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Best fabrics for swimwear

Best fabrics for swimwear

Swimwear needs fabrics that can handle stretch, water, movement and repeated care. The best fabric depends on the garment type: a fitted swimsuit needs more recovery than loose swim shorts. Drying speed, opacity, UV protection and colour behaviour are also important in swimwear collections.

Swimwear fabrics are usually technical fabrics rather than one fixed fabric type. Swimwear Jersey and Swimshort Jersey are useful starting points because they support different fits, from close-fitting swimwear to relaxed waterwear.

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How to choose fabrics for swimwear

Start with the fit of the garment. Close-fitting swimwear needs strong stretch and recovery, while loose swim shorts need lightweight structure and quick drying.

Also check how the fabric behaves when wet. A suitable swimwear fabric should keep enough coverage, feel comfortable against the skin and recover after movement in water.

Swimwear Jersey for fitted swim garments

Swimwear Jersey is a smooth stretch fabric for close-fitting swimwear. It usually contains elastane, which helps the fabric stretch with the body and return to shape after movement.

This fabric is especially useful when the garment needs coverage under tension. Always test lighter colours and prints while stretched, because opacity can change when the fabric is wet or pulled over the body.

Best for:

  • Swimsuits
  • Bikini tops
  • Bikini bottoms
  • Swim leggings
  • Rash guards

Swimshort Jersey for relaxed swimwear

Swimshort Jersey is more suitable for looser swimwear styles. It is usually more stable than Swimwear Jersey and is often selected for light weight, shape retention and quick drying rather than strong stretch.

This makes it useful for garments that need comfort in and around water without a close fit. Construction details such as mesh lining, drawcords and secure waistbands can strongly influence the final comfort.

Best for:

  • Swim shorts
  • Board shorts
  • Relaxed beach shorts
  • Lightweight waterwear
  • Summer overshorts

Technical properties for outdoor and water use

Swimwear fabrics often need more than stretch or light weight. QuickDry can help the garment dry faster after water exposure, while UPF50 UV protection is relevant for outdoor swimwear and water sports garments.

Colour behaviour also matters because swimwear is exposed to sunlight, chlorine, salt water and sunscreen. Testing before production helps reduce risks such as fading, loss of stretch or transparency after use.

Best for:

  • Outdoor swimwear
  • Children’s swimwear
  • Water sports tops
  • Beachwear layers
  • Travel swim garments

Practical tip

Test swimwear fabrics both dry and wet before production. Check opacity, stretch recovery, drying speed and colour behaviour after contact with water, chlorine, sunscreen and sunlight.

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Written by

Tim Zanoni Nooteboom Textiles

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