Fabrics for swimsuits: what are they and what are their features?

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Published: 07/07/2021

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A swimsuit is both underwear and an outer suit. The product is in direct contact with the body, and at the same time is visible to others. Therefore, swimsuit fabric must meet strict hygiene, safety and practicality requirements.

• 1 Properties of fabric for a swimsuit
• 2 Names of popular materials
• 3 Tips for choosing
• 4 Conclusion

Properties of swimsuit fabric

When choosing a beach suit, most women look at the color, style, and size. At the same time, the properties of materials are completely ignored. But a lot depends on the fabrics from which swimsuits are made: fit, ease of wear, safety.

Material requirements:

• hypoallergenic: the composition should not contain harmful components that irritate the skin and respiratory system;
• elasticity: a necessary property for a perfect fit;
• dimensional stability: the material should not stretch or shrink;
• UV resistance: protects the body from aggressive rays;
• hygroscopicity: quick drying after getting wet;
• pleasant tactile sensations: the material should not prick or irritate;
• color fastness.

It is equally important to consider what fabric swimsuits are made from in terms of practicality. high-quality textiles - those that last for many years and do not require complex care.

Beach accessories

Necessary beach accessories include pareos, towels and hats. All these accessories are made of textiles.

Pareo

A piece of fabric in the form of a rectangle or square. Wrapped around the hips and waist, serves as a sundress, used to cover the head from the rays of the sun. Depending on the method of tying, a pareo can advantageously emphasize the lines of the figure and effectively hide imperfections, as well as protect the skin from direct sunlight.

Popular fabrics for pareos:

• Silk is a thin, delicate material with a smooth glossy surface. It is made from fibers obtained from silkworm cocoons. The material is natural and expensive.
• Chiffon is a translucent, thin and delicate fabric made from tightly twisted threads. Made from silk, cotton, viscose, polyester and polyamide. Thanks to its structure, it dries very quickly, flows beautifully and forms attractive folds.
• Crepe de Chine is a silk material with a slight sheen. The composition may contain wool and polyester fibers. The peculiarity of crepe is the strong twisting of the threads before weaving.
• Crepe georgette is an airy and elastic material. Made from natural silk. The threads to create this fabric are also twisted, which makes it stiff.

Towels

A properly chosen beach towel absorbs water well and dries quickly.
A necessary beach accessory that will help you warm up after water procedures, serves as a bedding, and sometimes as protection from the sun or from the evening cold. The towel should be soft, hygroscopic and light enough, especially when wet. It’s good when a beach towel dries quickly and does not become rough from water.

Popular materials:

• Cotton is a fabric of plant origin, lightweight, environmentally friendly, safe and hygroscopic.
• Bamboo is an exotic material that is considered less wear-resistant than cotton, but absorbs water well and has a positive effect on the skin.
• Terry is a soft fluffy material with pile, which is formed by loops. Warms well, absorbs moisture and massages the skin.
• Velor is a material with one-sided pile, smooth to the touch and glossy in appearance. Made from cotton, silk and viscose. It looks very elegant and decorative.

Names of popular materials

The fabrics from which swimsuits are made are used in a variety of ways:

1. Cotton: not a very practical option for beachwear. It wrinkles, is inelastic, fades quickly, and is spoiled by salt. But it is environmentally friendly, safe, and protects well from ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is mainly used for children and expectant mothers;
2. supplex: material from which swimsuits are made for recreation and various sports - gymnastics, swimming, figure skating. A distinctive feature is the ability to strongly stretch in both directions. Consists of microfiber and elastane fibers, it is soft, wrinkle-resistant, and wear-resistant;
3. polyester: popular textiles are used in economy class models. Quite elastic, resistant to deformation, fading, and creasing. But it does not allow air to pass through well and is spoiled by chlorinated water;
4. lycra (spandex, elastane) - synthetic stretchable fibers that are added to the composition of fabrics for beach suits. Very elastic, give a tight fit, correct the figure;
5. microfiber: an almost perfect material: stretches well, is breathable, has antibacterial properties. Plus it dries quickly and does not shrink;
6. tactel: knitted material with the addition of lycra. Pleasant on the body, dries instantly, corrects the figure, allows air to pass through;
7. polyamide: synthetic fabric with a slight sheen. It looks impressive, does not fade, keeps its shape, dries quickly, slims the figure;
8. nylon: durable material, therefore it is used mainly in sewing sports swimsuits. Disadvantages: fades, deteriorates from salt and bleach;
9. neoprene: new generation synthetics. The main composition is polychloroprene rubber, to which other fibers can be added to improve the qualities of the material. The fabric is dense, waterproof, elastic. Softens shock from temperature changes, is extremely resistant to chemicals, ultraviolet radiation, and mechanical stress. Suitable for sewing beach models, but mainly used for wetsuits.
10. header: fabric with a cracked or ribbed effect. It is made from pure cotton, but more often with the addition of elastane, polyester and other synthetic fibers. Thanks to the relief surface, it masks figure flaws.

Fact! There is no separate type of fabric for a swimsuit, which is called a special term. But there is a group of materials that are better suited for a beach or sports suit: mixed, synthetic and semi-synthetic.

Types of women's swimsuits

Women's swimsuits can have different tailoring.
There is more than one type of women's swimsuits, as well as hundreds of models, styles, and color variations. There are two main groups of swimsuits:

• closed - a one-piece model, consisting of one piece, usually covers the stomach and back;
• open – consists of two parts: a bra and panties.

One-piece swimsuits include:

• Bandeau is a solid model that covers the torso, without straps. The unique feature of the swimsuit is that it helps to visually reduce the volume of the hips.
• A burkini is an extremely closed swimsuit that hides your arms down to your hands, your legs down to your feet, and even your head. Suitable for people who cannot stand the sun's rays or cannot be naked due to their beliefs. Made from very thin fabrics.
• Maillot is a classic closed model that emphasizes the figure well and helps hide imperfections. The swimsuit is equipped with sewn straps, the neckline is oval and v-shaped. Maillot is universal, suitable for swimming in the sea and in a sports pool.
• Plange is a model with large cutouts on the chest and back. Visually enlarges the chest and lengthens the neck.
• Swim dress - otherwise - a dress for swimming. The model is equipped with a skirt and perfectly hides the imperfections of the hips and emphasizes the waistline.
• A tank is a one-piece swimsuit with straps and cups that help support the bust. The model is suitable for women with luxurious shapes.
• High neck is a classic sports type of swimsuit. Completely covers the torso, the neckline is minimal.
• Halter is a swimsuit with straps that fasten or tie behind the neck. Emphasizes the chest line and hides imperfections in the hip lines.

Among the open and closed swimsuits are:

• Bandeau - the wide bodice of this swimsuit is simply fastened or tied at the back, there are no straps.
• Bikini is one of the most famous names of beachwear. It takes up little space on the body and is attached with straps.
• Swim dress - the lower part of the swimsuit is complemented by frills or a short skirt, sometimes in the form of a wide belt.
• Trunk – visually resembles a closed swimsuit. The bodice is made in the form of a top, which can be of various lengths, with straps or sleeves.
• Halter - the bodice is attached with straps that can be fastened or tied around the neck. Perfectly supports large breasts, helps to harmonize the figure in case of wide hips.

Separately, it is worth mentioning swimsuits of the monokini type - the top and bottom are connected at the stomach into one product, the bodice is held with ties on the back and straps.

Tips for choosing

Theoretically, a swimsuit can be made from any type of fabric, but you need to take into account the specifics of this type of clothing:

• Allergy sufferers, children and pregnant women should choose cotton material: completely natural or with synthetic additives;
• if you need a suit for swimming, then the best option is made of polyamide, nylon, textile with lycra additives. They do not stretch or shrink and can withstand exposure to chlorinated water and sea salt;
• A universal option is supplex with lycra. A beach swimsuit made of this fabric retains its color and shape for a long time, is breathable, does not wrinkle, and is resistant to stains. Will last more than one season;
• if you need a suit only for sunbathing, then things made of tactel, microfiber, or reaper are better suited;
• swimsuits for swimming, diving, and wakeboarding must be made of thick neoprene.

Which swimsuit is better to choose

First, start with the classics. White and black combined with any other color will look great. This also applies to style. Opt for classic models. Of course, it is better to choose two-piece swimsuit options for layout reasons.

Secondly, always choose a product with good bust support and a perfect fit. Nothing should press, rub or highlight flaws anywhere. On the contrary, shortcomings should be hidden, and advantages emphasized.

And thirdly, you can never have too many swimsuits. It's like a handbag or a scarf. For a particular event it is better to have several sets. Unfortunately, women are not yet accustomed to perceiving them as an element of their wardrobe due to the presence of imposed stereotypes or due to the fairly high cost of this item.

Swimsuits with sequins - sew or buy a ready-made model

It is not easy to purchase a ready-made model. It is not always possible to choose a style in the store that would ideally fit the silhouette and shift the emphasis to the advantages of the figure. In addition, swimsuits with sequins are quite expensive. The assortment in stores is also small. It is much more profitable to sew a swimsuit with sequins to order. In this case, it will definitely meet all the requirements and fit beautifully.

Fabric with sequins for a swimsuit can be purchased in our online store.

Invited experts

Tatiana Sokolova

Creator of the Ideal Forms brand, owner of a franchising network of brafitting salons

Elena Anishchenko

Author of the “School of Aphrodite” project, expert on revealing femininity

Maria Piterskaya

Doctor of Rehabilitation Sports Medicine and Adaptive Exercise Science

Irina Volkova

Makeup and hair stylist

Stanislava Sold

Methodist and instructor of exercise therapy, trainer with >16 years of experience, yoga therapist, expert in selecting underwear

Maria Sokolova

Face fitness trainer, expert in natural rejuvenation techniques, anti-age coach

Svetlana Batueva

Stylist and image maker of international level, expert in elegance and anti-age style

Chingis Nikolaevich Mustafin

Oncologist-mammologist, candidate of medical sciences, author of 10 patented treatment methods

Anastasia Solovyova

Oncologist, mammologist, surgeon, candidate of medical sciences

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Proper care

For a long service life of a swimsuit, it is recommended to follow simple rules:

• After each swim, be sure to rinse your swimsuit, so no harmful substances will remain on it, especially if it was in chlorinated pool water;
• Hand wash only recommended;
• drying a swimsuit on a radiator or under other thermal influences significantly reduces its service life, so it is recommended only to dry it naturally, and even better in the open air;
• Many fabrics easily leave snags, so you need to wear swimming clothes with care;
• You should not squeeze the fabric too hard; it usually dries quickly anyway.

One-piece swimsuit pattern

It's a little more difficult than a bikini. You will need a bodysuit pattern made of elastic fabric, which will then be modeled to fit the chosen style.

The big advantage of a one-piece swimsuit is that the upper part (to the waist) can repeat the style of almost every sundress or sleeveless dress. Folds, draperies, tucks, flounces and other decoration methods look organic on stretchable fabrics.

It is also worth mentioning that swimsuits are made in double layers: a lining made of natural fibers (thin viscose or cotton jersey in neutral colors) is welcome. Various pads and cups are placed under it. With a second layer, the item looks better quality, is more comfortable to wear and fits better.

Preparing your body for the beach season

Finally, I would like to note how important is the “canvas” or body on which you want to put this or that thing. Even the most expensive swimsuit will not correct the flaws in your figure. You need to remember this and keep yourself in shape.

Photo: https://rotana.net/assets/uploads/2015/11/news_0906734001439565168.jpg

Even half an hour of exercise every day will help get rid of “ears”, tighten your figure, reduce volume and hated folds. Prepare yourself in advance for the swimming season. Use fasting to get rid of extra pounds.

Here is a simple scheme of physical activity, the results of which you will see in just a couple of days: 50 squats, 20 push-ups, pumping the abs in a normal position 50 times, pumping the lateral abdominal muscles 50 times (twisting once on each side), 10 minutes of jumping rope .

Polyester

Polyester (may be designated as Polyester

or
PES
) is a synthetic material used to make budget swimsuits. It is quite elastic, retains the brightness of colors under sunlight, and does not fade under the influence of chlorine and salty sea water.

At the same time, a swimsuit made of polyester takes longer to dry than other synthetic fabrics and loses its shape faster. It only makes sense to buy such a model if you are looking for a budget swimsuit for one season.

Sports models

Particular attention should be paid to gymnastic leotards. The following requirements apply to them:

• wear resistance;
• crease resistance;
• silkiness;
• airflow.

Therefore, most professional athletes prefer supplex. It contains microfiber and elastane. This allows for stretch up to 300%. In addition, the fibers lend themselves perfectly to dyeing and are combined with lurex threads, which allows you to sew bright costumes for performances in rhythmic gymnastics or swimming.