As a swimwear manufacturer, finding the best fabric is crucial to creating swimwear that looks amazing and won’t sag when swimming. If you are searching for the right fabric, you have come to the right place. Spandex Warehouse is an online wholesale supplier of various types of fabrics, including swimwear fabric. In this blog post, we will delve into the different types of swimwear fabrics. Hopefully, after reading this, you will be able to make an informed decision when choosing fabrics for swimwear.
If you are just starting a swimwear line, choosing the right fabric is essential. Here are the common materials, their uses, and their characteristics. We will also discuss their composition, texture, weight, and sustainability.
Keep in mind that fabrics may vary from each other. They have different qualities that make them more suitable for specific use. You must consider the quality of the products that your supplier will provide you.
The three major swimwear fabrics are the following:
Nylon Blends
Nylon blends are fabrics made from nylon and other materials. They are the most commonly used fabric in female swimwear.
Why Choose Nylon?
- Soft to the touch
- Comfortable to wear
- Good stretch
- Hugs the body well
The usual blend is 80% nylon and 20% Lycra, also known as spandex or elastane. The 20% elastane is added to provide elasticity to the swimwear.
Nylon, also known as Polyamide, is a group name for some polyamides. Polyamides are either synthetic or natural polymers consisting of repeating amide groups linked together by amide bonds.
However, nylon is not advisable for printing, as the resulting print will be blurry, and the ink will bleed into the garment.
Characteristics of Nylon:
- Soft to the touch
- Stretchable
- Durable
- Dries quickly
- Not suitable for printing
- UV resistance can be improved
- Not chlorine-resistant
- Repels water
To maintain nylon swimwear, hand wash and air dry it.
Polyester Blends
Polyester blends are fabrics made from polyester and other materials. They are commonly used in creating competitive swimwear.
Why Choose Polyester?
Polyester is soft, durable, and resistant to both chlorine and UV rays. Additionally, it can be printed with different designs, absorbing dyes well to create vibrant colors and patterns.
Characteristics of Polyester:
- Soft to the touch
- Good stretch
- Durable
- Dries quickly
- Printable
- UV-resistant
- Chlorine-resistant
- Repels water
To maintain polyester swimwear, hand wash and air dry it.
Elastane (Spandex)
Elastane, also known as spandex, is a synthetic polymer consisting of 85% polyurethane. It can stretch significantly and return to its original shape when released. Unlike rubber, elastane is lighter, stronger, and more versatile, capable of expanding up to eight times its original size.
Elastane offers excellent UV protection, with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating of 25-39. It can be blended with other fabrics such as bamboo, cotton, rayon, and wool, making it versatile and durable with great shape retention. Elastane is commonly blended with nylon or polyester for swimwear fabrics.
Characteristics of Elastane:
- Lightweight
- Soft and smooth to the touch
- Strong and durable
- Scratch-resistant
- UV-resistant
- Not prone to sagging
- Resistant to moisture and bodily fluids
Other Aspects to Consider When Choosing Swimwear Materials
Weight
Most swimwear fabrics weigh around 180-200 g/m². Lighter fabrics may feel and look like underwear. Heavier fabrics, weighing around 200-220 g/m² and above, are commonly used for competition or textured fabrics.
Composition
When purchasing swimwear fabrics, check the properties of the materials. For example, fabrics containing spandex or elastane will provide good stretch. Blends consisting of 80% nylon and 20% spandex will have more stretch compared to blends with 90% nylon and 10% spandex. Request fabric samples or swatches from the supplier to evaluate the material, and ask for more details before deciding.
Sustainability
In the past, swimwear was made from fabrics that were not environmentally friendly. Due to consumer awareness and demand, many fabric options are now eco-friendly. One such fabric is ECONYL®, a renewed nylon made from pre- and post-consumer materials.
ECONYL® is made using the following steps:
- Rescue: Waste such as carpet flooring, fabric scraps, fishing nets, and industrial plastic is collected from landfills and oceans worldwide.
- Regenerate: The collected nylon is recycled and renewed to its original pure state, creating new nylon.
- Remake: The regenerated nylon undergoes processing to become swimwear yarn.
- Reimagine: The swimwear yarn is used to create swimwear, which can be recycled into new nylon fabric when no longer in use.
Another example of recycled swimwear fabric is REPREVE®, made from recycled plastic bottles.
Other Variants of Swimwear Fabrics
Textured Fabrics
As the swimwear industry evolves, new trends bring innovative fabrics. Textured fabrics like ribbed and velvet are now used for creating unique swimwear designs.
Neoprene
This fabric is made from synthetic rubber. It has excellent stability and flexibility in various temperatures and is great for insulation. Its insulating properties make it popular for scuba diving suits. Neoprene is thicker and requires different stitching methods compared to typical swimwear fabrics. Look for manufacturers who offer neoprene if you are interested in this type of fabric.
Ribbed
Ribbed textures are created from knitted fabrics by alternating knit and purl stitches. The fabric lies flat but stretches more in one direction. Ribbed textures, often made from nylon fabric, are compact and tight with a bit of stretch.
Different fabric compositions can vary in appearance. For example, JL Bristol fabric has a blend of 92% PA (polyamide) and 8% EA (elastane), weighs 200 g/m², and is dense, breathable, and perfect for professional and fitness swimwear. It clings to the body, helps sweat evaporate, is soft, and has a two-way stretch. Nylon blends with an 80/20 ratio will have a more standard swimwear look.
Velvet
Velvet fabrics are soft and often used in loungewear and robes. Velvet has evenly distributed threads, giving it a unique, velvety feel. A good blend of velvet can be used to make luxurious swimwear.
Other examples of swimwear fabrics include mesh, corduroy, and cotton blends. However, cotton blends are not suitable for swim environments as they are not durable and are not resistant to UV, seawater, or chlorine.
When searching for swimwear fabrics, check the available options, their properties, and characteristics to ensure they are suitable for your needs. If you have any questions about swimwear fabrics or are interested in developing your swimwear line, please feel free to contact us. We will be happy to assist you with your swimwear fabric needs.
Do you need swimwear fabrics? Choose Spandex Warehouse. We are an online wholesale supplier of swimwear fabrics. If you are searching for a specific fabric, please reach out to us. We can help you find it. Call us at 213.629.7416, fax us at 213.629.7433, or email us at spandexwarehouse@sbcglobal.net. Choose a reputable shop like Spandex Warehouse for your wholesale supply of fabrics. What are you waiting for? Contact us immediately!