In the world of sustainable fashion, words matter as much as actions. Often, when we try to make more environmentally friendly choices, we encounter a wall of technical terms that can be overwhelming. The result? Confusion, and in the worst-case scenario, falling into the trap of greenwashing.
At Antara Ocean, we believe that knowledge is the first step toward conservation . As members of a community that loves and respects the ocean, we need to speak the same language to understand the real impact of what we wear.
That's why we've prepared this essential eco-friendly dictionary . No empty jargon or clichés: just clear and rigorous definitions to empower your purchasing decisions.
The basis of change: How we produce and consume🌱
1. Fast Fashion
It is the dominant business model in today's textile industry, characterized by the mass production of clothing at low cost and high speed. Fast fashion promotes a "use and discard" consumption pattern, generating tons of textile waste daily and perpetuating precarious working conditions. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), this industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions.
2. Slow Fashion
The antithesis of fast fashion. It's a philosophy that prioritizes quality over quantity. Slow fashion promotes conscious production, the use of durable materials, local manufacturing , and timeless designs.
At Antara Ocean, this means creating a swimsuit designed to last for many summers, not just one.
Materials and Oceans: Our Ground 🌊
3. rPET (Recycled Polyester)
Recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or rPET, is a fabric made from the mechanical or chemical recycling of single-use PET plastic bottles and other debris. Transforming these bottles into yarn prevents them from ending up in landfills or the ocean, and also requires approximately 59% less energy to produce compared to virgin polyester. You can read more about its manufacturing process in How We Transform Plastic Bottles into Designer Swimwear
4. OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Certification
It is one of the strictest and most recognized eco-labels worldwide for textile product safety. This certification guarantees that every component of the item has been tested to ensure it is free of harmful substances for your health and the environment. Our fabrics carry this certification.
5. Ghost Nets
These are commercial fishing nets that have been abandoned, lost or discarded at sea. They are an invisible death trap. According to WWF data, these nets represent around 10% of global marine litter and continue to trap and kill marine life for decades. Recovering them and turning them into textiles is vital for the health of our seabeds.
6. Microplastics and Microfibers
These are plastic particles less than 5 millimeters long. Microfibers are a specific type that comes off synthetic clothing during washing and that wastewater treatment plant filters cannot retain, ending up in the ocean.
Learn how to care for your clothes to minimize this release as much as possible in 7 tips to care for your swimsuits and make them last longer .
Strategy and Transparency🔍
7. Circular Economy
A regenerative economic model that eliminates the concept of "waste." In the circular economy, products are designed to be reused, repaired, or recycled, keeping materials in use for as long as possible. We move from the linear model ("extract, produce, discard") to an (almost) infinite loop that reuses natural resources and respects the planet limits.
8. Upcycling
It's the process of transforming byproducts, waste materials, or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or greater environmental value. For example: our packaging, plantable labels, or thank-you cards that become bookmarks, taking on a second life in your hands.
9. Greenwashing
It is a deceptive marketing practice in which a company invests time and money in fakely appearing environmentally friendly (with green labels, words like "eco", "natural" or "green" without backing) or by giving vague and ambiguous data to make itself look better. In this article we explain you what you should know about greenwashing and how to avoid it.
10. Traceability
It is the ability to track the history, application, or location of a product through its supply chain.
🛡️ Impact and Protection
11. Carbon Footprint
It is the total amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product.
By manufacturing locally (100% in Europe), we drastically reduce the emissions associated with intercontinental freight transport.
12. UPF 50+ Certification
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. This rating indicates how much of the sun's ultraviolet radiation a fabric absorbs.
A UPF 50+ fabric blocks more than 98% of the sun's UVA and UVB rays.
This certification ensures you protect yourself and the oceans. You can read more about this in What is UPF 50+ Really?
Join the conversation
Understanding sustainable fashion shouldn't be a privilege reserved for experts, but rather a tool for all ocean lovers. Knowing the difference between a linear and a circular economy, or being able to identify greenwashing , empowers us to vote with our purchasing decisions.
💬 We want to hear from you: Are there any terms on this list that you didn't know? Or perhaps you have another keyword in mind that we should add to a second edition of this ecological dictionary? Leave your input in the comments!
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