Help Center

We are based on the North West Coast of England :)

No! Our online store is the only place you can buy genuine BATOKO swimwear.

Yes! We ship to most worldwide countries. Visit our shipping page for more information.

We'll happily accept returns on all swimsuits sent back to us within 28 days. All we ask if that they are still in their original condition with all tags, stickers and labels still attached. Visit our returns page for more information.

A swimsuit that is on "pre-order" is available to purchase now but isn't ready to ship yet. Sometimes we add products to our website in advance so you can order them before they are available to ship. We usually do this with brand new styles or popular styles that have sold out and are on their way back. The pre-order shipping date shows the approximate date/month they are due to arrive at our studio (this is not the delivery date).

Please note; orders are sent in their entirety. If you order contains a mix of items that are ready to ship now along with a pre-order, your entire order will be shipped together when all items become available.

Yes! BATOKO is based, managed and run in England. We use the secure Sockets Layer protocol (SSL) with an encryption key length of 128-bits (the highest level commercially available) that ensures safe internet transmission of your person information. A lock icon will be showing next to your browsers URL bar right now - if you click on this it will state "connection is secure" which confirms that you are on a safe connection with us.

We do not see or store your credit card details nor do we share your personal information with any third party. 

Yes, you can change the currency using the toggle at the top of our website (look for the GBP near the shopping cart icon). If you are on a mobile device, the toggle is in the menu section at the top.

Please note; we are based in the UK, so all prices are shown and charged in GBP £. 

The best way to contact us is via our contact form or you can send us an email to hello@batoko.com. We aim to get back to all customer emails within 24 hours.

Although we try to get back to as many queries as possible on social media, it can take us much longer to respond. On some occasions we can also miss comments/dm's, which is something we really want to avoid happening. So if you need our help, by far the quickest and best way to chat is via email. Thank you!

Absolutely! If you wish to cancel your order, please contact us within 15 minutes of placing your order.

Please note; we cannot cancel your order if it has already shipped. If this is the case, you will need to wait for the order to be delivered and then either send it back to us or refuse delivery.

Yes! To make changes to your shipping address or any other details, please contact us within 15 minutes of placing your order.

Please note; we cannot make any changes to your address once your order has shipped and we are unable to re-direct it to another address. If your address contains an error or missing information, the shipping company will most likely return your order to us and we will contact you to arrange a re-delivery once we receive it back.

If you entered a valid address incorrectly such as your previous home address or a different door/flat/office number, then you would need to retrieve it from this address yourself.

We are unable to add additional items to existing orders manually, instead the best way to do this would be to place a new separate order which we can combine with your current order and issue you a refund for the excess shipping paid. If you wish to go ahead with this, please contact us within 15 minutes of placing your order to let us know, so that we can put your current order on hold. You will then need to place the new order and send us an email with your new order #.

We cannot upgrade shipping on existing orders unfortunately, instead the best option would be to cancel your current order and place a new separate order with an alternative shipping method. To go ahead with this, please contact us within 15 minutes of placing your order, as we cannot make any changes to shipping once your order has been shipped.

Your order is shipped to the exact shipping address you provide us with at the checkout. We print this directly onto the front of your parcel so there are no human errors or auto-fill mistakes at our end. Unfortunately we cannot make any changes to your address once your order has shipped and we are unable to re-direct it to another address. If your order has been shipped to an address that contains errors or missing information, the shipping company will most likely return it to us and we will contact you when we receive it back to arrange re-shipment or a refund.

Please note; if you entered a valid address incorrectly such as your previous home address or a different door/flat/office number, then you would need to retrieve it from this address yourself. 

We try to keep packaging as minimal as possible, which means it's free of individual plastics and wrapping. Our swimsuits are simply folded and slid into a mail bag. The mail bag essentially works as a protective sleeve for your swimsuit during shipping, nothing more.

We send UK orders in a paper mail bag. For orders shipping overseas, we use 100% recycled (+ recyclable) plastic mail bags by EcoEnclose. The paper mail bags can be reused, composted or recycled by popping it in your recycling bin. The recycled plastic mail bags can also be reused and recycled. If your local council doesn't accept plastic bags in your recycling bin yet, most major supermarkets now have plastic recycling bins available.

Please note; if you would like us to ship your order in a paper mail bag, please contact us within 10 minutes of placing your order to make this request. Please note: we cannot be held liable for any damage that occurs in transit for orders shipped overseas in a paper mail bag.

The delivery timeframe depends on the shipping option you chose at checkout. Please refer to your confirmation email which will show your chosen shipping method and the delivery timeframe expected. 

To track you order, please refer to your shipping confirmation email which contains your tracking link.

Please note; not all shipping options come with tracking, so if you would like the option to track your parcel please make sure to select Tracked or Express. If you choose Standard Shipping, you won't get a tracking number and we are unable to track it for you.

We always state the approximate shipment date on all our pre-orders to give you an idea of when you're likely to receive it before you place the order. This is noted on the product page, usually next to the size you are ordering. You can also re-check this information on your order confirmation email. We'll send you a shipping confirmation email as soon as your pre-order ships.

Please note; orders will be sent in their entirety, so if you have a pre-order item in your order, your entire order will be shipped together when all items become available.

No. By law we cannot overcharge you and our online system physically cannot overcharge you. Currency conversion is the most common misconception of being overcharged. We're based in the UK, so if you placed your order from another country and your bank statement is showing a different price, this is the currency conversion from GBP £ to your own countries currency. E.G. if you placed your order in the United States and it totalled to £30 GBP yet your bank statement is showing a charge of $50 USD, this is simply the currency conversion from GBP £ to USD $. All orders made on our website are charged in GBP £. Your credit card provider/bank/paypal will determine the exact exchange rate that you will be charged.

Yes, please click here to go to our size guide. We also have a size guide and measurements on each of our product pages under the "size guide" tab.

The best way to figure out which size you'll need is to head over to our size guide and use our chart to find your equivalent size. Alternatively if you have a measuring tape handy, compare your body measurements to the chart by following our 'How To Measure Yourself' instructions. If you're still unsure, check out our helpful sizing tips.

If you're on the borderline between two sizes, order the smaller size for a tighter fit or the larger size for a looser fit. If your measurements are coming out at different sizes, order the one indicated by your hip measurement.

If you're going to be doing lots of swimming, diving or water sports then we generally recommend sizing down for a tighter fit so that it will stay in place and allow for some stretching with wear. It's also good to go tighter if you want the fabric to look totally smooth and hold-you-in all over. However just as many people favour a looser, more relaxed fit.

There is absolutely no right or wrong way to wear our swimsuits, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

Our swimwear is consciously made in an audited factory in China that takes necessary measures to avoid both environmental degradation, along with following and respecting the labour principles set out in the BSCI Code of Conduct which ensures a fair and safe working environment for all it's workers. This includes; fair pay, no forced or bonded labour, no child labour or workers below the legal minimum age, decent working hours (observed by law), no discrimination and equal opportunities. Learn more.

Our swimwear is recycled from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste. PET plastic is what plastic bottles are made out of as well as lots of food containers and textiles (clothes, carpets). If you see the number #1 printed on plastic, this is PET. It's the most common type of plastic and the most widely recycled. 

The plastic waste is sorted, shredded into clean flakes, melted, extruded and then spun into polyester yarn for our fabric. The amount of plastic that goes into making our swimwear is recorded by weight and is the equivalent of approximately 10 plastic bottles per swimsuit.

Did you know: all swimwear is essentially made from "plastic" - polyester, nylon, spandex, lycra and neoprene are all synthetic (man-made) fabrics. The only difference is that our swimwear is made from recycled plastic that was headed to landfill rather than creating new plastic and adding to the 100 million tons that still get's produced each year.

No, in fact our swimwear feels pretty damn luxurious. Our swimsuits are super soft, comfy and stretchy - you'd have absolutely no clue that they were recycled from plastic waste. 

Did you know: all swimwear is essentially made from "plastic" - polyester, nylon, spandex, lycra and neoprene are all synthetic (man-made) fabrics. The only difference is that our swimwear is made from recycled plastic that was headed to landfill rather than creating new plastic and adding to the 100 million tons that still produced each year.

Our swimsuits do not come with a built in bra, wire or padded cups, yet have been designed and tested to support up to an E cup. This is created mainly by our strong-hold, thick fabric and stitching with extra support coming from our higher back. We prefer this minimalist style, however there is plenty of space available on the inner lining if you wish to sew in some cups yourself.

Our swimwear has not undergone any official tests, therefore we do not have an official UPF rating.

Polyester is generally highly resistant to UV radiation and has a very high melting point, which means it can stand more prolonged exposure to the sun without the material breaking down. Our fabric is also tightly woven which generally makes it harder for the sun's rays to penetrate through.

As a conscious choice with the environment in mind, our swimwear has not been treated with any chlorine-resistant coating or chemicals.

Polyester is a hardy fabric that is generally very resistant to chlorine. Our swimwear contains 85% polyester and 15% spandex (all recycled), with the spandex being the part that gives the swimsuit it's all-important stretch. Prolonged exposure to strong chemicals such as chlorine will deteriorate the spandex over time resulting in some loss of shape. If you will be swimming regularly in chlorinated water, here are some tips: 1. Size down - opt for a tighter fitting swimsuit to start with, this means it won't lose as much shape and as a result will last much longer. 2. Shower before you enter the pool and again straight after to dilute the chlorine. 3. Wash your swimsuit with clean water to remove all the chlorine. Resist scrunching/twist drying the swimsuit (this can weaken/break the fibers), simply wrap it flat in a towel and lay it flat to air dry at home. 4. If you swim multiple times a week, alternate between swimsuits to give each one a break.

Your swimsuit was saved from landfill the first time around, please help us keep the loop closed by taking good care of it and enjoying it for longer.

Wear more, wash less. Not only does this prolong the life of your swimsuit, but it's better for the environment. Rinse your swimsuit in clean water after exposure to chlorine, sunscreen lotion and oils. Opt for natural-based detergent if needed. Lay flat to dry. Do not machine wash or tumble dry and never bleach, iron or dry clean your swimsuit. Never put it through the quick heat driers at your local swimming baths and never 'ring dry' (twist/scrunch) as this causes the fibres to break.

Avoid contact with rough surfaces. Soft fabrics bobble when they get rubbed against something rough and our swimsuits are no exception. Although our swimsuits are durable in and out of the water, they are not laden with nasty chemicals and mixed fabrics so they do need a little extra care. The fabric is woven super tight, but rough surfaces like concrete, stone and wood can all pull at the tiny fibres creating bobbling. e.g. sitting poolside and then dragging yourself into the pool will create friction. This also goes for wearing it with rougher fabrics, for example a pair of denim shorts could also cause bobbling as it rubs against the swimsuit. Being mindful of this will help prolong the life of your favourite swimsuit. 

As microfiber pollution is highly complex, we've created a dedicated blog post where we talk all about this issue, from fabric (quality and weave makes a significant difference) to washing tips. We also put one of our swimsuits through it's very own shed test. Read it here.

There is currently no natural or bio-alternative fabric available for swimwear. Natural fabrics such as cotton and wool soak-up water, becoming heavy and see-through and adding stretch to these fabrics usually requires elastane (plastic), which kind of defeats the object further.

Although we are passionate about sustainability and marine ecology, we are not scientists. The invention of brand new fabrics at this level is highly complex work done only by exceptionally skilled engineers. Our skills lie in swimwear production, art and running a small business - by using our knowledge within the fashion industry, we've been able to create an alternative in swimwear that aligns with our passion for sustainability. 

It's also worth noting that using plastic in swimwear is nothing new. All swimwear is made from "plastic" - polyester, nylon, spandex, lycra and neoprene are all synthetic (man-made) fabrics. The only difference is that our swimwear is made from recycled plastic that was headed to landfill rather than making it from new plastic and further adding to the 100 million tons that continues to get produced every year.

We cannot currently accept used swimsuits back for recycling unfortunately. This is due to the current lack of recycling facilities available within the UK, followed by the cost implications of existing return-recycle programmes.

In the meantime we encourage you to follow our care instructions to ensure your swimsuit lasts a long time and donate any old unwanted clothes to charity. Always try to repair things first before binning them. If it's beyond repair, don't forget to check with your local council on what you can recycle in your area. Household tips generally have textile bins for recycling available and this is a better option than landfill.

We generally bring out one main collection a year, usually around Spring (UK). Occasionally we may also drop a new print in between main collections. Learn more.

We've spent the last few years developing our swimsuits to get them to what they are today, carefully making tweaks along the way in response to customer feedback. It's for this reason that we don't have any immediate plans to change or expand our current product range just yet (except for the prints of course!).

However we love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as it helps us help you. Regrettably during busy times, these emails can get lost amongst our inbox and we can often miss comments and DM's on social media. As a result we've set up this dedicated feedback form where you can share your thoughts, ideas and suggestions with us. Thank you!

We used to make matching kids swimsuits however we discontinued our Little Batoko collection in June 2018 so no longer do children's versions/sizes unfortunately. 

For all press enquiries please contact us here or email us at hello@batoko.com

Thank you for your interest in stocking BATOKO, however we do not currently offer wholesale unfortunately. The re-sale or distribution of BATOKO swimwear for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

We are pronounced "BAT-OH-KOH".

Other Batoko's in existence that aren't recycled swimsuits are:

The Batoko Plum plant. A small shrubby tree native of the Philippines that can be found in clearings and at the edges of the tropical rainforests of Africa and Asia. It can grow up to 25 feet high and produces a bright red Batoko plum. The fruits can be eaten raw or cooked, fermented to make wine and the bark, leaves and roots are used in herbal medicines and as treatment for snakebites.

Batoko is also a family name (we occasionally get tagged in the odd family facebook snaps too).