Susan is a blogger at Beauty and the Beach, a swimwear blog by InStyleSwimwear.com.  For more information about their styles and brands, visit them today!

To celebrate the first days of summer and all of those sunny beach trips to come, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate post than one on Vitamin A Swimwear and Melissa Shoes—two of my favorite eco-conscious beach-chic brands!  Both Vitamin A and Melissa Shoes are doing some pretty amazing things when it comes to eco-friendly fashion and their designs and styles are as hot as the sizzling summer sun!

Vitamin A Swimwear

Designer Amahlia Stevens of Vitamin A Swimwear definitely has a soft spot for her hometown of Southern California, so she decided to partner up with an organization that was close to both her home and her heart.  For the 2^nd year in a row, Vitamin A launched a special Green Bikini Collection that benefits Heal The Bay—a nonprofit organization that works to protect the coastal waters, beaches and watersheds of beautiful Southern California.

 

Like last year’s collection, the 2012 Green Bikini Collection from Vitamin A Swimwear uses a special eco-luxe matte jersey that is comprised of 100% recycled nylon fibers and a high-tech Lycra blend.  However this year’s collection is definitely bigger, better and a whole lot sexier!  The new styles feature a rich color palette and tons of silhouettes that can be mixed and matched, perfect for both their fashion-conscious and eco-conscious customers.

Melissa Shoes

Have you ever considered wearing plastic shoes?  (Yes, you read correctly).  Enter Melissa Shoes—a Brazilian footwear brand that has transformed plastic into a wearable art form!

(l-r: arara green; violatta; harmonic bow; harmonic)

If you haven’t heard of Melissa Shoes yet, it’s probably because they’re just starting to make a name for themselves in the US.  Like Vitamin A Swimwear, Melissa Shoes is an eco-conscious brand.  All of their fabulous shoes are made with a special Melflex plastic material.  Not only is Melflex extremely flexible, which allows the designers to really flex their creativity, but it’s hypo-allergenic, 100% recyclable and cruelty-free.

Although Melissa Shoes has a full line of heels, wedges, flats and more, their line of sandals and flip-flops are perfect for summer!

 (l-r: papel beige gold; salinas white)

 

Whether you’re looking for a new swimsuit or a new pair of summer shoes, Vitamin A Swimwear and Melissa Shoes have you covered!  This summer, get ready to look both fashionable and eco-chic at the beach!