London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Jul 21, 2025

How Thailand’s Biggest Swimwear Label Went Sustainable

How Thailand’s Biggest Swimwear Label Went Sustainable

Angelys Balek has a clear view of environmental issues-literally. From her home’s windows in Phuket, Thailand, Balek has seen the increase in pollution from plastic waste that has plagued the nation and its beaches. “I see it every day,” shared Balek on the phone.

“When you live close to the beach and can see the pollution firsthand, it makes you feel responsible for it. You want to see things cleaned up and natural beauty preserved for the sake of the community.”



That perspective has informed how Balek is approaching her eponymous label. Launched in 2013, the brand is known for glamorous swimsuits favored by celebrities like Halle Berry, Naomi Campbell, and Miranda Kerr. This summer, a plunging red one-piece sold out after Berry posted some jaw-dropping snapshots on Instagram. The line has found great success on social media thanks to its distinctive bikinis. Still, Balek knows her customers are in search of more than their next great selfie. “It’s not just about looking sexy,” she says. “These are intelligent women with brains and beauty, who want to buy products that are good for the environment and give back. It always helps when people with large followings wear your designs because it spreads the message that sustainability is here to stay and can be incorporated into beautiful pieces.”



To that end, she’s been steadily moving towards a sustainable production model, though she launched in 2013. Presented with the opportunity to source environmentally friendly textiles back in 2018, Balek jumped at the chance to adapt. “We’ve never looked back,” she says. “It was critical to implement sustainable practices into our operations process from sampling to production.”



Balek and her team wanted to create a process that could become their new standard. That meant reevaluating their supply chain from top to bottom, asking their existing partners about eco-friendly options, and finding creative ways to explore new textile technology developments. “Whenever we meet with our suppliers, we ask if there are any groundbreaking sustainable fabrics we can source from,” explains Balek. “We also work closely with all our mills and factories. This way, we can share their sustainable processes with our clientele and be transparent. There are so many options now [in terms of fabric] there is no reason to opt for harmful materials.”



While gradually incorporating elements like Vita by Carvico, a techno fabric created from regenerated nylon, and knits made from recycled fishing nets into her designs, she sought to preserve the glamour her swimwear has become associated with. “We’re known for our color and prints. In the beginning, it was harder to remain true to that [look] using recycled materials,” she says. “Now it’s considerably easier thanks to all the advancements we’ve seen in the last few years.”



Her latest collection-the first to be 100% sustainably made-focuses on the joy of fashion. Dubbed ‘baby icing,’ it puts a foodie spin on swimwear with pastel tones and swirling shapes taken from the confectionary world. “It’s about not taking yourself too seriously,” says Balek. “Reminiscing on childhood and the carefree attitude we all once had.” The pastel one-pieces, neon cardigans, and v-neck swimsuits studded with crystals capture that feeling, as do the pattern-heavy caftans featuring abstract images of flower petals and woodblock prints. Accents bejeweled belts, ruffled tops, and even gloves push things into the ready-to-wear category. Fanciful as they are, it’s easy to imagine Balek’s pieces out on the town. “The designs work double-duty and can be worn outside of the beach in daily life,” she says. “Besides, who doesn’t love cake?”



The positive perspective is indicative of how Balek wants to live now. Like many she was constantly on the go for work before COVID-19, jetting to Paris and Milan for appointments with retailers and enjoying the nomadic existence of a global citizen. The necessity of 2020’s international travel restrictions has allowed her to refocus, working from home in Phuket and rediscovering what matters most. Namely, building a business that supports her community and does so sustainably. “Thailand is starting to wake up to the climate change revolution, and there is still a lot of work to be done,” she says. “We’ve been at the forefront, and I hope it can inspire other brands to join our mission. There is no need to have ten collections dropping in a year or constantly churning out new drops to entice the customer to buy, buy, buy. Having fewer collections a year allows the customer to shop for each season consciously.”



Though she still follows the collections and is passionate about exuberant design and art, she’s moved away from a consumerist mindset. “Living sustainably goes hand in hand with living a more minimal lifestyle,” she says. “These days I’m very conscious of every purchase I make, and I take time to consider what the item will add to my life and if it’s a necessity or luxury. It’s still ok to buy things because you want them, but not every day! It’s about finding a balance.” Shopping locally at boutiques, ditching single-use plastics, and starting a garden in her backyard where she grows fruits and vegetables have all been part of her personal evolution. Now active in finding ways to live intentionally as an entrepreneur and a person, she’s found a greater sense of purpose. “I’ve always wanted to help women feel beautiful and confident in their skin,” she says. "To do it in an eco-friendly way is the cherry on top.”


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
×