The time has come to replenish your swimwear wardrobe, but where do you start? With a seemingly endless variety of swimsuit options and so much information out there, finding “the right” garments can become a chore.
But swimmers rejoice! We are here to introduce you to the best fabric for swimwear, along with some helpful tips and tricks that will make browsing the Andie swimwear selection both fun and easy.
Before we really break down swimsuits, we need to explore the specific fabric content you should look for when you next shop for swimsuits.
What Fabric Content Should I Look For?
What your swimsuit is made of matters. The actual fabric content will make or break your swimwear. The right material is critical to making garments that provide ample support, look great, and last long.
No saggy swimsuit bums on our watch! The following materials are the best fabric for swimwear and will keep you feeling comfortable and confident in your beachy attire.
Nylon and Spandex
The most common and reliable fabric duo you will find in swimwear is nylon and spandex, and that is for good reason! Together, these fabrics make durable, flattering, and cozy swimsuits, which is why it is one of our go-to materials.
Spandex is a critical component of nearly all swimwear. It is a fiber that is known for its elasticity and versatility.
Often found in athleisure, spandex is perfect for swimwear because it allows for flexibility and easy movement in your swimwear.
Whether you are an athlete looking for stylish bathing suits for your next workout in the pool or if you are just a casual beach lounger, your swimwear should be built for activity and breathability, and spandex is just the fabric to achieve that. That said, spandex on its own won’t last long with excessive saltwater or chlorine exposure, which is where nylon comes in.
Nylon is another synthetic material and is a strong fiber, making it a perfect combination with spandex. UV rays and excessive chemical exposure from pools can break down flimsy fabrics, but nylon is strong enough to resist both factors.
Thanks to their durability and comfort, you will get a lot of use out of swimwear made from nylon and spandex.
Polyester and Spandex
Much like nylon, polyester is another solid fabric to look for when choosing your swimwear. Plus, it is a fabric that works great either on its own or combined with spandex.
A great benefit of polyester fabric is its washability. Some swimwear fabrics can deteriorate after even just one wash cycle, leaving the material looking saggy, faded, and less supportive. Polyester is an incredibly strong fabric and has a long life cycle, thanks to that.
It is also resistant to UV and chlorine, arguably even more so than nylon, which makes it one of the best fabrics for swimwear. UV and chlorine can cause incredible damage to unfit materials, which is why it's critical to purchase bathing suits made out of durable fabrics like polyester.
Your swimwear should last more than just one season, and polyester is the kind of material that will guarantee great use out of your swimsuits. The only downside to polyester and nylon is their impact on the environment.
The excessive production of synthetic fibers can contribute to pollution and climate change. However, the fact that these products are so durable is a benefit to the environment because they will have a longer lifespan in your closet instead of taking up space in a landfill like other cheaply produced fabrics.
Andie Swimwear cares about our impact on the environment, which is why we try to create other swimwear options made from the following fabric.
Eco Nylon and Eco Poly
As we know, despite their durability and long lifespan, the overproduction of synthetic fabrics is not a good thing. We counteract that by creating comfortable, stylish swimsuits out of sustainable fabrics like eco nylon and eco polyester.
Eco nylon and eco poly are sustainable alternatives to other swimwear fabrics that do not compromise durability. Eco nylon is a fabric made from 80% recycled nylon and 20% spandex. Eco poly, on the other hand, is comprised of 87% recycled polyester and 13% spandex. Together, the recycled fabrics and spandex work together to create environmentally sound swimsuits that have the same level of flexibility, lightness, and long-lasting shelf-life as the original synthetic fibers. It gives old nylon and polyester a second life and prevents more waste from polluting the planet.
While polyester and nylon are two of the best options for swimwear, when available, eco nylon and poly are amazing alternatives. Sustainability and swimwear go hand in hand by utilizing recycled materials to create the best swimsuits.
Fabric Styles
Now that you know the specific fibers to look out for, let’s unpack the best fabric styles in swimwear. Andie swimsuits primarily operate between two kinds of styles: smooth and ribbed.
When it comes to the two main fabric styles, your selection is going to come down to preference, so let’s explore what makes you choose a ribbed swimsuit or a smooth fabric.
Smooth Fabric
The name is a bit self-explanatory: expect a swimsuit with a smooth, flat fabric. Smooth swimsuits are made from one of the best fabrics for swimwear for many reasons, but especially because of the comfort.
Nothing is better than putting on a swimsuit that melts into your figure, almost like a second skin. Smooth fabric feels glossy to the touch and hugs your body in all the right places, ensuring a cozy day on the beach.
Andie’s smooth fabric is made with a compressive lining and four-way stretch, making it the perfect versatile material. You can actually move in swimsuits made from smooth fabric.
The compressive lining ensures a snug fit that is perfect for flexibility or for just lounging around in style. Plus, it is a fabric perfect for one-piece swimsuit or bikini lovers.
For instance, if the smooth fabric sounds right up your alley for someone who prefers one-piece swimsuits, the Mykonos One Piece is a swimwear essential. The Santorini Top is a great choice for smooth fabric connoisseurs who like to show a little more skin.
Made from either nylon and spandex or eco nylon, the flat, smooth swimsuits are guaranteed to last long and maintain support and comfort for many years to come.
Whatever your style, smooth fabric is one of the best fabrics for swimwear. The light, glassy fiber will feel amazing on your skin and complement all figures. You will feel right at home in a swimsuit made of smooth fabric.
Ribbed Fabric
Do you prefer more texture in your swimwear? Perhaps you are an active beachgoer, catching waves and running along the sand. Or, maybe extra support is something a bathing suit must have. If this sounds like you, you are going to adore ribbed fabric.
This texture is thicker and more compressive than the flat, smooth fabric above. Still soft to the touch, the ribbed fabric is more heavy-duty to ensure extra support for maximum flexibility. You can lounge around or swim laps in the pool comfortably in a ribbed swimsuit.
Ribbed fabric is ultra-compressive, making it great for high-impact swims and strong ocean waves. It ensures lasting comfort and all-day wearability.
Many Andie swimsuits have ribbed options, so you do not have to sacrifice your sense of style for the ribbed fabric. Again, with both bikini or one-piece options, there is the perfect ribbed swimsuit for all swimmers.
Ribbed swimsuits are made from nylon and spandex, two of our favorite fabrics for swimwear, so you can rest assured that your new bathing suit will be extremely comfortable, durable, and stylish.
You’re Officially a Fabric Expert!
There is much more than meets the eye when it comes to fabrics. The best way to be a more conscious consumer and make the best fashion decisions is to know what your clothes are made of, especially for swimwear.
With the constant exposure to UV rays, chlorine and other pool chemicals, and washer cycles, we need to be extra particular about the kind of fabric we choose. Thankfully, this guide to the best fabric for swimwear will ensure that you can find your own swimwear that will last long and feel good on your skin.
Regardless of your style, so long as you choose swimwear made from eco nylon and eco poly or a combination of polyester, nylon, and spandex, your swimsuits will stay fresh in your wardrobe for many seasons to come.
Flex your newfound fabric knowledge and hit the beach in style!
Sources:
Spandex Fiber: Properties, Manufacturing Process and Uses | Textile Learner
Natural and Sustainable? Consumers' Textile Fiber Preferences | MDPI
Inside the changing fabric of textile sustainability | GreenBiz
What are pool chemicals and how do they protect swimmers | C&EN