Swimsuits that last a lifetime: What makes a quality bathing suit?

Now that we know how to take care of swimsuits and bikinis so that they don’t break down, we may be more interested in investing in a good bathing suit with high-quality fabric and a special design, taking into account that it will last us many summers. That is, at least, the trend since the beginning of the pandemic. According to the data platform Editd, in summer 2021, sales of bathing suits saw exponential growth. The most successful styles are sustainably made solid-colored one-piece suits.

On her last beach vacation, 40-year-old Elena’s friends inquired about her bathing suit, a black one-piece with an open back. “Where did you buy it?” “It’s 20 years old. My mother bought it for me when I started college. It’s by Christian Dior. It cost a lot, but look at it, here it is, just like new.” A quick look at the French brand’s store reveals a similar model in navy blue, made in Italia, without a lining, made out of 74% polyamide and 26% elastane, for €750 (about $817). It is the cheapest of the brand’s swimsuits, which cost up to €1,800 ($1,961). The prices are far above the average that we tend to spend on swimsuits. So what makes a quality bathing suit? And how can we distinguish a good swimsuit fabric?

Bali Swim is an Indonesian manufacturer of swimsuits that works with hundreds of brands across the world. It has created a complete guide for those looking for a good fabric, from its composition to its weight and characteristics. As the brand explains, there are two main fabric options. Nylon or polyamide blends are the most common in female bathing suits. The fabric is smooth and comfortable. It stretches and molds well to the body. The blend tends to contain 20% elastic, whether lycra, spandex or elastane. The result is very flexible, breathable and durable and dries quickly, but it has little resistance to chlorine. It is recommended to wash the garments by hand, and they can be hung dry, because they do not lose their shape.

Lycra refers to the brand of elastane considered the most elastic and of the highest quality. It allows the swimsuit to glide through the water, hug the body, retain color and shape and make the garment comfortable. The fabric is thin but dense. When you stretch it with your hands, you will notice that it is not transparent. As soon as you let go, it instantly recovers its original shape without leaving marks. If you are going to buy online, you should check that the swimsuit composition label specifies Lycra and not a generic elastic. Another point that usually gives clues that it is Lycra is the price: the swimsuits that use it are usually quite expensive.

“Currently, Lycra has developed different variants of its original fiber that allow us to provide our garments with extraordinary qualities. An example of them is Lycra XTRA LIVE, which is more resistant to external agents such as the Sun, sun lotions, chlorine and seawater. That makes our garments better resist the passage of time, maintaining comfort, fit and quality. The durability of a garment made with Lycra XTRA LIFE compared to one made with another elastomer is estimated to be 10 times higher,” says the designer Nuria Sardà.

On the other hand, there are polyester blends, widely used in competition swimming suits. The material is stronger, with greater resistance to chlorine, UV rays and shrinkage. It dries even faster and has great breathability. It is also recommended to wash by hand, and it doesn’t lose its shape when hung dry. It is considered two to three times more durable than generic spandex or elastane, tends to be more expensive, and isn’t as stretchy. While it holds its shape well, it’s harder to put on at first.

New trends in swimwear bring waves of new fabrics. Neoprene fabric became fashionable in 2018, while in recent seasons textured fabric is the winner, from ribbed swimsuits to crochet or velvet. This type of fabric is especially found in brands with higher price ranges, since they require special weaves: quick-drying, capable of maintaining their shape, resistant to the sun and chemical damage and, if possible, durable. These types of fabrics require more time and work, especially if they are made by hand.

Traditionally, swimwear has used environmentally harmful fabrics. However, as consumer awareness and demand have evolved, fabric choices have too. One of the best is ECONYL®, a nylon regenerated from pre- and post-consumer products like fishing nets, fabric scraps, carpeting and industrial plastic from landfills and oceans around the world. Other recycled swimwear fabrics, like REPREVE®, make their own product from recycled plastic bottles.

The test of time

How long can we expect a good swimsuit to last? Not everyone can pay more than $700 for a garment, but taking Elena’s swimsuit as an example, it comes out to an investment of $35 a year every year for 20 years. Seen this way, the cost may not be so scandalous. Nuria Sardà considers it a long-term relationship: “There is no maximum durability for our garments. With a good treatment, rinsing them after each use and drying them in the shade turned inside out, they last a long time. I can say that I have garments from more than 30 years ago that are still in very good condition and, in our archives, pieces from our initial collections are still impeccable despite the passage of time. Often our clients recognize the durability and total quality of our collections,” she assures.

Another factor that should be taken into account when buying a luxury swimsuit is the design. Can you see yourself with that stunning asymmetrical Mugler in a couple of decades, in your 50s or 60s? Or with one of those multiple straps on the abdomen that are being seen so much this summer, from Zara with its successful orange model to Jennifer to the Dodo Bar Or brand that influencers show off on social media? Or one of those thong-swimsuits with a deep-cut groin? Perhaps it is a safer investment to bet on timeless models. “A swimsuit lasts a lifetime,” Marie-Paule Minchelli, studio director at Eres, told us.

Studies about the topic tend to agree. The NPD Group, a company that specializes in retail intelligence, conducted a survey on swimwear. One of the conclusions was that a swimsuit’s fit is much more crucial than any other aspect, even more than its comfort, style, quality and even price. A good fit is the key to a good fabric and a flattering appearance.

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