Wednesday april 20th 2022. I'm hena Doba in new york city, Thank you so much for joining us today. You've probably heard of the term sustainable fashion, but have you really thought about what it really means? Fashion choices not only affect the environment but also have social and economic impacts and the consequences are huge As the world now consumes about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year. That's a 400% increase from just two decades ago. Joining me now is Natalie, her stick founder and designer of sustainable swimmer brand. Argo swim Natalie, welcome to the show. We have your pieces. They are beautiful. Now on your website, you actually say that swim wear is made of toxic plastic fiber. So tell us more about Argo swimwear. So, Argo swimwear is made from a fabric called italian car vic Evita and it's 78% recycled nylon. So if you feel it, would you believe me if I told you it was made from recycled plastic bottles? Never not in a million years. So they can take things like, you know, plastic water bottles, plastic fishing nets and re spin those fibers into fabric. And that's what we make our somewhere from. And it's certified nontoxic. Actually love this piece that you just love the one pieces that you're showing. Can you tell us more about the manufacturing process here? Yes, so another facet of sustainability is making sure that it's manufactured in a way that you can be proud of. So we make our suits in bali um at a factory where everyone is paid a fair wage, everyone gets a catered lunch paid overtime. It's so important when you're making a product that they're made in a way that respects the planet and respects other people and that was super important to me when I was building this brand. So we have these beautiful products in front of us today. Can I ask why Natalie was so important to you? I think I just had a realization a couple of years ago, as the subject of sustainability was coming up in the world and I realized when I used a piece of plastic that The lifespan of it was so short, right? So you're you're using a plastic water bottle for two minutes and then it exists on the planet for 30 years. So I wanted to be a part of the solution. What about packaging and shipping? How sustainable is that aspect of your business? Everything we do, we try to do it sustainably. So our packaging is made from recycled cardboard. Are sanitary liners are compostable, our labels are compostable, are packing slips are made from recycled paper, you know, we really just every possible thing we can do. We try to do it in a sustainable way. The sustainable fashion cost more typically, it can cost more, but not necessarily. I know lots of brands who have more expensive products that aren't made sustainably, but when you're paying everybody a fair wage and you're also using really quality products, It tends to cost a little more, which is why when I'm designing, I'm trying to make pieces that I think you're gonna love for years and years. Tell us about your latest collection is this? And there's some on the rack over there too. And those colors are just absolutely beautiful because you know, a lot of people have put their vacation plans on hold, they're going on that big trip for the first time in years. What's that? Must have piece that we should know about. Oh boy! So this is the French Riviera collection launches on the 24th. We have all had a rough couple of years. So I think we deserve to feel like our best selves. I feel like my best self when I'm comfortable. So I'm gonna choose the josephine short and they're in a bandeau Oh, that is really, really nice. What has the feedback been here, Natalie, I think people really appreciate when things are made in a really sustainable way. People expect brands to be responsible. And the feedback has been amazing. We've even launched a clothing line on our site as well that's made sustainably to, can you tell us the price point about on this? So the separates will range from 65 to 90 and the one pieces are 1 20 to 1, 65. Do you have a favorite piece here? It has to be this one. It is very, so unique one. I'm gonna hold it up for reviewers. That's the first one I noticed. Two. What do you love about this one? I've never seen anything like it. And it's so bold while at the same time just being kind of subtly cool. So you're gonna be like the coolest person on the beach um in this suit for sure. And it has great coverage. What's it been like? You know, launching a business designing clothes during a pandemic? During Covid? I'm gonna have a weird answer to this kind of amazing. I think during Covid, I finally had the time to really focus on what matters to me and how I want to be purposeful in my life. So, it gave me all the time. I needed to make this a reality. I love that. Yeah. All right. Thank you so much, Natalie, her sick founder and designer of sustainable swimmer Brent Argo swim. Check it out. If you want to look ethical in style by the pool or by the beach this summer. Check out Natalie's collection at Argo swim dot com. I will be checking that website out. Natalie, thank you so much