What Are Bathing Suits Made Of?

There was a period lately when beach wear products contains a polyester or nylon swimwear. However, within the last couple of years, new fabrics and techniques have meant new choices, such as sleek sports suits made to increase speed, clothing treated with UV protection, and micro fibers made to enable you to tan through your suit.

Traditional Suits

An overwhelming percentage of swimwear today are constructed of synthetic materials such as polyester, nylon and Lycra (spandex). They are simply comfortable, keep their shape, and are elastic and quick-drying, making them a great general-use fabric.

However, there are several factors that reduce the lifespan of a normal swimsuit. Lycra is a fragile fabric, and chlorine and other chemicals are particularly harsh to it. Rough surfaces can also break the fibers, creating that “piled” look of a mature suit. Hot tubs, washers and suntan oils will also cause damage. Swimwear that is continually damp from either spending quite a while in water or being rolled up in a bag will also weaken the fabric as well as breed bacteria.

A swimwear with an increased percentage of polyester is stronger to the elements, nevertheless, you lose the comfort of spandex, gives a swimsuit its sleek lines and ability to stretch.

So long as care is taken, traditional polyester/spandex/nylon blend products remain a fantastic choice, so long as care is taken while wearing and cleaning your suit.

High-Performance Fabrics

Today, advances in technology have created a complete new selection of fabrics and special weaving techniques. Micro fiber was introduced in the late 1980’s, and involves both traditional synthetic fibers and new fibers that are much thinner than before, yet retain all the strength, durability, and stretch of traditional fabric. How thin? Most are 100 times thinner when compared to a human hair! These fibers are then packed together to make a remarkably strong, versatile and comfortable fabric. They could be constructed to be impervious to water, yet loose enough to permit perspiration to flee from your skin, cooling your body.

For the swimsuit industry, it has meant an enormous variety of new fabrics and techniques. Athletes is now able to wear special fabrics that reduce drag in water, and those concerned about the sun have the choice of UV-blocking materials. Sun worshippers can purchase a tan through swimsuit, where in fact the material is porous enough to let 50% of the sun’s rays through yet be opaque to the naked eye.

Each year, new micro fiber fabrics are introduced to the marketplace. Browse online or walk through specialty swim stores, and you will see and have the difference. There's a swimwear out there for you. Now it’s much easier to find one.