The Importance of Sustainable Fashion Production: Why Matia Beachwear Produces in Portugal

From the very beginning, we made a conscious choice to produce our garments in Portugal. This decision is about more than just manufacturing—it’s about creating high-quality products in a responsible way, ensuring that every step of our process reflects our commitment to ethical practices and environmental care.

"At Matia Beachwear, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do." 

Why Portugal

Portugal has a long-standing tradition of craftsmanship and textile manufacturing. When it comes to creating high-quality swimwear, we wanted to collaborate with experts who understand the importance of detail, precision, and durability. Portugal’s skilled artisans are known for their expertise in working with premium fabrics, and they align perfectly with our vision of creating swimwear that lasts beyond just one season.

But what truly sets Portugal apart is its dedication to fair labor practices. By producing in a family-run factory, we ensure that every garment is made under safe and ethical working conditions. The factory we work with is operated by women and employs local artisans on a long-term basis, providing stable employment that benefits the community. This human-centered approach is essential to us. It’s not just about what we produce, but how and by whom our products are made.

The Importance of Sustainable Production

At Matia, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of our brand. We believe that the fashion industry has a responsibility to minimize its environmental impact and to actively make better choices for the planet. That’s why we focus on producing in smaller batches, reducing overproduction, and maintaining a shorter supply chain. By keeping our production process close to home in Europe, we minimize transportation emissions, further reducing our carbon footprint.

Our commitment to sustainability also extends to the materials we use. We partner with suppliers who share our values, using recycled fabrics made from plastic waste, including discarded fishing nets. These materials not only help reduce ocean pollution, but they also require less energy to produce compared to virgin nylon. In fact, using recycled nylon has an 80% lower environmental impact.

Transparency and Responsibility

One of the biggest challenges in the fashion industry is transparency. Consumers often don’t know where or how their clothes are made. At Matia, we believe that you deserve to know exactly what goes into making your swimwear. That’s why we are committed to sharing our production process openly. We know our manufacturers personally, and we visit them regularly to ensure that they meet our high ethical standards.

By choosing to produce in Portugal, we not only ensure the highest quality craftsmanship but also contribute to a more responsible and transparent fashion industry. We believe that fashion should be about more than just looking good—it should be about doing good too.

1. Labor (Materials / Production / Development of Goods): 35%

Materials: Sourcing eco-friendly raw materials such as recycled fabrics.

Production: Includes fair wages for workers and production costs.

Development: Includes research, prototyping, testing, and design work.

2. Logistics (Transportation / Storage / Packaging): 12%

Transportation: Shipping costs for both raw materials and finished products.

Storage: Warehousing and inventory management.

Packaging: Sustainable packaging solutions that minimize environmental impact.

3. Company Costs (Marketing / Operations / Taxes / Payment Fees): 53%

Marketing: Digital campaigns, content creation, and ethical promotion.

Operating Costs: Employee wages, office rent, software, and utilities.

Taxes & Fees: Local taxes, VAT, and payment processing fees.

Working towards sustainability and maintaining high quality standards is not cheap. This structure reflects our commitment to sustainability and ensures that our materials, production processes and logistics are in line with our ethical goals, while keeping the normal operating costs of running a business in Germany under control.

This breakdown can be a great way to provide transparency and show how your purchase directly supports fair working conditions and environmentally friendly initiatives. In terms of economic impact, this calculation may vary.

A Future of Sustainable Fashion

Sustainability is a journey, and we are constantly working to improve. We continue to research new ways to make our production process even more eco-friendly, from using green energy to reducing waste in our facilities. For us, sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a way of life. Every step we take is driven by our desire to create fashion that leaves a positive impact on the world.

When you wear a piece from Matia Beachwear, you can feel confident knowing that it was made with care for both people and the planet. 

Thank you for joining us on this journey. 

xo Matia