What fabric is best for swimwear?

Swimsuit fabric is almost always 80-90% nylon(polyamide),polyester or another similar synthetic fiber.The other 10-20% is spandex,lycra,or elastane (all of which are different words for the same thing).It’s very important that swimsuits’ fabric have at least 10% spandex as it is the spandex content that gives the fabric the stretch that it needs.

Typical Fabric For Swimwear

1.Composition: 80%Polyamiade, 20%Elastane Fabric Weight: 190-200gsm, Warp Knitting. This is the most popular choice. It is comfortable and durable. It can stretch with the body shape, Nylon can also under another name polyamide, spandex is also called elastane. It depends on where in the world you are. Usually used on swimwear.

2.Composition: 85%Polyester, 15% Spandex Fabric Weight: 190-200gsm, Warp Knitting. Polyester fabric is incredible durability and quick to dry. And can last a long time. It also gives very good stretch. This fabric’s hand feeling and outlooking are very similar to nylon/spandex Usually used on swimwear.

Typical Lining Fabric For Swimwear

1.Composition: 100%Polyester Fabric Weight: 125gsm, Usually used on swimwear.

2.Composition: 95%Polyester , 5% Elastane Fabric Weight: 125gsm, Usually used on swimwear.

Sustainable Fabric

With the strengthening of people’s awareness of environmental protection, sustainable fabrics have become very popular in recent years. The yarns of these fabrics are made from discarded plastics or waste clothes, the general yarn brands are Carvico, Repreve, Shenghong and other international brands. Yarn producers, fabric producers and garment producers all can provide GRS certificates and TC certificates to demonstrate the integrity of their entire product supply chain and to be sure the products are sustainable. The fabric price will be 50%-80% more expensive than regular fabric. The above mentioned typical fabric and textured fabric can also be made of recycled yarn into sustainable fabric.

More About Fabric Swimwear Knowledge You Need To Know

Swimwear Fabric Weight

Most of fashion swimwear fabric is about 190-200gsm, the swimwear fabric can’t be too heavy. But if it is too light, it will look and feel like underwear, furthermore it will be looked through when wet. So the idea weight would be between 190-200gsm per square meter, of course, if some customer special request, there are 220gsm, 180gsm,160gsm, 140 gsm and so on. And also some heavier fabrics often fall into the category of textured and other fabrics.

Fabric Knit Construction

For the knit fabric, there are 2 different knitting ways, warp knitting and weft knitting. Usually, the typical swimwear fabrics are warp knitting. The advantage of warp knitting is not easy to be edge-roll and shrink. It is the ideal fabric for swimming. Another is weft knitting, it is also good because it is soft hand feeling and good stretch, so it is more applied in activewear, some customers also choose weft knitting swimwear.

Tips To Identify Nylon And Polyester Blend

From the out looking, maybe you feel very hard to identify the nylon blend and polyester blend. But herewith, we would like to share with you one small simple tip. You may just use a lighter to burn the fabric, if white light comes out, this fabric is nylon/blend, if black light comes out, then this fabric is polyester/blend.

Fabric Extra Function

Customers generally require UV protection and color fastness against chlorine water for swimwear, while yoga clothes need to have functions such as moisture absorption and perspiration. Our fabrics can meet all of these requirements.

Nylon(polyamide)
Nylon fabric is an alternative fabric to polyester.Nylon is lightweight and offers a smooth fit.Nylon fabric has its disadvantages as it is not chlorine resistant and not as long lasting as polyester. Characteristics of Nylon fabric are:

• Abrasion Resistant
• Lustrous,soft
• Low in moisture absorbency
• Excellent elasticity
• Launders easily

Polyester
Polyester fabric has dominated the competitive swimwear industry for several years.Whether blended with Lycra or by itself,polyester is the leading fabric for competitive swimwear.New technologies in polyester have improved the hand and feel of the material,allowing it to surpass other fabrics. Polyester holds its color and is resistant to chlorine.Characteristics of polyester fabric are:

• Strong resilient fibers
• Soft and comfortable fit
• Durable,resistant to shrinkage
• Abrasion/pilling resistant
• Quick drying
• Chlorine Resistant
• UV Protection
• Holds its shape
• Exceptional breathability
• 4 way stretch
• Launders easily

Spandex(lycra,or elastane)
Spandex, Lycra or elastane is a synthetic fiber known for its exceptional elasticity.It is stronger and more durable than natural rubber.It is a polyester-polyurethane copolymer that was invented in 1958 by chemist Joseph Shivers at DuPont’s Benger Laboratory in Waynesboro,Virginia.Because of its elasticity and strength (stretching up to five times its length),spandex has been incorporated into a wide range of garments,especially in skin-tight garments such as swimwear and beachwear.A benefit of spandex is its significant strength and elasticity and its ability to return to the original shape after stretching and faster drying than ordinary fabrics.Spandex fiber characteristics are:

• Can be stretched over 500% without breaking.
• Able to be stretched repetitively and still recover original length.
• Lightweight.
• Abrasion resistant.
• Poor strength,but stronger and more durable than rubber,soft,smooth,and supple,resistant to body oils,perspiration,lotions,and detergents.