Sustainable Style Spotlight: Bikini Bible

Tell us about you and your brand/business
My name is Lauren Hunt and I currently live in London. I have three main passions in life which are: travelling, food and bikinis! I decided to launch my own swimwear brand, Bikini Bible, back in June 2021 as I was struggling to find good bikinis that weren’t from Australia and that were also sustainable.

Prior to launching Bikini Bible, I worked in the city for nearly six years doing software sales. Bikini Bible’s mantra from day one has been ‘Sustainably Sexy. Always’. We want to show the world you don’t have to shop fast fashion to find stylish, on-trend bikinis. I have always thought that saving the ocean and swimwear go hand in hand, so that is why all of our swimwear is made from ECONYL yarn, which is made from recycled plastic bottles.

What is your mission?
My mission is to build the world’s best sustainable swimwear brand with styles that are current, cool and sexy. Personally, when I am on the beach, I love bikinis that won’t give me huge tan lines but also fit great and aren’t too revealing. This is where Bikini Bible comes in. There aren’t many bikini brands based in the United Kingdom and I want to be the first one that is sustainable and sexy.

Did you always want to work in fashion?
I have always wanted to have my own swimwear brand as I have always been obsessed with holidays and bikinis since I was a teenager! I completed a business degree at university and this gave me that extra knowledge on how a business operates and help on the financial side of things. I always thought that if I ever started my own business, it would definitely be some sort of fashion brand.

What kind of items do you stock?
We design and stock bikinis and one pieces. I am currently sampling some cool resort wear for next summer as well. All of our current swim styles are made using regenerated nylon. This is a sustainable fabric that is made from waste plastic that is found polluting the oceans. Not only is this fabric the best choice environmentally, it has been rated the best and highest quality swimwear fabric currently on the market. We have also started doing sarongs and branded tote bags that are made from recycled cotton.

What new brands or items are on your radar?
My list is really never-ending! I absolutely love scouring Instagram to find new brands and accessories that I can style Bikini Bible with. One of my good friends, Siobhan, has started a gorgeous clothing brand called Into Gaia, which stocks handmade silk dresses and one-of-a-kind pieces. I am patiently waiting for their new collection to be released this summer so I can style my bikini with one of their dresses!

Was money/funding a concern when starting out?
I was working in a corporate sales job when I first started Bikini Bible two years ago and it was definitely an eye-opener on just how much money you need to invest when starting a brand. I think a lot of people forget that in order to make something look great, you always have to spend a bit more. However, I managed to save a lot of my commission from work and previous personal savings, and I invested my entire pot into Bikini Bible. Still to this day I haven’t taken a penny back out of the company and continue to re-invest any money back into the business.

Best business advice you’ve gotten
The best advice I’ve been given so far, from many successful people, is to enjoy the journey. It’s so easy to be caught up in wanting to be successful and profitable in your first week or months of starting a brand, but in reality, that just doesn’t happen. It takes most brands 3-5 years before they start generating a profit or become a well-known successful brand. It is so easy to get disheartened and give up, but if you keep working hard and pushing for new ideas and make it your passion, success will come naturally. The hard work and long journey is what makes it all worth it in the end!

Favourite sustainable style accounts to follow online
I love Amelia Windsor and her gorgeous classic style. She is very into sustainable fashion and posts regularly about brands she wears and why they are sustainable. She is also an ambassador for many foundations that support marine life and the reduction of single-use plastics.

Best fashion purchase
My best fashion purchase has to be my Gucci Rhyton Trainers. I just bought a second pair of these because I wear them almost every day! They are the comfiest shoes I have ever worn, and they are definitely worth the investment because they will last you for years to come. I genuinely believe that if you buy investment pieces that are a little pricier, they will last you forever and this also helps the environment by reducing waste!

Other sustainable brands you love
I love all of the dresses from Reformation and I love their sustainability ethos. Especially as all of the packaging is bio-degradable or reusable like Bikini Bible! Also, Pangaia make the softest hoodies and sweats and they are all made from their own customised recycled fabrics. I own a couple of these!

Most useful learning since setting up a business
For me, learning how to go through a manufacturing process is the thing that has been the most useful thing so far. When I first started, finding a manufacturer seemed so impossible and daunting. I remember spending hours and hours on the internet sending emails to people about sampling some bikinis. However, once you have found a manufacturer that suits your style and also shares the same sustainability ethos, it’s great because you develop a relationship and trust. Also, the length of time it takes to sample bikinis and make changes takes months and months, this isn’t something you would know before you’ve been in a production cycle!

Proudest moment so far
My proudest moment so far in building Bikini Bible has got to be our feature in Forbes. This was the first interview that I had ever written answers for and I couldn’t believe that Bikini Bible was going to be printed in an article for such a prestigious magazine. Other wins that stay close to my heart are my very first order that wasn’t from a friend or family member. I remember thinking, ‘Wow, how has this person found Bikini Bible? That’s insane!’

Tips for being more sustainable this summer
I always keep my reusable metal straws in the house so I use them instead of single-use plastic straws. These are so handy because they wash so easily. I sometimes make a smoothie and go on a walk with my glass smoothie cup and metal straw which is a much more sustainable (and cheaper) way of going outside to get some fresh air. For those who are trying to be more sustainable this summer, I would also suggest trying to opt for less single-use plastic when shopping and bring your own bags with you when you go shopping. For example, I am never without my Bikini Bible Beach Club Tote that holds literally everything!

I want my brand to be remembered for… my aim is for Bikini Bible to be remembered for being the most stylish, sustainable bikinis in the world. I want to show people you don’t have to shop fast fashion in order to look the best on the beach. Bikini Bible has always had a very aspirational aesthetic which makes everyone believe they are in the story with us, whether that is on the Amalfi coast or on the shores of Jamaica. I made up our catchphrase (‘Sustainably Sexy. Always.’) on day one of launching and this has been at the forefront of our brand ever since!

If I could dress anyone it would be… I would love to dress Bella Hadid in one of our bikinis. Her style and aesthetic match with Bikini Bible so well – she’s always by the beach and has also spoken about how spoken about how sustainability is important to her.