The best swimsuit fabric is a topic of hot debate in the fashion world. But the truth is that there really aren’t a ton of options. Swimwear fabrics typically must be quick-drying, colorfast, and have a certain amount of stretch. Let’s discuss some of the different options for swim fabrics and their various characteristics. Selecting the right swimsuit material for your needs will be easy after this!
Most swimsuit fabric is meant to stretch to fit all those gorgeous curves and to allow for a comfortable and safe swim. The fabric also needs to be able to both hold its shape when wet and to dry easily and quickly. For this reason, almost every type of swimwear fabric contains elastane fibers.
Polyester swimwear fabrics, blended with Lycra (or spandex), have the greatest level of durability. Stretch polyester, however, is a very general category. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of different blends from various fabric mills. With each type, the blend percentage of poly to spandex will vary to some degree.
When looking at swimwear blends, you’ll often see the terms “Lycra”, “Spandex” and “Elastane”. So, what’s the difference between Lycra and spandex? Easy. Lycra is a brand name, a trademark of the DuPont company. The others are generic terms. They all mean the same thing. Functionally, you won’t notice any difference between swimwear made with any of these 3 or any of the other brand name elastane fibers you might find.
The nylon spandex swimsuit fabrics are some of the most popular. This is mostly due to its super soft feel and its ability to have a glossy or satin sheen.
So… What’s the best fabric for swimwear?
The best swimsuit fabric is the one that makes the most sense for your needs. For practicality, we like the easy printing capability and durability of polyester. I also believe that the environmental impact of polyester can be better managed than nylon.
However, the feel and finish of nylon is still unmatched by polyester. Polyesters are coming closer and closer every year, but still have a little way to go to match the look and feel of nylon.
Post time: Jun-06-2022